Stardust (The Starlight Trilogy #3)

by Alexandra Richland

  “How did you—?”

  “You will learn quickly not to question me, boy.” Mr. Mertz’s eyes dimmed. “The bottom line is this—I will pay for all of your mother’s hospital expenses.”

  Nathan clutched his fedora to his chest. “Thank you, sir.”

  Mr. Mertz held up his hand. “But I need something from you in return.”

  “Anything.”

  “I want you to work for me in Los Angeles.”

  Nathan’s joy transformed to wariness. “Why? I know nothing about the entertainment business.”

  “I need someone I can trust, someone to do whatever I say, a young lad I can meld into the perfect right-hand man. There will be jobs I request of you that you wouldn’t concede to complete under ordinary circumstances. Depending on me to pay for your mother’s medical bills gives you the motivation to keep your mouth shut and obey me without question.”

  Nathan swallowed hard. “What kind of jobs?”

  Mr. Mertz’s glare intensified. “Does it matter? Your mother needs help, and I am the only person she knows in a position to do something about it. Plus, I can ensure her illness remains a secret. You wouldn’t want her condition to be leaked to the press now, would you? Her good name will be scorned publicly and permanently. Everything she worked for professionally will be destroyed.”

  Nathan blanched. This was blackmail through and through.

  “Your present interests may lie in journalism, Mr. Taggart, but I think you’ll find the motion picture industry much more fascinating, especially since you’ll start at the top as my personal executive assistant, instead of slaving away for years without a guarantee of ever earning a prominent title, as would be the case with the newspaper business.

  “No one will ever know that your job is related to your mother. I won’t reveal our arrangement to anyone, and nor will you. There are conditions to my offer, of course. I will teach you everything you need to know in order to fulfill your duties to my studio and to me. You will be respected by industry professionals, connected to everyone who’s anyone in town, and you will achieve all the acclaim you desire. I will provide you with a house, a car, living expenses, and travel expenses, anything else you need. However, you will not earn a salary, as you will be indebted to me. Understand?”

  Nathan searched Mr. Mertz’s face for any signs of sympathy, remorse. “So you want someone to work for you who will remain discreet and ask no questions. And you would actually let my mother be put out on the street if I declined.”

  Mr. Mertz glanced at the door guarding her room. He gritted his teeth. A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Yes. Now give me an answer, or I leave immediately and you’ll never hear from me again.”

  Nathan exhaled a shaky breath. If he agreed to Mr. Mertz’s proposition, he would live on the other side of the country, so he couldn’t visit his mother often. Also, he’d be working in the industry she’d tried to shield him from his entire life. On the other hand, if he refused, she wouldn’t receive the treatment she so desperately needed. And it would be selfish to request a transfer to a Los Angeles facility if Bellevue hospital was one of the best mental health institutions in the country.

  He stuck out his hand. “We have a deal.”

  Mr. Mertz’s lips curled into a smile that seemed more sinister than celebratory. He made no effort to accept the handshake. “Go home and pack your belongings. A studio car will pick you up from that abysmal apartment of yours at seven-thirty to take you to the airport. Your flight is booked for nine o’clock tonight.”

  Nathan lowered his hand. “My flight is booked already? But how did you know—?”

  “Enough!” Mr. Mertz’s scowled. “You are not allowed to question me from now on, boy.”

  Nathan bowed his head. His mother. He was doing this for his mother. “Yes, sir.”

  Nathan had only seen his mother a few times since that visit six years ago, most recently in October when she had one of her worst psychotic episodes to date. For months, he thought his mother’s condition might have improved, but since she was so strongly sedated, no one could tell. He requested the hospital decrease the dose of her medication. Two days later, she grabbed a metal fork during dinner and drove it into her arm. Nathan flew to New York City as soon as he received the news, lying to Olivia and his friends about the purpose for his trip.

  Dr. Littman continued to press for a lobotomy. However, Nathan had conducted his own research and found that the procedure often did more harm than good. Despite his mother’s horrifying incident, he stuck to his decision, because doing the right thing was important to him. In so many aspects of his life—except loving Olivia—he had done a lot of wrong.

