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“None at all.” He shakes his head and lets out a sigh. “I think maybe drugs were involved. It’s an unfortunate fact of this business.”

“Indeed. What about that young girl in the video? Isn’t she Mr. Jamison’s stepdaughter? How is she involved? Was her shirt torn there?”

"She is his stepdaughter. I’m just going to say I feel sorry for her. Her shirt must have gotten that way in the chaos. I have no further comment.”

I grunt. “I’ve heard enough. Turn it the fuck off before I smash it.”

I reach across to press the stop button on Davis’s laptop, but before I can, he grabs my wrist, shaking his head. On the screen, the interviewer takes a sip of water before continuing.

“Can you give us any insight into the situation before that video begins? What were you doing in that room in the first place, can you tell us that?”

“That’s the ironic thing, Claire. I was there because I was thinking of signing with his agency. I’m glad I never put my signature to any sort of contract because if this is the behavior of the CEO, can you imagine what chaos I’d be in?” Nolan sighs. “I will add one thing, about the young woman, theagent. I should have had some idea when she tried to put her hand on… Well, on a private part of my anatomy…”

“Really?”

“It happens. I’m a celebrity. People think they’re entitled—”

The video cuts off as I slam the laptop shut. “Enough. Meeting’s over.”

“I know you have to fire me. I get it—”

Jesus. Fire her? For what? For Nolan being an asshole?

“Nobody is firing you.” I glare at Lennie but my anger is at the situation, not at her.

“Look, this isn’t good.” Davis paces on the other side of my office. The three of us retreated here after the meeting to discuss next steps. “I think the best thing we can do right now is lay low. You know how these things are. Hollywood loves some drama, but by next week, if there’s nothing new, you guys disappear, it will be stale. They’ll move on to something else.”

“So what? I just lock up at the house--” That’s not a half bad idea…

He shakes his head. “You need to get away, man.” With a glance over at Lennie, he adds, “Both of you.”

“Get away? By the time I get back—”

“Everything will be fine because I’ll be here.” He pulls out a seat and drops into it next to Lennie. “Look, I can tell things have changed between you two. I’m not going to ask any questions, but if I can see it, others will as well; and that’s a story that would run forweeks. Maybe months. Get out of here. Go see your mom. Let everything blow over.”

I hear what he’s saying, but it’s fucking madness. Things aren’t about to change between me and Lennie. This story is going to come out sometime.

I shake my head. “Better to—”

“Lennie, can you give us the room a moment, sweetheart?”

She looks from me to him, but when I nod, she retreats with a sigh of relief.

“Go sit with Darlene. I gave her raspberry chocolate cupcakes this morning. Go get one.” Darlene is my assistant and as loyal as Davis. She loves her paycheck, but I think she loves cupcakes more and I’ve made it a habit to make sure she’s got her cupcake fix, especially when I see a challenging day ahead. She’ll watch Lennie and not ask questions.

Davis sighs as soon as she’s out of the room. “Look, man, I get it. But Lennie doesn’t. She’ll be chum in the water as soon as this story comes out. You need to get her out of here, forherfucking sake. Make a plan the way you always do and come back as the conquering hero. You hear what I’m saying?“

I get it. He’s right. It’s time Lennie and I took a trip.

From the bright lights of the big city to the crickets in the cornfields. Sounds about perfect to me.

Six

Lennie

“You look good holding that baby.” An older woman across the aisle smiles my way with her perfect red lipstick and curled silver hair.

“Thanks,” I reply as Cade stands in the aisle way of the first-class section, letting the young mother sitting across from us get by so she can use the restroom. The chubby little girl gives me a gumless smile, her lips wet, and I see two little teeth just poking through.