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“You’ve done no such thing. For far too long, I’ve let him have control. It’s time for me to take some of it back.”

“I…”

Harlow could tell there was something else on Janice’s mind. “What were you going to say?”

“I’m thrilled to hear this, Harlow. We’re friends. At least, I always considered you to be my friend.”

“Me too, which is why I called and am glad I got to the bottom of what is going on.”

“Then I’ll go out on a limb and tell you I’m thrilled to hear you say you want to be more involved. This is a cutthroat business. The best person to handle the media and what information is released about youisyou.”

“I agree, one hundred percent.” Harlow promised to be in touch again soon.

“Are you still doing the new deal, the new movie deal?”

“I am.” Harlow told her she’d signed an extension. “I have a few weeks before I’m scheduled to arrive on the set. Hopefully, I’ll be walking by then.”

Janice gasped. “You’re paralyzed?”

“I’m not paralyzed, but I have some leg injuries and am working with a physical therapist. I might not be one hundred percent, but I plan on giving up my mobility scooter sooner rather than later. Robert didn’t tell you?”

“No. He made it seem like you had some bumps and bruises, but were otherwise okay. I saw a photo of you being wheeled out of a restaurant up near Mackinac Island, but I thought maybe it was only a precaution.”

“I’m beginning to think Robert believes I’m making it up and faking my injury.”

“What about the doctor? I know you were hospitalized.”

“The doctor, in no uncertain terms, told Robert it would take time for me to heal, to fully recover. Apparently, it went in one ear and out the other.” Harlow bit back the rest of her rant. The last thing she wanted to do was drag her friend into it. “We’ll talk again soon.”

“Absolutely.” Janice started to hang up. Harlow stopped her. “Hey. Before you go, have you heard from Vic?”

“Vic Stern, your bodyguard?”

“Yeah.”

“No. I haven’t.”

“I left him a message. He hasn’t replied and I’m wondering if maybe he didn’t get it.”

Rustling ensued on the other end of the line. “I have the number right here for the security agency he’s contracted with. Would you like me to track him down?”

“Yes, but maybe in a roundabout way. I don’t want to put him on the spot if he’s…busy.”

Janice promised to check into it.

Harlow thanked her. She ended the call and waved her cell phone in the air. “Robert is telling people I’m mentally unstable and not to contact me.”

Aunt Birdie cleared her throat. “This guy is a trip.”

“More like a control freak. He’s trying to isolate me from everyone.”

Her aunt placed her hands on her hips. “I would like him to try it with me.”

“Or me,” Eryn chimed in. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to get my ducks in a row and confront him. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s done controlling Harlow Wynn.”

Chapter 7