Vegas Love (15 page)

Something Serious

Ashlyn

My bad mood comes back as soon as I wake up. I’m tired because I didn’t sleep worth a shit, so I skip my jog on the beach.
 

I opt, instead, to take a long, hot bath.
 

But I can’t be in a bathtub anymore without thinking of him.
 

Damn him.
 

I push him out of my thoughts and try to clear my mind.

I wake up with a start. Visions of Sexy pulling me out of the tub and laying me across the ottoman on our wedding night are fresh in my thoughts.
 

So much for relaxing.

I get out of the tub and get myself ready for work. But before I leave, I open the safe and slide the ring on my finger.
 

Just to stare at it for a minute.

On the way to the studio, I get a text from my manager, Bart.

Bart:
 
I haven’t heard from you. Everything going okay on set?

Me:
 
Yes. What’s your opinion of Brandi?

Bart:
 
She works hard for you.

Me:
 
By screwing Luke?

Bart:
 
I think you should talk to Luke. He feels really bad. Says the tape was stolen from his house and he had nothing to do with it. Told me he wants to apologize to you. Honestly, I think you two should get back together.

Me:
 
Are you serious?
 

Bart:
 
There’s something sexy about a woman standing by her man. Your fans would love it.

Me:
 
He released a sex tape of us. You’re nuts if you think I’m ever going to speak to him again. Also, I need to know how much longer I have on the lease. I want to move.
 

Bart:
 
At least six months, I think. I’ll have to look it up to be sure.

Sexy is in my dressing room when I come back after a long set of takes.
 

“You can’t just come in here whenever you want. You work for Cade, not for me. So get the hell out.”

He grabs my hands and holds them tight, looking deep into my eyes.
 

When he looks at me like this I can barely breathe, because it’s like he sees right through me. But then his look changes to something grim.

He’s going to break up with me.
 

Right now.
 

He’s going to tell me after the way I behaved last night he wants a divorce.
 

I’m a dyslexic lover. I can’t decide if I love him or hate him.
 

Actually, that’s not true. I know I love him. And I hate him because of it.

“I looked at your schedule and you have a two-hour break.” He holds up a take-out bag. “So, I brought in lunch. We need to talk about something. Something serious.”

“It’s fine. Just give me the divorce papers and I’ll sign them,” I huff out. I don’t want to hear him say it.

“I think that’s what got you into trouble in the first place,” he says, causing me to become confused.

“What?”

He leads me over to my couch and starts taking food out of the bag. “Cade has mentioned his concerns about your manager and your publicist.”

“Oh, uh, yeah. But they have been with me since I started. I owe them a lot.”

“Actually, Ash, you don’t. They don’t work for free, so you’ve already paid them for what they have done.”

“Well, I suppose your right,” I say tentatively, taking a big bite of the juicy, fully loaded burger he got me. “This is so good.”

“Tell me again what your manager told you about your lease.”

“He said that I can’t buy a house until my lease is up.”

“When is it up?”

“He told me this morning he thought about six more months.”

“He’s lying to you. Your lease was up four months ago. We also learned that you’ve been paying quite a bit above market value and your manager is taking a large finder’s fee each month. That’s legal, but not ethical.”

“He’s what? Are you fucking kidding me? He lied to me about my house?” I clutch my chest. This is the last straw. I can take a lot. I can. But not this. A house is the only thing I’ve asked for. I reach for my phone, ready to call the bastard and fire him.

Cash grabs my hand. “What are you doing?”

“I’m calling him and firing him this minute!”

“You can’t. Cade and I think you need to take action quickly, but there are some things you need to do before that.”

“Like what?”

“He has access to your financial accounts, correct?”

“Yes.” It sinks in. “Shit. Do you think he’s taking money?”

“We don’t know but, if you fire him, you definitely don’t want him to still have access. I considered just having you call the bank to revoke his access, but I think it would be better to just close your accounts and start over.”

I put my hands on top of my head. I cannot deal with this. I look up at the ceiling and wonder what the hell else is going to happen to me. Haven’t I been a good girl? Well, a mostly good girl?

“I’ll help you. It’s going to be okay.”
 

I look into his eyes and somehow know he’s right. I smile at him. “Thank you for helping me with this. Your brother recommended someone to handle my finances a while ago. I think it’s someone who maybe handles his money?”

“Yeah, Matt Anthony. Great guy. We’ve known his family forever. What I love about him is how he talks to you about life goals. He’s not just a financial planner, he’s sort of a life planner. He helps you make financial decisions based on the kind of life you want to live.”

