Page 38 of The Starlet
“I don’t know who you are. How am I supposed to respond to you?”
His voice rises in anger. “I’ve asked you many times to come visit me in the bar, yet you still refuse to show. If you would have come, we could have been spending this time getting to know one another. I know everything about you, Elena. I know what you like, what you don’t like, and I know I can make you happy.
“When you’ve smiled at me, I’ve been on cloud nine. I know you’d feel it, too, if you just give me a chance. Bradley isn’t good for you. You need to stop seeing him.”
“W-we’re just friends. There’s nothing going on between us.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me. I saw the two of you last night atFeverish. I was coming to dance with you, and he snaked his arm around you like he owns you, then moved you to the side of the dance floor. That’s when I saw the two of you, hands all over one another.”
Tears fall down my cheeks, and I sniffle. “Did you put something in my drink last night?”
“You were supposed to have a girls’ night out. I heard you talking about it one night. I wanted to be able to show you how much fun I can be. We would have danced and laughed all night. I never would have touched you.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“You didn’t drink it.”
I don’t even know what to say to this guy. He’s delusional. My chest heaves as I try to suck in oxygen. It’s hard to take a deep breath.Count backwards from ten. I’m safe. Jimmy, Kent, and Bradley are keeping me safe.
“I have to go. If you love me like you say you do, please leave me alone. If the time is right, maybe we can meet.”
I hang up the phone and lie on my bed in the fetal position. My phone rings, and I see it’s the same caller but don’t answer. He leaves a voicemail, and I delete it without listening.
* * *
I can’t blameJimmy for being mad at me for talking to him, and I know it wasn’t the smartest choice on my part. I’d hoped I would recognize his voice or be able to get him to describe himself. Neither happened, and we’re back at square one. Maybe worse off. He had been working on a plan with Bradley and Kent, and I probably shot it all to hell by trying to take care of this on my own.
Good job, Elena!
I walk to Bradley’s room and rap my knuckles on his door. I stand there, looking up and down the hall until he finally answers. His face is scrunched and his jaw is clenched. When he sees me and my tear-streaked cheeks, he pulls me to him and kisses the top of my head.
He drags me to the bed, and I lie next to him. I tell him about what I did and how I messed up his plans for trying to catch the guy. I tell him the entire conversation and what he said. Even how he admitted to putting something in our drinks at the club.
“That was reckless, Elena. It’s exactly what he wants, but we need to change your cell number if he has it. There’s no telling what he’ll do with it. You can use my laptop and log on to your carrier’s site to change it.”
“I’m sorry about earlier, too. I didn’t mean what I said. I just needed you to leave me alone for a little while so I could take the call. I saw the look on your face, and I know I hurt you.”
He runs the back of his fingers down my cheek. “Jasmine said the same thing to me in a fight one night. It hit close to home. I know you didn’t mean it.” He takes my hands in his and pulls them to his lips for a kiss. “I want you to know this, too. One of the production assistants, Kai, was at the bar tonight. He was asking about you, and it seemed off. I’ve asked Jimmy to have someone look into him as a possible suspect.”
“How are you so good at this?”
“I called a lot of people and learned a lot when I was going through this before. The situation is different, but the follow-up is still the same.” He sits and helps me off the bed. “Come on, let’s have you change your phone number. Then we can take a shower and get into bed.”
* * *
Money talks.That’s the best way to describe it. The next morning, rumors are already circulating around about how the cops are sniffing around for something. Kai was stopped with a search warrant on his way into work this morning, and he’s not allowed on set until the investigation ends. The paparazzi outside the hotel have been having a field day with what little information they have.
Every news crew is clambering to get the scoop, and I keep my head down. Caleb and Tait seem to be wrapped in their own thoughts and don’t notice. I’m still pissed at Caleb for sending Quinn home. The replacement girl, Amanda, is all right. Nothing special, and not very professional. She’s definitely trying to get in Caleb’s pants.
Tait also looks like a lost puppy. Emily is back, and he keeps asking her about Sam. I have no idea what happened there, but everyone’s love lives are fucked up.
Joe calls a full staff meeting to talk about the rumors flying around. He keeps it brief and keeps my name and Brad’s out of it all, but he lets everyone know there has been some unwanted attention. He also reminds everyone they signed nondisclosure agreements and are not to talk to any of the press.
Well, this is going to be a fun day at work.
Chapter 24
The last fewweeks on set are always the busiest. All the crew scrambles to make sure the scenes are filmed, sets no longer in use are being torn down, and people begin packing to go home.