  Onscreen, his mother danced with her leading man at a lavish party, smiling and laughing, so bright and lively. The film ended with a close-up and a fadeout. As the score swelled to a triumphant conclusion, Nathan blinked back tears.

  The houselights came on and the couple walked up the aisle.

  “Wasn’t Marion Whitney the greatest?” the young man said.

  His female companion beamed. “She sure was. I wish she was still acting today.”

  “Hey, mister.” The young man directed his attention on Nathan. “Don’t you think Marion Whitney is one of the most talented actresses in movie history?”

  For the first time in a long time, a genuine smile spread across Nathan’s face. “Yes, she most certainly is.”

  After the couple left, Nathan stared at the blank screen. His mother had loved acting. She belonged in motion pictures and shone in every role. At least he’d managed to preserve her legacy. He still had one last job to do, however—one he could no longer put off.

  Within an hour, Nathan stood at the front gates guarding the home of Luther Mertz. He had never been here before—never been invited in the entire time he’d worked for the man—but he rang the buzzer without hesitation.

  “Mertz residence,” came the response from the intercom.

  “This is Nathan Taggart. I want to speak to Luther immediately.”

  “I’m sorry, but it’s late and—” There was a pause. “One moment, Mr. Taggart.”

  The gates opened. Nathan approached the house. Stonework and gothic sculptures lent the property a dark ambiance so out of place amongst the palm trees and colorful gardens of the surrounding area he was shocked it had been built in the neighborhood in the first place. No wonder he hated the homes Mr. Mertz had bought him. No wonder he never felt comfortable there. The styles were too similar to his boss’s residence.

  Nathan climbed the front stairs two at a time. The door opened and his steps faltered.

  Mr. Mertz appeared in the entryway, dressed in a dark red silk robe over navy silk pajamas. Beneath the faded bruises and cuts on his face, he scowled. “What are you doing here?”

  Nathan pushed past him and entered the house. “Is your wife home?”

  “Answer me, boy. Why are you here?”

  Nathan pointed at Mr. Mertz. “No, you answer me. Is your wife home?”

  “No, she’s not. She’s gone to Palm Springs for the weekend with her sister.” Mr. Mertz slammed the front door shut. “Now explain why you’re at my home, so late at night, without an invitation. And what does your visit have to do with my wife?”

  Nathan looked around and broke into a sweat. While the style of the house’s exterior was merely familiar to his own, the interior décor was practically an exact replica—a carpeted grand staircase leading to a long corridor overlooking the entrance hall, marble floors, dark red walls, bleak frescos. Mr. Mertz’s stamp was on every aspect of his life.

  “I don’t want your wife to hear what I have to say, that’s why. She’s much too decent to know the truth and still be married to you. I’m not going to be the one to reveal to her how dreadful you really are. Not tonight, at least.”

  Mr. Mertz yawned and shuffled to the staircase. “Go home, Nathan. Whatever you have to tell me can wait until Monday.”

  Nathan exhaled an unsteady breath. “Don
’t walk away from me. You’ll want to hear what I have to say right now.”

  Mr. Mertz halted. “And what’s that?”

  “You need to step down from your position at Starlight Studios.”

  Mr. Mertz laughed. “You’re insane. I built the studio from the ground up. Why would I ever leave?”

  “Because I’ve written about your sordid affairs. The final draft is complete. If you don’t retire, I’ll send it to every major newspaper in town, leveraging all of my connections. They may have agreed to hush up studio scandals in the past, but I doubt they’d ignore a story about a highly respected, married studio mogul sexually preying on young, innocent, up-and-coming actresses.”

  Mr. Mertz pegged him with a glare. “How dare you? After all I’ve done for you. I involved you in the financial workings of my studio, in decisions regarding employee contracts, film deals, and other professional negotiations. I also gave a job to that wardrobe girl you like so much. Sure, her portfolio was impressive, but so are many other portfolios. I never would’ve hired her if not for your encouragement.”

