Page 95 of Anyone But the Superstar

‘You saw me.’

‘I saw you delete a copy. You could’ve saved it somewhere else while you were busy getting me to play chef while ruining my career and getting me to take you to dinner.’

‘I didn’t?—’

‘The dinner.’ I tilt my head, reassessing her request to be my date. ‘Yeah, you needed me to take you to the astronaut dinner.’

Her eyes widen, only for a moment, but I see it, recognizing it as confirmation.

‘Why?’ I step closer, only a foot between us.

Mike hisses.

I step back, but when Elizabeth’s hand remains on his back, I press on with my questions. ‘Why was it so important to go to that dinner?’

She blinks, her eyes shiny. ‘I can’t say.’

I laugh unkindly. ‘Well, isn’t that the story of our entire relationship?’

Blonde lashes falling over pale cheeks. ‘Listen.’ When she reopens them, the blue is brighter and more intense than usual. ‘I know you’re mad and hurt right now.’ The hand not holding Mike back rests against her chest. ‘I’mconfused too. But I didn’t do any of what you’re accusing me of.’

I drop my gaze to her shoulder, unable to fight the tempting lies in her eyes.

She takes a deep breath, as if shoring up patience. ‘I may have not told you my first name, just asyoudidn’t.’ She pauses to let her point sink in. ‘But I never lied.’

I want to dismiss her claim, but the truth of that particular argument makes it impossible. Which only pains me more.

‘This is pointless.’ Exhausted, I pocket my phone and pick up my bag. ‘I don’t know what I was expecting from this conversation with you.’

But I do know.

I expected my questions to be answered with something that would give me hope. Hope that it wasn’t all fake. That I wasn’t as shallow or clueless as the film critics like to assume because of the movies I’ve made. Or, at the very least, I expected guilt, shame and regret to mar her bewitching natural beauty. A reaction that would make the hole in my chest feel a little less torn and ragged.

I walk away from them both.

Reaching the door, I open it, turning back one last time. ‘What is it that makes me such an easy mark for talentless women wanting to make a name for themselves?’ It takes all my strength to hold her gaze.

And while her eyes don’t waver, her mouth remains closed.

Her unwillingness to answer yet another question has me lashing out one final time. ‘I guess that’s just what happens when you don’t have one yourself. At least not a legitimate one, anyway.’

Elizabeth’s blank expression contorts into a pain that’s almost palpable.

There it is. Just what I wanted.

And yet, the vindication I expected to feel is strangely absent. Instead, the void inside my chest grows, more battered and oppressive than before.

Disappointed in myself, I turn to leave, pulling up short when something large blocks my path.

I have a moment to register the sparkle of sequins in the shape of a cat, before a fist slams into my face.

Liz

Felix falls like deadweight to the floor.

My eldest brother Thomas stands over him.

‘Thomas!’ Alice, my sister-in-law, grabs her husband by the waist when he reaches down to grab the front of Felix’s shirt, other arm cocked back.