Page 24 of Nothing to the Wedding

“Maybe you should take this last forty-eight hours as a lesson.You can write what you want about Zairn and I.You don’t need permission and I know you will anyway.But think before you act, Mr.Crosby.This is your business, and I get that you need to make money, but these are people’s lives.Real flesh and blood humans, just the same as you.Z and I can tough anything out.I wonder how much protection you’ve given Anjelica, or did you even think about that?”

“She’s safe where she is.”

What did that mean?Anjelica was somewhere?Specific?Set up by Crosby or whoever was pulling his strings?Just the notion there was still manipulation going on concerned her.Or was that an overreaction?

“And where is she?”

“You came to set your example,” he said.“You have.Great.Are you through?”

He backed toward the door, arm stretching behind him, probably to grope for the handle, only he never got that far.

“You saw the gentlemen who accompanied me here, right?Throwing me out isn’t a simple process.”

“What is it you want?”he asked.“The interview?I can get you that interview, if you want it.Though you screwed me over last time, is that another lesson?Fool me once—you want to make a fool of me again?”

“How did I make a fool of you?”

“Getting Kesley in there before Julietta.”

“Oh,” she said, her lips staying in a circle as her eyes went to the side.“You were the catalyst for the Julietta Ines interview.That’s right.I forgot.”

“Yes.And you slipped Kesley right in there first.Didn’t even have the courtesy to tell me.”

Okay, uh, that was Zairn.Think Kesley would ever do anything she said?Not a chance… unless it was her playing pretend Zairn to get the woman to dinner.Long story.

Yes, her Casanova could get Kesley Walsh to do anything.That sounded rude, it wasn’t rude.They were close, her guy had good relationships with all kinds of people across the world.As Kesley once put it, “Z is on good terms with everyone.Even those he isn’t on good terms with.”

“You give me too much credit,” she said.

“You calling me a liar?”

She shrugged.“If that will make you feel better…” He steamed.“Look, every word I say in public is owned or owed to someone.”

That switched on his astute stare again.“And you want out?”

She laughed.“Is this how you relate to all people, Mr.Crosby?Every conversation is a lead?A prospective scoop?”

“In this town, it’s all about perspective.”Which was how she got herself into trouble so often.“And don’t judge me, we’re not all as lucky to live the high life twenty-four seven.Some of us have bills to pay.”

“Invading other people’s lives isn’t the way to do it.There’s plenty you can write about Zairn and I without setting up some innocent patsy.That’s who she’ll be now, this Anjelica, forever, the ‘other’ woman.Though we both know she’s nothing of the sort.”

“You didn’t say this much the other day.”

“My purpose then was to avoid giving you a quote.”

“You’re not avoiding it now?”

She sighed.“Why can’t we just be human beings?”

“You’re a celebrity, Roxie, famous, you belong to the world.This is the life you chose.”

“I belong to Zairn and he to me,” she said and voila!“There’s your quote.”

Completely by accident.Job done.Man, she was good.

“What?That’s it?”he asked when she headed his way, given the door was behind him.“You slink off out of here?”

“What would you prefer I do?I could press charges.”