“I need an agent to get another job,” I point out.
My manager quit months ago when I tried to renegotiate his contract. He walked away, taking his contacts with him.
“A woman has been following me around. She’s a junior agent at Brenton-Lake.”
“Talk to her. She could help you get another role.”
“I blew her off earlier.”
“Call and apologize,” he says, sounding somewhat distracted.
“I gave the business card back to her.”
He laughs. “Your attitude has a lot to do with why this is happening to you.”
“I don’t have an attitude,” I challenge.
“Yes, you do, and you damn well know it. You’ve had a chip on your shoulder ever since Sony paid you fifteen million for Legendary.”
Silence passes between us as I consider his words.
“I have made little since,” I admit.
“Because the fame went to your head.”
Josh is more than my accountant. He gives it to me straight, whether I want to listen to him. Most of the time, I ignore him. He likes to lecture me like I’m a child too incompetent to understand the value of money. Maybe I need his counsel more than I realize. If I had taken his warnings seriously, I might have been able to prevent this.
“I have to talk to Marx,” I say. “I’ll call you back when he’s gone.”
“Call the agent instead. She can help you a lot more than I can.”
He’s right. I’m broke, jobless, and about to become homeless. Willow Duvall is my last hope.
Chapter Six
Willow
Screaming parents cram into the packed gymnasium. I’m the crazy aunt who cups her hands around her mouth, yelling like a madwoman as I cheer for my nephew. He plays youth basketball for his middle school team. After her divorce, my sister followed me out here.
When Savanna has to work, I take Ethan to his games. It’s the one non-negotiable in my life. Even if Brenton-Lake was on fire and we lost all of our clients, I would still sit in the stands at his game. Burke knows not to bother on game nights. I even turn off my cell phone so I can be one hundred percent present for Ethan.
As the buzzer sounds, a group of boys runs over to the bench. They high-five each other, which is so damn cute it brings a smile to my face. The coach bends down with a clipboard and marker in hand as the boys crowd around him.
Another buzzer blares through the gymnasium. Ethan takes a seat on the bench. The coach raises his hand, calling out to the next set of boys who take their places on the court. Ethan glances over his shoulder to look for me, and a smile stretches across his face. He always checks to make sure I’m still here. Poor kid is so used to everyone leaving him. But Aunt Willow will always be there.
I raise my hand and give him a thumbs up. His grin is so wide it reaches up to his deep brown irises. He has my mother’s eyes, one of the few traits he got from my family. With his cropped blond hair and olive skin, he looks like his father’s son. Even the crease in his left cheek is in the same place as his dad. The cheating asshole left my sister to deal with a child alone while pretending he was single. Some men are not father or husband material, and Greg is one of them.
After the game ends, Ethan stuffs his towel into his bag and slings it over his shoulder. He peeks up at me, and I pat the top of his sweaty head.
“Ready to go, Little Man?”
He beams with excitement. “Can we have ice cream when we get home?”
“You’re coming to my house until your mom gets off work.”
“You have ice cream, don’t you? Everyone has ice cream.”
I laugh at his comment. “You’re in luck, kid. I have a gallon of chocolate ice cream with your name on it.”
His eyes light up, and then he lets out a high-pitched squeal that hurts my ear.
Twenty minutes later, I park in the driveway of my best friend’s house. Harley moved to Philadelphia to marry her childhood friend, and she’s letting me live here until I find something better. Not like I can afford anything better in this city.
Ethan tumbles out of the car, slamming the door behind him as he dribbles a basketball on the pavement.
“Did you see me hit a jump shot, Aunt Willow?”
I lock the car and look for the house key in the darkness. “I saw every second of the game. You were amazing, buddy. Keep it up, and you’ll be as good as Steph Curry someday.”
“Willow,” a man says from a few feet behind me.
I jump, instinctively pushing Ethan behind me.
“Nico Chase,” Ethan mutters in disbelief.
My expression mirrors his as I look at the tall and gorgeous man standing a few feet in front of me. Nico Chase is at my house, of all places. What is he doing here?
“It’s Nico Chase!”
Ethan tugs on my shirt and repeats the same words as if I hadn’t heard him the first time.
I rub a hand down the back of his basketball jersey. “Yeah, I know.”
“This is so cool,” Ethan shouts.
Nico gives Ethan a quick nod. Then, he raises his hand to his face and scratches the corner of his jaw. Unlike the other day, he looks like a movie star with his black hair that’s gelled and styled to perfection. The gray fitted shirt that molds to his muscular arms and broad shoulders makes me drool. I like this shirt. It’s gives me a delightful view of his toned body. I’ve seen it dozens of times on my television, but nothing compares to seeing Nico in person.
“What are you doing here?”
He shoves his hands into his jean pockets and shrugs. “I was a jerk.”
“And you came over here to tell me that?”
“I want to work together.”
“Oh,” I say, somewhat surprised. “What’s with the change of heart?”
He was so rude the other day I considered him a lost cause.
“I need a job,” Nico says. “It’s been eight months since I worked, and no one will talk to me without an agent.”
“I’m with my nephew. I have to get him in the shower before his mom comes to pick him up.”
