In search of Everett, Rebecca left the conference room. She needed to speak with him. She’d tried to avoid him when they weren’t working. Following the meeting, she sought details about his role in the agreement. Where did he see this going? What made him agree to this? It felt like torture to have these questions flooding her brain with chaos. Rebecca didn’t know which was worse. She suspected she had the answers, but the thought of them frightened her. Rebecca found Everett in his dressing room. The man already moved his things from the guest dressing room he’d used to the dressing room that connected to hers. No one used it because Rebecca feared the person would get nosy or see something they shouldn’t. What was she thinking? He already had seen too much. Now Rebecca needed to do damage control and set some boundaries with Everett. She knocked on his dressing room door and waited. Rebecca felt self-conscious a
Everett felt elated when he felt the sting of her hand on his cheek. He interpreted it as an emotional response, causing her to disconnect from the rest of the world. Everett could still reach out, and she’d respond. Everett worried about the consequences if Rebecca didn’t control her anger and feared it might be too late for her. That would have killed him, too. He truly saw Rebecca now. Everett admired her strength and drive. Now he saw what he’d missed earlier. He saw how much she resembled a wounded animal. Everett feared she believed herself too wounded to survive. She endured the daily grind to hide her proximity to the brink of despair. If she lashed out, Everett believed, her protecting herself like this meant she wasn’t ready to give up. Rebecca wasn’t an unresponsive defeated ball. “Everett, we won’t work on that. How could you say anything like that?” “Simple. This is day one of our whirlwind romance. This is what grand romant
Rebecca understood her reasons for going ahead but not her reason for agreeing to participate in it. She wondered why she didn’t just give up and end it all. If Everett found out how badly everything fell apart after he left, he’d run for the hills again. She was certain he’d leave on the earliest train possible. But until then, what did she do? Her hair grew back, but she wore wigs for a while. Rebecca didn’t know how he’d take to her changes. His kiss back there was like he was kiss starved, but the paparazzi caught him kissing many women, especially Gena over the years. Despite this, he seemed insatiable and almost intoxicated after the kiss. No words of hers could alter the fact he had done something. But what had he achieved? Rebecca just didn’t understand him. Maybe she never had understood him. The studio executives only said they wanted a whirlwind romance and a wedding. How fast was that supposed to happen? Rebecca worried it would be too d
“What do you mean, he’s not coming back to the show? He must come back to the show. We have a contract and he’s in the middle of an important plot.” Gena couldn’t believe what she heard from Paulo. He’s supposed to reconcile with Everett. She expected Everett to appear for work on the set of Grandview Manor. Despite weeks passing, Paulo lacked evidence of achieving his goal. “Gena, he won’t take my calls. Everett is taking meetings with the studio executives that I’m not invited to. Hell, he just fired me in front of the Studio Board of Executives. It can’t get any more formal. So please stop yelling at me and calm down. You’ll get wrinkles before your time. Relax with a drink or medication. I’m stick of hearing you complain. I have your uncle on this with the board. Let’s see what he can do.” Paulo’s words betrayed his own stress. He couldn’t endure it any longer. He’d lost several other actors when they learned Everett had lost faith in him. Paulo’s bank acco
Rebecca woke up the next morning with the new schedule delivered to her inbox. The email informed her of fresh edits for several scripts waiting in her dressing room. What she didn’t expect at this time before her morning coffee was Ben, her agent, calling her. He told her not to look at her social media. Immediately, she started searching for the cause of his upset. “What’s up, Ben? What deserves my attention at this moment? Where will I find it? Don’t keep me in suspense. Please tell me someone isn’t shaming me for being too thin. Are they accusing me of being addicted to some new drug? What about that goal of becoming a nun?” Rebecca ignored these types of rumors with everything she could muster. She wouldn’t let them affect her mood; she’d enough things that already did. Ben appeared to be oddly worried about this. If he was this worried, she needed to hear what this person revealed. “No Becca. It’s by far worse than you think it is, my dear. Regrettably,
“Oh yeah, I’m contemplating a potential fix. What if your fans or paparazzi spotted you with someone who isn’t Everett? It’s early yet, so they can spin it as the start of Everett’s romantic pursuit of you. How about we have you date a guy guesting on the show? It would fit how you’d meet him? I’m thinking about a series of dates; two, three, not just one date. Maybe you’re seen by the fans and paparazzi getting cozy with him in a club; maybe an intimate dinner before or after. Everett might catch sight of you with this guy; he can’t help his jealousy. He interrupts your dates, making a scene. Everett won’t profess his love right away; he’ll interfere with your dates. Make the guy feel like a third wheel. It’s not odd for actors to frequent the same few clubs and restaurants. Perhaps that’s how he figures out he wants to pursue you romantically. He’s jealous of the other guy and your interest in him.” Ben first sounded distracted. As he worked through this. His excitement grew noticeab
Everett met this morning with a new agent, and it was what he’d expected. He believed he should continue searching for a new agent. Unexpectedly, Nunzio Christiano did something no unsigned agent would do at the end of their meeting. “Before we part ways forever, Mr. Stone. Please think about how to address the overnight social media chaos. It doesn’t paint you or Rebecca Jones in a good light. You look like you jump ship every time the wind changes, and Ms. Jones looks like a sick, crazy woman. Before criticizing the messenger, consider the need for a plan to handle this mess. I understand both women are beautiful, and you struggle with needing one for your career success. I’ll give you the truth. Your work speaks more to your career than both women. So, that takes your career needs off the table. So, if you’re looking to become romantically, tied long term with one of them. May I recommend you choose now and side with her? The battle lines are forming and I’m afraid you’
“Paulo ensured you never found out, with Gena’s support. So, fine. You have a history with both women, but I’m sensing or hearing regret based around Ms. Jones.” Nunzio Christiano watched his latest client understand the situation he’d fallen into. He didn’t realize how much of a pawn he’d been until now. Nunzio had worked hard to reach this level, close to Rebecca Jones. Right now, Nunzio cussed out Everett Stone and his relationship with Rebecca. Several black marks stained the man’s record. His only saving grace is he admitted to Nunzio he recognized his mistakes and wanted to pursue repairing them. This would make the person paying Nunzio thrilled. Rebecca was unaware, but her past was sneaking up on her in a way she’d foresee. Gena D’Ore and her family of barely legal businessmen, would soon realize how far their connections were, and the lasting influence of their family. Nunzio knew what Rebecca suffered from. After all, it ran on her mother’s side of th