Page 52 of The Playboy
“Sure. You know I like being your Thelma.” She smiles, and I pull her into a tight embrace.
“Thank you, Em. You really are the best friend a girl could have.”
* * *
We walk upthe stairs to Ben’s apartment. He’s in a slightly shady part of town, but his apartment is nice. Emily gives me an encouraging nod when we reach his door. I raise my fist and knock, then wait patiently for him to answer. He hasn’t returned my phone calls or texts since this morning, and this is the only other way I have to reach him. I hear some movement inside, and then he opens the door.
“What the hell do you want?” he sneers.God, this man really has become a miserable asshole.
I take a deep breath. “We need to talk, and you won’t answer my calls or return my texts. Can we come in?”
He stands to the side, allowing both of us to walk through the entryway. I stop just inside and turn to look at him. “Ben, you need to stop all this. The business with the contract, trying to keep me away from Tait—all of it. You can’t keep blackmailing me.”
“You think that’s what I’m doing? Blackmailing you?” He chokes out a sarcastic laugh. “No, honey. I told you, I’m trying to protect you. I know the Taits of this world, and you’re too naive to know that he’s going to treat you like complete shit.”
I’m furious. “Ben, I am a lot smarter and a lot braver than you give me credit for. I can stand up for myself, and I don’t need you, oranyonefor that matter, protecting me. You are going to delete those pictures, and you are going to stop harassing me.” The words come out stronger and louder than originally intended.
“You’ll learn soon enough, and I won’t be there to help you.”
I feel my stomach drop. “You sent them, didn’t you?”
“Yup,” he says, popping the ‘p’. “Have fun getting a job in Hollywood now, whore.”
I clench my teeth and talk through them. “I told younotto call me that.”
“I tell it how it is.”
I can’t contain myself. My fist flies, connecting with his nose. I hear a distinct crunch and know it’s broken. He stumbles back, covering his nose, and Emily is pulling me out of his apartment.
“If you ever try to contact me again, I’ll make sure it’s the last fucking thing you do,” I scream as she pulls me through the archway and slams the door behind us.
* * *
We get backto our apartment, and my phone rings. It’s Rose from the studio.
“Hi, Rose. Sorry I haven’t called you back yet. It’s been a bit crazy.”
“Yes, so I’ve read. Listen, we’ve changed our minds. Your position has been filled. Sorry to have wasted your time.” She keeps her tone completely business-like.
“You’ve read the article, haven’t you?”
“Yes. I’m sorry it has to be this way, but we don’t need more of a scandal involving the studio. Whatever your deal was with Tait is between the two of you. At this time, it would be in our best interest to not employ you.”
The tears start again, and I hold them back to finish out the conversation. I will not cry. “Thank you, Rose. I understand.”
“Sam?” she asks.
“Yes?”
“For what it’s worth, Ididlike you.”
“Thanks, Rose.” I disconnect the call and look outside, down to the street. There’s a small gathering of paparazzi outside my building. I pull the blinds and step away from the window.Guess they are all here for the story.Just like clockwork, my phone starts ringing and buzzing with new messages and calls. I don’t recognize the numbers, but I know the calls are from different news outlets trying to get the inside scoop. I turn off my phone and look over at Emily.
“Guess we are trapped here for the night. I’ll order a pizza, and we can watch movies and drink beer.”
Chapter 33
I pullup outside her apartment to a small swarm of paparazzi hanging out, talking with one another.Shit. This isn’t going to be good.I open the door, and they are on me instantly, the bright lights of their flashes blinding me momentarily. All of them are trying to get me to answer the same question, too.Do I really need a contract to get women to sleep with me?It’s none of their damn business, and I want to tell them so, but I know it’s best not to say anything at this moment. I push past them and enter her building.