“Aunt Willow,” Ethan groans, as if I’m embarrassing him. He taps me on the side and points a finger up at Nico.
“Ethan is a big fan,” I admit. “Would you mind signing something for him?”
His handsome face brightens, and he bends down to Ethan’s height. “How would you like to come to a movie premiere?”
Ethan’s eyes bug out of his head. “Really? Are you serious?”
Nico nods. “Do you think Aunt Willow will want to come, too?”
He peeks up at me and winks.
“Yes!” Ethan pulls on my shirt. “Can we go? Please, please.”
Nico looks up and into my eyes, and I practically melt under his gaze. Those eyes, that sexy grin, and pretty much everything about him makes it hard for me to focus. Why does he have to look at me like… that?
“We can go,” I tell Ethan. “But we need another ticket for your mom.”
Ethan wraps his arms around my stomach and hugs me.
“Thank you. You’ve made his year.”
And possibly mine.
Chapter Seven
Willow
I’m at the premiere of Flashbang. My inner fangirl is cheering like a crazy lady, though I’m doing my best to hide my giddiness. A rush of emotions floods through me, making it impossible to contain my excitement. But I have to act like a professional. I’ve attended events with Burke over the past five years, but never as an agent.
My family dressed up for the occasion. Ethan is wearing an adorable tuxedo my sister rented. He plays with the baby blue bow tie like he wants to rip it off. Every time Ethan spots another movie star, he points and screams their name.
“It’s Tony Pirelli.” Ethan tugs on my arm. “Can we meet him?”
“I don’t know him,” I admit. “But we can try to talk to him.”
Tony is a live-action star who played Nico’s younger brother in Off-road. The adv
ance reviews were brutal. They said Tony’s performance was superior to Nico’s.
“When can we see Nico?” Ethan asks.
“He should be here any minute, Little Man.”
“I’m dying to meet him,” Savanna says, her eyes fixed on the red carpet. “He’s so hot.”
“Hot doesn’t even do Nico justice,” I whisper.
Savanna chuckles.
Bright lights flash all around us. The long red carpet spans the length of the sidewalk in front of the Chinese theater. Camera crews and paparazzi surround us, snapping one picture after the other. Fans and tourists are on the opposite side of the street, screaming every time another celebrity appears.
As one limo disappears, another replaces it. Dozens of movie stars, models, and singers are in attendance. The crowd is electric, their energy so intense you can feel it dance along your skin.
Savanna clings to my side, her fingers threaded between mine and Ethan’s, with a wide grin plastered on her face. She looks like she wants to jump out of my skin. This is her first movie premiere.
My older sister chose a gorgeous silky red gown that flows down to her ankles. Her long, blonde hair is curled at the ends, spilling over her shoulders. The diamond earrings her ex-husband bought for her sparkle when the light hits them. She looks like a million bucks. Before her divorce, Savanna was a pampered housewife. Now, she has to work two jobs to pay the bills.
“He’s here! He’s here!” Ethan chants the words as he jumps up and down.
Savanna clutches his shoulder to calm him down.
I wait with my family on the other side of the ropes. Nervous energy shoots through my body as the driver opens Nico’s door. A few seconds pass, and I wonder what’s up with Nico. I hope he doesn’t tumble out of the limo drunk. My stomach clenches at the thought.
And when a beautiful woman slides out of the car, I hold my breath. He’s with a woman. That must have caused the delay.
When she turns her head, I get a better look at her face. It’s Eve Fairchild, the female lead in Flashbang. She played Nico’s love interest in the film. His character, a retired CIA operative, had to save her from a terrorist organization.
Nico climbs out of the car behind her, hooking his arm through hers. They look good together, like a real-life celebrity couple. Even and Nico pose for pictures, all fake smiles and waves as they soak up their moment in the spotlight. I stand on the sidelines and absorb every second.
After Nico and Eva finish with interviews and pictures, Nico strolls over to me. His cocky grin has a strange effect on me. He looks incredible in a navy suit that fits his muscular body like it’s sewn onto him. For a big guy, he moves with grace, as if every step he takes is more effortless than the last.
“You came,” he says before slipping under the ropes in front of me.
I grin. “You found me.”
“Nico,” Ethan says.
“Hey, kiddo.” Nico holds out his palm, and Ethan slaps his hand. “Looking sharp.” He touches Ethan’s crooked bow tie and then moves it back into place. “Nice touch.”
“My mom made me wear it.”
Nico chuckles. “Your mom has excellent taste.”
“I’m the mom.” Savanna extends her hand to Nico. “Savanna Duvall.”
They shake hands, and then Nico raises my sister’s hand to his mouth to press a kiss to her skin. I can see her shiver from his touch. A bright smile turns up the corners of her mouth. I guarantee Savanna will talk about this for the next year. She’ll probably tell me she can’t wash her hand.
“Nice to meet you,” Savanna coos.
She covers her face as if she’s embarrassed by the effect he has on her.
“The pleasure is all mine.”
Nico shifts his gaze to me. “Are you waiting for me?”
“I wasn’t sure where we should go. And we wanted to see you arrive.”
