Page 66 of Solar Shadows

ISAAC

Mr. Cash. Why did I know that name?

I sat down at two-tone pink-and-white table, a silver ice bucket at its center. A bottle of Dom Pérignon sat chilling away inside it, with three glasses waiting to be filled.

A waiter came over to pour for us.

“Thanks,” I told him.

“You’re welcome, sir.”

Oh? Jake was here? Good for Ollie to have some backup. But why did he seem so rattled?

“Darling?”

I tore my eyes off Ollie, facing Helen. “Yes?”

Her eyes narrowed, her forehead creasing slightly into a frown. “Are you spacing out on me?”

I shook my head, picking up my glass. “It’s good to see you, Helen.”

I hope you’re okay,I thought to Ollie.

“And you, darling.” She clinked champagne flutes with me, not introducing this mystery person yet.

My agent had clearly been at a spa. Her dark-brown skin gleamed with a post-facial glow. I was jealous. I’d love a spa day.

“What do you think of my outfit?” she inquired.

She wore a gorgeous orange pantsuit only she could pull off with a plunging neckline, complemented by lots of gold jewelry. She looked stunning.

“Amazing,” I said.

She patted her red-black layered bob. “Thanks.” Her honey-gold eyes inspected my clothes. “Same to you.”

“Thank you.” I sipped my champagne, eyes darting quickly to Ollie and Jake.

What were they talking about?

“Now, for introductions,” Helen said.

I put my glass down, doing my best to stay in step with this meeting. “Okay.”

“Isaac, meet Ben Cash.”

I offered him a hand. “Nice to meet you.”

He shook my hand, giving me a quizzical look. “You don’t know who I am.” He tugged on the sleeves of his powder blue shirt.

I know I don’t like you for saying that shit to me.“I’m sorry. I do recognize your name, though.”

He folded his arms, pouting.

Can I go home now?

“Ben Cash,” Helen chimed in, pouring emphasis into the delivery of his name. “The king of reality TV, remember? You watched the series when he worked on a farm for ten episodes.”

It clicked then. He’d been in so many different TV shows, always changing his hair color for each one.