“Fine. I’ll think about it,” I agree, getting up to leave. “Wait, you were gonna tell me something about Jennifer.”
“Oh, that's right. I was just thinking about her ex, Parker Hudson. He’s a little shit. I really can’t believe he leaked all sixty-one photos.”
“He probably got a lot of money for them. And since she freely sent them to him, she has no legal recourse. It worked out well for us though. You know other photos would have come out, but they would have trickled out day by day. Parker shot his wad all at once. No one could ever suggest we planted them.”
“Right. And once everyone believes Vegas was the Sinner’s Party, there's no reason you couldn’t let it leak that Jennifer
purposely
sent them to him. That she was acting—pretending to be drunk—because she knew he would be an asshole and sell them.”
“So, one point for Jennifer. In the scheme of things, that doesn’t really help, does it?”
Keatyn hands me an envelope. “A good friend delivered this to me today. I’ve been trying to decide what to do with it.”
I pull the photo out and quickly shut my eyes. “Oh! You could have warned me they were having sex in the picture. Mentally prepared me.”
“I didn’t want to prepare you. I wanted it to shock you just like it will shock Parker’s fans. I’ve never heard a single rumor about him playing for both teams. And look closer at the photo. It’s not
just
gay sex. It's a full blown gay orgy.”
“Where the hell did you get this?”
“I’m afraid I can’t reveal my source.”
“Which means, Sander,” I surmise, based on the fact she is still close to the actor, who she dated in high school well before he came out of the closet. “I’m really surprised Sander would give you this. He didn't come out of the closet until a few years ago.”
“
Whoever
sent this to me believes that it doesn't matter what Parker’s sexual orientation is. The guy’s a dick. He suggested showing it to Parker as a means of persuading him to admit to the press that he shared Jennifer’s photos because he's an asshole, and to ensure he doesn’t give her any more shit.”
“That's sorta blackmail. I'm shocked, Keatyn.”
“We're persuading him to be nice to one person. I'd hardly call that blackmail.”
“Should we show Jennifer?”
“No, I think she's had enough for the last twenty-four hours.”
“You must be talking about me,” Knox says, knocking on Keatyn’s door. “Just want to let you know we are finished with the photo shoot. Unless you two need me for anything else, I'm going home and sleeping for the next twelve hours straight. I think I caught a cold in Vegas.”
“You're lucky if that’s all you caught,” I tease.
“I didn't fuck anyone in Vegas but Jennifer,” he says, offended.
“Are you and Jennifer okay?” Keatyn asks him.
“I’m pissed she texted her ex while she was with me. Makes sense now why she wouldn't sleep with Riley. I think she’s still sort of hung up on him.”
“I think her drunken mind thought she was getting back at him,” Keatyn says. “She has a big crush on you, Knox. Go easy on her.”
“I think it would be best if we were just friends going forward.”
“Don't tell her that today, okay?” I tell him.
“I won't. I might not tell her for a while. She's fun. But I will probably have the
this is just fun
chat with her soon.”
“I think she'll be okay with that,” Keatyn says.
“You've been here all day,” Knox says to Keatyn. “Don't you think you should go get some rest?”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Aiden says, joining us all in the office.
“It's no wonder I can't get anything done,” she teases. “It's like Grand Central Station in here!”
“You and Aiden head home,” I tell her, exiting her office. “I think you’ve done everything you can for today. Dawson and I will go back over all the details and get ready for tomorrow.”
I decide to stop freaking out about Dawson. Maybe I’m
feeling
in love with him or maybe I’m
really
in love with him. Either way, Keatyn’s right. I should enjoy it while it lasts.
“Did you find what you were looking for?” Dawson asks when I sit down next to him in the board room.
“I think I found exactly what I’ve been looking for.” I smile at him. I can’t help it.
“Good. I’ve been running through our to-do list and went over it with Tyler. I think we’ve got everything covered for today.” He stands up and rubs my shoulders. “You’re tense.”
“What would you think of getting a massage?” I ask him.
“I know I’d love to massage you.”
“Are you good with your hands?”
He leans down and whispers in my ear. “I think you already know the answer to that question. Shall I give you a massage tonight?”
“Well, I was thinking of having Chad, my masseuse, give us both a massage.”
“Oh,” Dawson says flatly. “I should have known. The girl who has everything.” He stops rubbing my neck. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong. Do you sleep with him? You were glad I didn’t sleep with anyone in Vegas, but what about you? Are you seeing anyone?”
“No.”
“Were you before I got here?”
“I didn't sit home alone, if that's what you mean,” I reply brusquely, becoming a little offended.
“So where are these guys now?”
“It was casual.”
“So just sex?”
“And the occasional escort to a party. Although, lately, I've been taking Chad. He loves parties and he's been meeting a lot of men that way.”
“Men?”
“Yes, he's gay.”
Dawson sits on the table in front of me and smiles.
“That makes you happy?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says, brushing his lips across mine, his jealousy making me feel giddy.
“Let’s skip the massage, go to the restaurant downstairs, and have some dinner.”
“I’m making everyone stay until nine tonight. That’s supposed to include us.”
“Let them go home. Tomorrow is going to be busy when word of the party gets out.”
“I don’t know,” I say, knowing I personally have yet to run through the list and verify that everything was done the way I wanted.
“I’ll bring the list. We’ll go over it while we enjoy a bottle of wine.”