“He sounds amazing.”

“He also uses multiple accounting firms depending on your needs. You have to have that separation. I heard your accountant is a friend of your manager.”

“Yeah. God, I’m dumb, aren’t I?”

“You’re trusting. It’s a good character trait, but in business you have to be a little more cautious. You also need to be hands on. Take an interest in your future. Are you okay with Matt coming to talk to you now?”

“Right now?”

“Yes,” he says seriously.

“Okay then.” If he wants to help me fix it so fast, he and Cade must be really concerned. “What else haven’t you told me?”

“You know how your manager wants you to take the Sci-Fi role and how he’s been trying desperately to convince you?”

“Yeah. He already convinced me. I was going to tell Cade this week.”

“Did he tell you what he gets out of it?”

“Well, he’ll earn his normal ten percent.”

“Actually, they are so desperate for your star power that they offered him a producer role. He’ll not only earn a percentage off what you make, but will receive his own contract as well. Not to mention the credit.”

I slump in my seat, feeling defeated, when there’s a knock at the door.
 

Cade walks in and introduces me to Matt Anthony. We have a long conversation about what I want out of life. My financial goals. My revenue stream. Then we open new money market accounts and move all my money out of the bank and into them. Since my investments were through a separate national financial firm and my manager’s name isn’t on it, we don’t have to worry about them. But they do, so they send signed and notarized documents stating that Bart should under no circumstances be allowed to access my accounts. Ever.
 

If I’m going to do this, I might as well go all in. “Cash told me that I only need to give a thirty-day notice to get out of my lease. I’d really like to buy a house. That’s my biggest goal, besides getting all this straightened out. My manager told me that I should keep leasing because it was a tax write off, but now I don’t know what to believe.”

“Ashlyn,” Matt says, “there are plenty of tax benefits to purchasing a home, but it’s not just about that. The money you’re spending on leasing is just like throwing away money. You’re basically renting and aren’t gaining wealth. Granted the market has been a little crazy nationally, but typically a home is a good investment. And, since you are in the public eye, I think the right location could be very good for you mentally. Like we discussed earlier, when we make decisions about your future, we want to balance what makes you happy as well as what makes sense financially.”

I nod. I’m so overwhelmed. Cash bumps his shoulder into mine and gives me a reassuring smile. It gives me the confidence to continue.

“I’d also like to suggest we do a full audit of the accounts your manager had access to.
Before
you buy him out of his contract.”

“Do you think he was taking money?”

“There are some transactions that look a bit suspect.”

“Shit. I’m so dumb.”

“You’re trusting,” Cash counters. “And you’re busy. But this is your money and you are ultimately responsible for it.”

“And if we’re going to work together,” Matt says, “we’ll have a monthly call to go over your income and expenses. We want everything fully above board. So tell me when you want to buy a house.”

“As soon as I can find the right one.”

“And how long do you intend on living there?”

I glance at Cash and think the rest of my life, but I can’t say that. “I’m not sure, exactly.”

“I don’t need exact, but are you thinking it’s a house you’d like to stay in for a couple years or more like ten?”

“I’d like to stay forever in the right house. I don’t really have any idea what I should spend though.”

“What about furnishings?”

“I only have my cars and clothes. Everything else came with the house.”

“Let me go back to my office and get a clear picture of your finances, then I’ll be able to make a suggestion on what I think you would be comfortable spending.” Matt writes his cell number on the back of a business card and hands it to me as he’s leaving. “Anything you need, you call me.”

While Cade shakes Matt’s hand and ushers him out, Cash gives my knee a little squeeze. “I’m proud of you,” he whispers.
 

“You are?” I ask gratefully. I don’t think anyone has ever told me that. I certainly never heard my mom say it. I look at the ground, overcome with emotion.
 

He pushes my chin up and looks deep into my eyes. “Yes, I am.”
 

“So,” Cade says, reminding me that he’s still here. “We have a few more things to take care of.”

“This is a nightmare,” I say.

“It’s not a nightmare yet,” he replies, pulling a file out of his briefcase. “These are documents that will cancel your contracts with both your publicist and manager.”

I look at the documents and sigh. I know I need to do this. I know it’s what’s best for me, but I feel bad.

Cade looks at me expectantly, but I hesitate.
 

“It’s understandable that this would be hard for you,” Cash says, somehow knowing what I’m thinking. “They’ve been with you from the beginning. When we talked about it earlier, you wanted to call and fire him immediately.”