Money

by Jillian Dodd

  “No, I’m not. Besides, it’s not the first time that I’ve been pregnant,” she makes quotes in the air, with Knox’s love child.”

  “That would piss me off if I were Aiden,” Dallas says.

  “It does, but I want him out of that kind of spotlight as much as possible. And if he ever said something they would twist it anyway. The tabloids want me and Knox together, because we sell magazines.”

  She meets up with her security detail, and we all leave the restaurant together.

  The amount of paparazzi and flashes of cameras catches me off guard.

  “Keatyn, Keatyn! Is it true? Are you pregnant?” they shout.

  She walks directly over to one of the reporters and gives him a dazzling smile, causing the cameras to click away.

  “Give me a break, Jared,” she says. “How many times has it been announced that I’m pregnant?”

  Jared scrunches up his face.

  “Exactly,” she says.

  “We were told you were having a meeting with First Door Films. Rumor has it that they want to acquire Captive.”

  “We can’t comment on that,” she says appropriately.

  The reporter rolls his eyes but keeps trying. “I heard the Trinity filming is wrapping up this week. What’s next for you?”

  “I’m taking a three-week vacation then I’ll be joining Knox and the crew in London to do the location shoots.”

  “Is this really the last Trinity movie?”

  “That’s the plan.”

  He squints at her. “But it sounds like you’re leaving the door open.”

  “Knox and I will always leave the door open for the right script.”

  “And do you have a script in mind?”

  “Not for Trinity,” she says, walking away toward her waiting car.

  “Wait, what are you saying?” he yells, following her.

  She turns around before getting into the car. “I’m saying I’m pretty positive this won’t be my last movie with Knox, but it is the last Trinity movie.”

  “Oh my stars! Did you sign on to do another project together? Why haven’t we heard about this?”

  “Because nothing can be announced at the moment,” she teases, then pulls me into the car even though I wasn’t planning on riding with her.

  Once we’re safely in the car, I ask her, “How do you do that? You and Knox can both twist whatever they say and turn it around on them.”

  “I know what they want to hear,” she shrugs.

  “What do they want to hear?”

  “Big news, Riley. But I don’t want to talk about that. You and I need to discuss giving up the Captive name. I thought I could do it, but I can’t. They want our assets, not the name. That was obvious based on what they upped the offer to.”

  “Is that the reason you practically kidnapped me just now?”

  “Yes, Riley, it is. Could you really just let the name Brooklyn chose go to someone who doesn’t care about it?”

  “We have the Brooklyn Wright Marine Biology Memorial Fund. We sponsor up-and-coming surfers on the pro tour in his honor. It’s not like we’re just going to forget about him.”

  “Riley, I left the majority of what really happened to Brooklyn out of the movie. You know that. He went through a lot because of me.”

  “No, he went through a lot because of Vincent. It’s not your fault that Vincent tortured him to find out where you were.”

  “I know it’s not, but even after Vincent beat him…even after he was threatened with a loaded gun to his head. And even after Vincent broke two of his fingers, he never told. The name of our company is the only thing—besides my surfboard, my tattoo, and a book of poetry—that I have left of him.”

  I give her a hug. “And maybe it’s time that you got over the guilt and let it go. Maybe giving up the name will be freeing for you. It’s a constant reminder of that pain. That can’t be healthy, now that I think about it. Think about all the good things you can do with this money. Not to mention setting up your children and your children’s children for life.”

  She sighs. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. Aiden said the same thing, but . . .”

  “I will think about it tonight. I promise,” I say reassuringly.

  “Thanks, Riley,” she says, kissing my cheek and telling me goodnight as the driver pulls up to my building.

  I stop before going in, sit on a mahogany bench out front, and call Ariela. I don’t want to talk to her in front of Shelby.

  Asher Vineyards — Sonoma County

  ARIELA

  I smile as one of the photos I took during homecoming of Riley’s handsome face pops up on the screen of my phone, indicating a call from him.

  “Hey, Kitty,” he says, causing certain parts of my female anatomy to warm.

  “Hey, yourself. How was your meeting?”

  “It went pretty well. We’re negotiating to sell most of Captive Films.”

  “Really? Will you still have a job?”

  “After this deal, I won’t need a job, but I’ll still work. I’m going back to doing what I love—producing.”

  “That’s amazing, Riley. I’m happy for you.”

  “Aiden told me that they offered you a job.”

  “Yeah, they did, but I don’t know if I’ll accept.”

  “Is it something you would like to do?”

  “Oh my gosh, are you kidding me? The ability to design my own venue? Every single venue I’ve ever worked at, I’ve thought about how I could make it better. And couples are so into personalizing their weddings, to be able to create spaces that would allow them to do that in an elegant way would be so cool.”

  “Then I think you should take them up on it.”

  “But the job would be here, Riley,” she says softly.

  “What if I told you that I’m thinking it’s time I put down some roots of my own. I would love to have a place on this coast that’s big like my parents’ place in the Hamptons. Somewhere all the kids could come. Where we could all spend the holidays together.”

  “Your family would love that. Would you keep your place in L.A?”

  “I think so. I would assume I will still be here often for business.”

  “So you’d go on location to produce?”

  “Okay, so this is a secret, but Keatyn and Knox are going to build a small studio in the area. Knox already bought a house near Asher Vineyards, and he and Keatyn bought the land near it that includes large outbuildings to use as sets. She wants to spend more time there. Her and Aiden want to start a family.”