  An icy spike drove up Nathan’s spine, supporting a defensive stance. “You will not mention Olivia again. Do you understand?”

  Mr. Mertz rolled his eyes. “The girl is trivial in this matter. Without me, you wouldn’t be the success you are today. You owe me your gratitude and your loyalty.”

  Nathan’s eyes narrowed. “I owe you nothing. You made me handle all of your dirty work. That’s not success. That’s the lowliest position of all.”

  “Someone had to do it, and I chose to put my trust in you. Now look how you’ve repaid me.” Mr. Mertz shook his head. “I have so much dirt on you and the jobs you’ve carried out for me, I could bury you. Make no mistake. If I’m going down, I’m taking you with me.”

  Nathan lifted his chin. It was time to call Mr. Mertz’s bluff. “If the press receives my letter, your good name will be scorned. Everything you worked for will be destroyed. Your ego is too large to allow it to get that far.”

  Mr. Mertz laughed again, but this time, it sounded hollow. “You’re forgetting an important detail. If you follow through on this threat, no matter the outcome, I’ll withdraw my financing of your mother’s care.”

  “Good. I don’t want you associated with her in any capacity.”

  Mr. Mertz scoffed. “Her expenses have skyrocketed in the last six years—far higher than you realize. You’ll never be able to pay for everything on your own.”

  “I’ve built two kinds of reputations at your studio, Luther.” Nathan ticked off the list on his fingers. “One—a stern right-hand man with the power to make the worst scandals disappear, and two, an honest, loyal, hardworking businessman who held down a prominent executive position at one of the largest companies in the world. I’ll be more than able to find a job elsewhere and fund her medical bills. It might take time, but I’ll do it. In the end, we’ll be better off without your support.”

  Mr. Mertz’s lips pressed into a hard line. “You can’t keep me away from Marion.”

  Nathan sneered. “Why do you care?”

  Mr. Mertz squared his shoulders. “Because I love her.”

  Nathan stumbled backward. His fedora fell to the floor as he grabbed at his hair. His mother and Mr. Mertz? It was impossible.

  “Did you prey on my mother like you did with Elizabeth Sutton?”

  “Never.” Mr. Mertz tightened the belt on his robe. “She loves me, too. Or I should say she did love me, before her disease advanced and she forgot who I was. But know this—my love for her will never die, regardless of her condition.”

  Revulsion swerved through Nathan’s veins. He locked his knees so he wouldn’t collapse and fastened his eyes on Mr. Mertz. He had to assess the man’s expression as well as hear him. Only then could he tell fact from fiction.

  “You’re lying. No one could ever love you.”

  Mr. Mertz’s gaze glowed with conviction. “It’s the truth. We were together for almost ten years.”

  Nathan paced the foyer, but no amount of exercise could relieve the stress brought on by Mr. Mertz’s revelation. “Is that the real reason my mother stayed in Hollywood and kept my father and me in Salinas—because of you?”

  “Goodness, no.” Mr. Mertz waved him off. “She kept you in Salinas because she loved you and wanted better for you.”

  Nathan stopped pacing. “How do you know that?”

  “Dear boy, she talked about you all the time! When I told her I would leave my wife and weather any scandal to prove my commitment, she refused to divorce your father solely on account of you.”

  Nathan walked the room again, back and forth, back and forth, trying to make sense of everything. He had so many questions—questions he was afraid to ask. But he knew he’d regret it if didn’t. “What about my father? Did she love him?”

  Disapproval darkened Mr. Mertz’s features, as if it infuriated him to associate Nathan’s mother with another man. “Your father was a difficult person to get along with. You must understand, they married very young. When Marion was offered a studio contract, your father forbid her from becoming an actress. He demanded she remain up north and be a housewife, confined to the ranch. But that was not the life she wanted for herself. She went against his wishes and signed anyway. Your father lasted only a few months in Los Angeles before he returned to Salinas without her.

