Page 6 of Birdie by the Bay (Wynn Harbor Inn #2)
“Robert gave me strict orders not to bother you.”
Harlow repeated what Janice said. “Robert told you not to contact me?”
“Correct.”
She felt as if someone had sucked the air from her lungs. Her friends hadn’t abandoned her! Robert was keeping them away. He had gone behind her back, telling the people who cared about her, who were worried, not to bother her. “Did he give you a reason why?”
“Because you’re under extreme duress. I’ll be honest…and I hate to say this.” Janice hesitated.
“Say what?”
“He almost made it sound like perhaps you’re emotionally unstable.”
“Emotionally unstable,” Harlow gasped.
“He didn’t come right out and call you unstable, but Robert definitely alluded to you having caused the accident. Hang on.”
Harlow could tell Janice was on the move. A door closed, and then her muffled voice grew clearer. “It’s all right to feel overwhelmed. All you had to do was reach out and ask for help. You know I would’ve been there.”
“Everyone deals with stress, but I can assure you I wasn’t stressed out enough to crash my Ferrari. It was an accident. I dropped my cell phone. I did a dumb thing and looked down to grab it. All it took was a split second and my car crossed the center line. I jerked the wheel and lost control.”
“So…you’re not having a nervous breakdown?”
“No. But I might need bail money when I get my hands on my husband,” Harlow fumed. “Who else has Robert told this pack of lies to?”
“It’s mostly been kept hush-hush. You know the rumor mill around here. We can’t control that. I issued a formal press release based on what Robert wanted me to say not long after it happened. Do you want me to send you a copy?”
“Please. As soon as you get a chance.”
“Standby.” Janice’s voice grew muffled. “It’s on the way. I am so glad to hear from you, Harlow.”
“And I’m glad I called.”
Tink.
“It came through. Hang on.”
“I’m hanging.”
Harlow clicked on the message and opened the attachment. The press release was brief and to the point. It stated she’d been involved in a car accident, was expected to make a full recovery and all inquiries or correspondence were directed to Robert.
Harlow clicked away from the message. “Are you still there?”
“Yes.”
“So…Robert cut you out. He’s handling everything for me.”
“In a nutshell. He didn’t fire me or my agency per se, but he made it crystal clear he’ll be handling your public releases until further notice.” Janice told her as soon as the press release was sent, he put her on hiatus.
“He never breathed a word to me.”
“Maybe because Robert believes you caused the accident and is trying to protect you.”
“More like he’s trying to control me,” Harlow said. “I’ve officially reinstated you.”
“I…are you sure? Do you want to run it by Robert first?”
“No. I don’t and I won’t. From here on out, you will only go through me. In fact, please don’t mention our conversation to him,” Harlow said. “I’ll handle Robert.”
“I hope I haven’t caused problems between you two,” Janice said.
“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 you is you.”
“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.”