“I’m glad you did.” Nico dips his head down to speak into my ear. “Because I have a surprise for you.”
My body hums with electricity. I’ve never been this close to a movie star before. Burke slowly introduced me to his clients, though he still keeps me at a distance.
Nico slides his arm behind my back, his fingers digging into my hip as he steers me toward the red carpet. Dozens of flashes go off at once. My eyes burn from all the lights. I couldn’t imagine enduring this all the time. Being famous has its perks, but this is not one of them.
“Who’s the girl?”
A male photographer snaps our picture.
“Is this your girlfriend?”
Another man raises his camera in front of his face.
I blink a few times to clear my vision. I’m seeing stars from all the blinding lights. Thankfully, Nico holds onto me, leading the way. I can’t see three feet in front of me. If I tried to navigate the carpet alone, I would probably fall flat on my face.
A blonde woman in her twenties holds out an audio recorder. “Nico, who’s the girl?”
Nico pulls me closer and leans forward, his eyes fixed on the reporters in front of us. “This is Willow Duvall,” he says in a deep tone that is music to my ears. “She’s my new agent.”
The crowd explodes with questions. Reporters buzz around us, begging for another word. Some of them ask about Vinnie Sax, where others want to know where I work.
No one knows me. I’m the equivalent of a paper pusher at Brenton-Lake, and yet I’m being swept away by one of the hottest actors in Hollywood. Correction, one of the former hottest actors. But that’s about to change.
Chapter Eight
Willow
I slink past Burke’s office. His assistant peeks up from her computer screen, and when she sees me, she flags me down. I was hoping to make it through my second cup of coffee before getting a lecture from my boss. Nico’s big announcement at the premiere last night has been the talk of the office.
“Willow,” Burke yells. “Get in here!”
“Good luck,” Cindy says to me under her breath.
Judging by the angry scowl on his face, I will need a lot of luck.
“Yes, Mr. Burke,” I say, my voice wavering.
He points at a chair in front of his desk. “Sit. We need to talk about Nico Chase.”
“Coffee,” he shouts at Cindy. “Now!”
He’s in rare form this morning. Lucky me.
“What’s this I hear about Nico Chase announcing you as his agent last night?”
“It was unexpected.” I fold my hands on my lap to steady my nerves. “He invited me to his premiere. I didn’t want to be rude and say no.”
“You work for me,” he snaps.
His withered skin turns a bright shade of pink as his cheeks puff out. He looks like a kettle ready to blow.
“All decisions about clients are at my discretion.” He leans back in his chair, somewhat more relaxed than before. “You think a junior agent no one has ever heard of can fix Nico’s career?”
I clear my throat and sit up straighter. “I’d like the chance to try.”
He narrows his eyes at me, regarding me like gum under his shoe. Burke is a tough cookie to crack, but I can see his expression softening. He will let me work with Nico. What does he have to lose?
“I’ll give you three months,” he says with a hint of irritation in his tone. “If you can’t line up a decent studio deal in that timeframe, then we’re cutting Nico loose. Understand?”
On the inside, I’m beaming with delight, but I put on a straight face and nod. “That’s more than fair. Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Burke.”
“I’m not in the mood for ass-kissing.” He points at the door as his secretary shuffles into the room with two cups of coffee. “Go get that contract signed.”
He doesn’t have to tell me twice. I rush out of his office, through the busy hallways, and back to my desk.
Ash steps into my cubicle, scaring the hell out of me.
“Oh, my God.” I hold my hand over my heart and sigh. “You got to stop sneaking up on peopl
e.”
She tilts her head back and chuckles. “Sorry, babe.” Ash sits on the edge of my desk. “Are you fired?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. Burke gave me the go-ahead to pursue Nico.”
She raises her hand to give me a high-five.
“Was everyone watching?”
She nods.
“Burke’s giving me three months with Nico Chase.”
“And then what? Will you get fired if it doesn’t work out?”
I press my lips together, thinking over her question. “Honestly, I don’t know. He said I get three months. I didn’t even think he meant…” I let out a deep breath. “What if…?”
Ash gives my shoulder a comforting squeeze. “Don’t stress over it. You got this, woman.”
“Everyone deserves a second chance, right?”
“Oh, girl…” She sighs.
“Nico gets three months to prove he’s changed.”
“But has he?”
I roll my shoulders against the chair. “Perception is everything. It doesn’t have to be true. Nico just needs to make people believe it.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Not a clue,” I admit, and she howls with laughter. “But I’ll figure it out.”
I always do.
I pull up in front of the wrought-iron gates that wrap around Nico’s property. The last time I was here, I parked to the left of the tall hedges, eating snack-sized bags of chips and drinking warm cans of Coke. Now, I’m a guest. None of this feels real. One minute I’m shadowing Burke, and the next, I have my first client.
I push the button on the metal box, and a buzzing sound floats through the speakers. The massive gates that stretch above the bushes slowly creep open as I drive through them.
Nico insisted I meet him at his house. Stars expect everything how they want it and when they want it. And I’m not in the position to tell Nico no. I have to prove Burke wrong. Nico can flip the script on his career. We just need to write a different story.
The Fame Game (Love and the City Book 3) Page 3