  “When you were born, Marion was adamant that you not be raised in Hollywood. She enjoyed acting but felt L.A. was not the proper environment to raise a family. That’s how you came to live on the ranch with your father. As she became more and more popular and her salary increased, your father had a hard time handling it all. He was no longer the breadwinner. For any man, that’s a source of humiliation. When he grew more attached to his whiskey than his family, however, he no longer cared. From what Marion told me, your father loved her very much—but the woman she was at sixteen, not the woman she had become.”

  “You mean the woman you made her become in order to fit in at your studio and fall for your tricks.” Nathan’s hands curled into fists. “You separated my parents.”

  Mr. Mertz smirked. “Nonsense. Before your mother and I began our affair, I would’ve preferred that you and your father moved to Hollywood. After all, women her age were expected to be married and have a happy home. In order to erase suspicions, I planted stories in the papers that your father was a successful oilman who had business ties in the north, which kept him away. Where Marion drew the line was with you. She refused to have you photographed. She made every effort to keep you out of the spotlight. She hated being separated from you but strongly believed it was for your own good. Her dressing rooms were always decorated with your photographs, you know. You were the love of her life.”

  Mr. Mertz’s eyes flickered with tenderness, but his steely gaze remained in place. Nathan perused his features, studied them. It was a mask. All along it had been a mask, concealing the truth: love for his mother.

  “Marion began distancing herself from me after I told her I would divorce my wife. Our meetings became few and far between, even though she said she still loved me. Then, one day, she abruptly ended our relationship. I was distraught, Nathan. My world crumbled.”

  Nathan sat on the staircase, placing his head in his hands. Numb. He was numb to it all. “You love her, yet you blackmailed her only son?”

  Heavy footsteps headed in his direction. “Over the years, Marion changed. She was often depressed and suffered from violent mood swings. Concerned, I offered to set her up with the best doctor in the country, but she refused to acknowledge her condition. In the months following your father’s accident, she became extremely ill, and I eventually had her admitted to Bellevue. It was the most upsetting time of my life. Marion was physically present, but mentally, I’d lost her forever. You have no idea what that did to me.”

  Mr. Mertz’s conceit drew Nathan from his detachment. He raised his head. “You’re speaking as if she were dead.”

  “She
might as well be!” Mr. Mertz charged over to the staircase. “You’ve seen her. What kind of life is that? All I can do is pay her medical bills and make her existence as painless for her as possible. Meanwhile, I suffer daily.”

  Nathan bristled. “It’s always about you, isn’t it? Even someone else’s misfortune.”

  “I was looking out for you as well. I didn’t want you to see your mother out on the street.” Mr. Mertz motioned to him. “My wife is unable to bear children. Don’t you see? You should’ve been mine. My son.”

  Nathan leapt to his feet. Mr. Mertz crept backward, exposing alarm beneath his confident façade for the first time. “You disgust me. You wanted to reclaim the part of my mother that was lost to her illness, and at the same time, get me to do your immoral bidding. That’s not love. That’s not honoring her.”

  “I was in a bind, Nathan! The sins of my employees extend beyond my control. I need to keep indiscretions out of the papers and maintain a decent image. Simultaneously, I struggled with the cognitive loss of your mother and wanted to hang on to whatever part of her I could. By convincing you to work for me, I got both of my wishes. And I’ve treated you well, despite what you might think. I’ve even grown to love you.”

  Nathan balked. “I was never your son and I never will be. As for loving me, you don’t know how to love. It proves how delusional you really are if you think you do.”

  “I would do anything for Marion. Anything.” The mask slipped away. Mr. Mertz’s eyes were wide, pleading.

  Anything.

  Nathan blanched. “My God. You would’ve paid for my mother’s medical bills whether I agreed to work for you or not.”

  Mr. Mertz didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

  Nathan choked back his shock. The past six years, all of his mistakes, his moral compromises, had been for nothing.

  “When I heard about your mother’s poor investments, I tried to give her money, but she never accepted my help. Only when her illness progressed was I was finally able to support her. Hiring you was merely a bonus.”