I move my head around, thinking about it, as he sweetens the deal. “Then I’ll take you back to my place and massage every square inch of you.”
“Deal,” I say. How can I refuse? “But you have to promise that if there’s something we missed on the list, we’ll finish it before we leave.”
“I promise,” he says, sealing it with a kiss.
Captive Films — Santa Monica
KEATYN
After everyone but Aiden leaves, I tell him, “We’re going to have to reschedule dinner with our families.”
He hands me the frozen lemonade in his hand and gets a stubborn look on his face.
“No way, Boots. This is more important than
any
crisis. Besides, Tyler told me everything is under control.”
“Tyler is an optimist.”
Aiden pulls me up out of my chair and wraps his arms around me. I can’t help but melt into him.
“You hired Vanessa to handle all this kind of stuff. Let her do her job.”
“Hugging you takes away all my stress,” I coo, sliding my hands up under his shirt.
“Don’t start what you can’t finish,” he teases, giving me a steamy kiss.
I stifle a yawn.
“See, you’re tired. You’ve already been at work for over twelve hours. It’s time for us to go to dinner.”
“The photographer is working overtime to get the photos from today’s shoot back to me. Once I choose them, they have to go to the printer, who is working overnight to get the promotional posters for the party done.”
“When will they be done?”
“He said around nine.”
“Message him now to text you when they are done. We won’t stay at dinner long and when we get home, I’ll help you choose. I’m thinking a nice warm bath is in order too.”
“Do I have to bathe alone?” I ask, moving my hand a little lower.
“Do you ever?” he teases, kissing my nose. “Come on, baby. Let’s go share some good news.”
Aiden and I are sitting in the bathtub. He’s cupping water in his hand and emptying it on my chest to keep me warm while I’m leaned back against his chest, relaxing.
“Everyone was excited about the baby,” he says, referring to the cheers
and the,
It’s about times
from our families.
“Your mom especially,” I say. His mom fought and won a battle with cancer and is so excited to have lived to see this day.
“Your sisters are excited to become aunts, but I think they were even more excited to learn that the fundraiser invitations they got yesterday are really for our wedding.”
“I know. Did you hear Avery asking about interning at Captive? She said her teacher won’t count all the work she does on their Stevens brand.”
“You were smart to tell her yes. Your marketing department can always use help in social media.”
“I know. With Gracie’s acting, Ivery’s modeling, and Emery’s music career, I think Avery sometimes feels like the oddball. She’s yet to really find her calling.”
“Your sisters are the exception. Most people don’t know what they want to do until they experience life. Want to know what I think?”
“Of course.”
“I think she could be a Captive Films executive someday. She’s smart and creative.”
“Aiden, ohmigosh, I never even thought of that, but you’re right. I have a better idea. I should let her spend a few weeks in each department so she can figure out what she loves the most.”
“That’s perfect. Speaking of perfect. So far, Ariela seems to be doing a great job getting this wedding pulled together. I think we were smart to take a page from the Abby Johnston and Tommy Stevens handbook on how to quietly get married.”
“I think so too. Maggie texted me and told me Ariela had meetings with vendors all day today. And she got the invitations out on time. Even I didn’t know if that was possible.”
My phone dings. Aiden wipes his hand off on a towel and looks at it. “Guess the bath party is over. That’s the photographer. The photos are ready. Oh, there’s also a text from Dallas. We must have not heard it when you were attacking me.”
I laugh. “I’m pretty sure it’s
you
who did the attacking this time. What’s it say?”
“It says,
Call me
. Here, I’ll dial. Your hands are wet.”
He puts it on speaker.
“Hey, Dallas. It’s me and Aiden. Sorry we just saw your text.”
“How did dinner with the families go?”
“Good. Everyone is excited about both the wedding and the baby.”
“I knew they would be. So, I may have some good news. I’ve been working on these charges with the county prosecutor. I told him in confidence about the publicity stunt.”
“Oh, Dallas! That’s brilliant. It’s another way the press could verify it.”
“That’s what I was thinking. I believe they will be dropping all the charges except for the public intoxications and all that requires is paying a fine.”
“You’re amazing.”
“The casino and hotel also called. Apparently, they have been flooded with calls inquiring about the suite from the party and have booked it out for months in advance. The crew is welcome back anytime.”
“Don’t tell them that,” Aiden laughs.
Captive Films — Santa Monica
DAWSON
After dinner we go back to the office to tie up a few final details.
“Will you be my date for the Purity Party? Apparently, Tyler ordered me an all-white suit. I haven’t worn all white since my wedding,” I accidentally say. Shit, I don’t want to talk about my wedding.
“I told you about my wedding,” Vanessa says. “What was yours like?”
“A bit of a disaster. Her family was embarrassed she was getting married after she had a baby and refused to come. My family didn’t want me to marry her, but they came because we always support each other.”
“She had a beautiful family with you. Why would she kill herself?”
“Because she was in a severe depression.”
“Why?”
“I really don’t want to talk about it, Vanessa. I told you she struggled with depression. I’m sorry I brought up my wedding. I didn’t mean to.”
“Oh,” she says. “It’s okay.” But I can tell it’s not really.
She’s quiet for a minute then says, “So tomorrow night is the party. What do you want to do Friday night? I think if we’re able to pull this all off, we should go out and celebrate.”