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I fist pumped the air.Karen Mixer had removed all the photographs and videos from her sleazeball website.Didn’t mean everyone and their uncle hadn’t downloaded and made a copy, but theapology and retractionissued by the woman eased a bit of my seething anger toward her.

A bit.

The second email was from Andreas.

For a moment, I worried he was terminating my services.He hadn’t actually had a good run of publicity since the bar incident.I’d done my best to guide him through the disaster, but maybe he thought I wasn’t on my game?Hell, maybe I wasn’t.I had been distracted.

Nope.

He was merely thanking me, and letting me know he’d decided to head up to Canada nearly two weeks early.“To clear my head.”

That was just fine with me.Away from Omar.Away from LA.Away from all the toxicity and, hopefully, the vultures from the less-than-legitimate press.

Valentino’s head of security, a guy named Hallstein, would be assigning a minder to my client.At least until Norah showed up, and the filming started.Then, hopefully, he’d be too busy to get into trouble.

I spent several minutes crafting what I hoped would be an appropriate response.Empathetic for the shitstorm he’d just endured.Firm that violence was never the answer.Optimistic about the upcoming movie.Friendly enough that he’d know he could always count me on—whether we had a professional relationship or not.

Satisfied I’d hit the right balance, I clicked send.

Lunch.

So much had happened today so far.

James had suggested he’d grab lunch with Phillip in San Clemente where they were shopping, so I rummaged around my fridge searching for something perfect for lunch.

Oh, I’d meant to put the steaks in a marinade for barbecue tonight.

Should I invite Marcie and the nibblets?Is that too nosy?

Possibly.

Probably.

But that didn’t stop me from issuing the invitation.Darren was still in San Diego, so I figured Marcie might appreciate having someone else cook.

Wally yawned and stretched as he joined me in the kitchen.

“Have a good nap?”

He cocked his head.

“Well that’s good.Don’t look too greedily at my food.You’re not getting anything.Your dinner isn’t until?—”

He started scurrying around the kitchen in excitement.He grabbed his bowl in his little teeth and brought it to drop at my feet.

Shit.Obviously I shouldn’t have uttered the worddinner.

So now what to do?

What would I do if I fucked up with the nibblets?

Distraction.

Right.

I quickly sealed the steaks in containers with the marinade and shoved them back in the fridge.

Wally whined.