Page 51 of Filthy Rich

That was a lie. I sneak around the back and barge in on the meeting. “It’s May, hands down,” I say. “You have to pick her. She’s as great as Patrice was lousy.”

“Oh, good,” Stu says. “Someone smart.” He points at me. “Listen to him.”

“But she brings no star power,” Adam says. “And when you’re replacing someone high profile, you don’t bring in a nobody?—”

“Unless you’re doing it to clear out the stench that high profile person left. Then you do bring in a breath of fresh air,” I say. “That’s what May is. What little notoriety she has, and it’s growing, is all good. And out there, did you actually listen to her? She’s as nice as she is wholesome. She’s perfect. She fits the description of the role to a tee.”

“She’s a blond,” Adam says.

“Then dye her hair,” I say. “And stop being an idiot.”

“I agree with him,” Stu says. “Except not the idiot part, of course.”

Jane covers her mouth, but it’s clear she’s laughing. “I vote for May, too.”

“So do all of you want her?” Adam looks around.

Everyone’s nodding.

“Oh, good.” He beams. “Then it’s unanimous. I was just playing devil’s advocate to see how much you’d fight me.”

We’ve just shared the news with May, who’s giddy enough to be jumping up and down, when Bradley calls. “Two calls from my agent in two days?” I ask. “What is it now?”

“I thought you deserved a warning,” he says. “I just got a call from someone with the state of New York, and they said?—”

In that moment, I know what the call was about without Bradley saying the words. I hang up the phone and stand up to prepare. Like most of the biggest moments in my life, I’m not sure whether to shout or cry.

When the door to our tiny meeting room opens, my hunch is confirmed.

“Excuse me,” Adam says, “but this is a closed set. You can’t just barge in here?—”

My father’s smile spreads slowly. “But I’m Jake Priest’s new manager.” He bobs his head at Adam. “I assume you’re Adam Forrest.”

“His manager?” Adam frowns. “Last I heard, he didn’t want a manager assigned.”

“That’s because Jake was holding the position for me,” Dad says. “I’m his father.” He holds out his hand. “And it’s so nice to finally meet you.”

Chapter 13

Octavia

I’ve always wondered whether my mother liked acting so much because she never felt happy with who she was. Not that the same principle applies to everyone. Perhaps I hated it because it made my mom angry when I took attention from her. Or maybe I just wanted to be happy with who I was—I didn’t ever want to pretend I was someone else entirely.

That’s why Morgan’s proclamation isn’t very exciting to me.

“I got them to agree to exactly what I wanted.” It’s eight-thirty in the morning, and she’s shrieking, waving a paper in my face.

“You—what?” I glance at Bea, hoping she has some idea what’s going on.

“They’re eliminating Patrice, for one.” Morgan makes a retching sound. “But for another, they’ve officially offered you her position. I told them you have past acting experience, and they agreed that the video of Jake kissing you?—”

“Absolutely not,” I say. “I won’t take it.”

“Why not?” She steps closer. “Look at the contract. They’re keeping your pay the same as it was for Patrice, and?—”

I shove both the paper and Morgan back a full body length. “I appreciate you caring enough to do this for me, but it’s still a hearty ‘no thank you’ from me. I want nothing to do with any of this.”

“They tried to offer her that part when they first accused her,” Bea says. “She turned them down then, too.”