The following day, the Studio lot buzzed with energy as people gossiped and speculated about the four individuals. Somehow, Gena attached her name to the incident when Yuri escorted her from the restaurant. People wondered whom Yuri pursued. Rebecca struggled with the plot twist as it conflicted with their contracts. “I’m serious Rebecca. Yuri is fine to look at, but he’s trouble, so leave him to Gena to deal with. I always say, karma strikes back, and they deserve their own troubles. Daisy could not lie. That was Rebecca’s theory, and she’d stick to it. Daisy told it like she saw it, and she saw a lot. Too much for everyone’s comfort. “Daisy, it was only dinner, and we didn’t eat. We couldn’t be, because of Everett’s interference. I can’t even explain his actions. I can’t tell you how predictable this is for him. He’s done nothing this large before, but he’s always been annoying.” Rebecca discovered the ideal moment to reveal her part. The PR direc
Everett’s car stopped at the entrance to the Studio lot by his fans. Several members of a few fan clubs were there to express their opinion of a video he’d found on the net when it popped up on a feed he’d followed. There appeared to be two factions now. One for his relationship with Rebecca and the other against it. Security was out in force this morning, trying to keep the peace and traffic into the lot flowing. Some fans were trying to get in as well. Now, Everett saw how Rebecca entering the studio by the general employee entrance in a nondescript cab made sense. Someone would have to hang out there waiting for her to leave a cab or step off the public bus. With the number of people coming in that way, it would be impossible. He suspected if Rebecca took off her wig, no one would recognize her unless they were aware to look for her with an altered appearance. “Mr. Stone. I’m sorry about this. It started about an hour ago.”
Yuri spent most of the day doing his job. His mind wandered over his evening with Leo and Gena. He’d enjoyed his time. She wasn’t what he expected, but Gena held his attention and made him use his creativity. Yuri had never met a woman like her before, and he wanted time to explore how far he could go with her. Usually, women wouldn’t accept Yuri in the raw. Add in Leo and the women often fled, terrified from the experience. Not Gena. He had to use his back-up plan to keep her in line, and he’d need to add to his material to keep her where he wanted her. Rebecca appeared nice enough, but she didn’t do it for him. With her, he’d act like he wanted her. Only to get the money the Studio promised him and to see Everett make a fool of himself. Gena too wouldn’t take kindly to Rebecca, gaining his attention. Yuri found she didn’t care for sharing anything with another woman, but Rebecca took Gena’s jealousy to an entirely new level. He’d enjoy finding out how he coul
The meeting went as expected. They’d reamed them out and told how them how poorly they’d done their job, and they must do better, when it came down to poor planning and setup. Yuri spent most of the meeting reasoning out why he took Gena out of there and Rebecca couldn’t blame him. But it looked bad for the operation, as this studio stooge called it. Rebecca wanted to scream at a few points. Everett stepped in and defended her several times, which had Yuri looking unhappy even though Everett and she were supposed to end up married. She couldn’t see everything wrapping up in a week. A month maybe. But a week? They need a secret love affair to make a weak sound reasonable, and Rebecca didn’t want to reveal anything about their marriage to anyone. Thankfully, Everett kept his mouth shut about it as well. As long as no one went looking under their legal names. Then they wouldn’t find the evidence of their marriage or divorce. But with the chatter in the
Rebecca hated going to clubs. They were loud, distracting, and they took a lot of energy from her. Then she lost time where she could study her lines and recover from her day. Oddly, in the last week she’d felt better than she had in a long while. Rebecca didn’t want to lose this chance. “Yuri, just relax and have an enjoyable time. I’m not high maintenance like some women. You don’t need to worry; I don’t dance a lot or drink too much. In fact, I’m bored. This club thing isn’t something I would normally choose. So, I’m afraid they picked a terrible location for us, but we will get through it.” “You don’t need to worry. I know what I’ll do to make things clear to other people around us without annoying you, Rebecca.” Yuri didn’t like the idea that this wouldn’t be a place she’d pick. It meant Everett would probably take her away again. Sweep her off her feet and take her somewhere else. Leaving him to look like he had an egg on his face. How did the
Rebecca entered the loud nightclub. Loud, bright, overcrowded, and she smelled something suspicious. Yuri took her through the gauntlet of friends and people who needed to see him with her. Finally, he ordered table service. The wait staff brought several bottles of champagne and glasses to the table. Rebecca did not catch all of Yuri’s friends’ names, but she had a knack with speaking to a person without ever using their name. Most people never caught on or assumed she felt close to them. “How was your job today, Yuri? Did they give you a lot of lines to remember?” Rebecca came to think of the three men who wouldn’t leave as bootlicker one, two, and three. They didn’t appear to do anything more than talk up Yuri like he was someone important they must know. “We weren’t shooting today. The cast rehearsed what we’re shooting tomorrow. But I’m sad because I’m nothing more than scene dressing with only a few simple lines to remember.” Yuri said. He smi
“Where’s the ambulance?! She’s injured. Someone, go get me something to slow the bleeding.” One of the serving staff handed him a clean bar towel. Everett knew Rebecca didn’t feel it right now. Her anger hid the pain from her, and she wasn’t one that did well with blood. He had to call the shots. Yuri only now wandered over and looked a little concerned. Everett glared at him. Some promise to take care of her. “Everett I’m fine. I’m just angry at how she went after me like that. It’s your fault, you know. She thinks I’m a slut because of this.” “Well, we know who is to blame for that, now, don’t we? Now, love, we need to move you, but if we do it the wrong way, you can get hurt even more. I think you fell on broken glass.” “She threw a full glass of something at me before she started hitting me. Whatever was in the glass got in my eyes and stung. I couldn’t see what was happening. It still hurts to open them.” “Okay, then don
Josalyn felt lightheaded. She felt thankful Jake was there. Josalyn didn’t know half of what happened. He made her go to the hospital. Give her bandages, let her wash her face, and restore everything to its proper order. Whatever the substance was, it looked like blood and burned a little. Once she flushed it from her eyes and face, she’d be fine. Josalyn heard Jake speak to a paramedic. He gave her medical history and their genuine relationship. Since when was she pregnant? Josalyn thought that was unforgiveable. She’d have a few words with him about that later. Right now, Josalyn wanted to sleep. The ambulance ride turned into a bumpy, but fast trip. Jake didn’t leave her. When they removed her from the ambulance, he was there, and he walked into the Emergency Department with her. He sat by the head of the bed as they helped her with her clothes and patched her up. Josalyn wanted to cry. She didn’t remember the last time he