  “Aiden mentioned this afternoon that the tabloids are speculating she’s pregnant.”

  “Well, that’s pretty normal for her. Of course, they all want Knox to be the father.” I laugh. “It’s really kind of crazy.”

  “Sounds like it. Which is probably why she’d like to be here. It’s so peaceful and beautiful. And it smells so good.”

  “How is the wedding planning coming?”

  “Really good. Oh, I forgot to tell you. I hired an assistant.”

  “That was fast.”

  “He flew out this morning.”

  “From where?”

  “Don’t laugh, but he worked at the coffee shop, and he hit on me, and then he went to see the trilogy with me.”

  “He hit on you?”

  “Yeah, but he’s harmless. I mean, I think, mostly. He’s young and cute. Honestly, his cockiness reminded me of you in high school.”

  “You liked me in high school.”

  “No, Riley. I loved you. Speaking of that,” I say. “Have you read the note?”

  “The note?”

  “Yeah, the one I gave you at homecoming? I sort of expected you’d say something about it.”

  “Shit, I totally forgot about it.”

  “Can you read it now?”

  “Uh, sure, let me get it out of my wallet.”

  I hear some rustling then he says, “It’s in pink marker. Just like all the other notes you wrote me.” He hesitates. “Ari
ela, we put the past behind us. I’m not sure I should read this.”

  “I really want you to. Tonight. Now. I need you to know.”

  “Okay, here goes—

  “Riley-

  I’ve wanted to talk to you about this for weeks, but I just couldn’t.

  I love you so much. And I wish I could go to California and become your wife.

  But, I can’t.

  Because if I do, it will hurt my dad.

  No matter what I choose, someone is going to get hurt.

  And no matter what I choose, I know that I’ll be the one who will hurt the most. Because none of this is what I want.

  What I want, if I’m being completely honest, is three things.

  I want to be able to live out my dream of going to Princeton.

  I want to marry you.

  And I want my parents to be proud of me.

  So I’ve decided to go to Princeton.

  If I do that, I’ll have two out of the three things that I want.

  I hope and pray that you will understand. That you will still love me. That you will still want to marry me. That we can figure out a way to have a long-distance relationship. That we can stay together until I graduate and come to California with you.

  I love you, Riley.

  I know in my heart you are the only boy I will ever love.

  You’ve held my heart captive since the day we met.

  Please tell me that we can work this out.

  That it won’t be the end of us.

  All my love forever,

  Ariela”

  He’s quiet for a moment, and I wonder what he’s thinking. Maybe it was a mistake letting him read it after all these years, but I desperately needed him to know that I never wanted us to be over. Ever.

  “Are you fucking kidding me? You’ve had this note all this time? Why didn’t you mail it to me? Send it to Keatyn? Message me on Facebook? You ruined us, and this note would have changed everything. Showing it to me now, this is just—cruel.”

  “But I thought it would make you feel better knowing that I never wanted us to end.”

  “Yeah, well it doesn’t. It makes it ten times worse. Look, I don’t know if I can do this. Go through all of this again. It’s late. I have to go.”

  Then he hangs up on me.

  Riley’s Penthouse - L.A.

  RILEY

  I’m pissed off when I step into my elevator and make my way up.

  What the fuck was I thinking?

  I can’t do this with Ariela.

  I can’t keep dredging this shit up.

  It’s just not going to work. I don’t need all week to figure out what I’m going to tell her at the wedding. I know what I’m going to say. Fuck this. And fuck you.

  I’m pulling off my tie when I walk into my bedroom and find Shelby hoisted up in a swing on the bathroom door, wearing nothing but a pair of black, studded leather panties.

  Oh yeah, this is exactly what I need right now.

  I don’t say a word, just shed my clothes and do her every which way.

  As I’m dozing off, exhausted from both the kinky sex and the emotion of the day, a sentence floats through my brain. You’ve held my heart captive since the day we met.

  My eyes open with a start, and I sit up, grab my phone, and call Dallas’ number in a panic.

  When he answers groggily, I blurt out, “We can’t sell the name.”

  “But at dinner you were all for it.”

  “I promised Keatyn that I would think about it. She doesn’t want to change the name because of Brooklyn.”

  “I miss him too, and I understand he thought up the name but—”

  “I lied to her. Told her all the things she needed to hear. I had no intention of thinking about it anymore. My mind was made up. I was going to tell her the same thing this morning. That we should sell it.”

  “What changed your mind?”

  “Fate, maybe?”

  “You’re going to have to be a little more specific.”

  “When Ariela broke up with me on graduation day, she intended to put a note on my car. Instead, she ran into me and blurted it all out then ran off and forgot to give me the note. She’s kept it all this time though and gave it to me this past weekend. With the party and then our rush to get home for the baby’s birth, I had forgotten about it. Tonight she made me read it.”

  “And that has to do with our deal, how?”

  “One of the lines in her note was that I’ve held her heart captive since the day we met. It’s a sign, Dallas. And I don’t really believe in signs.”

  “It’s going to mean less money,” he says with a sigh that lets me know he won’t fight us on this.

  “I think Keatyn will be okay with that. This is more important to her. And, really, it should be more important to us. It’s where we started. It’s only fitting that when we start over the name is part of it. It’s part of us, Dallas.”

  “You gonna start crying about this?”

  “No, but it does make me emotional.”

  Dallas sounds choked up when he replies. “It makes me emotional too. I’ll take it off the table. You call Keatyn and tell her the news—at a reasonable hour.”

  Shelby rolls over, pushing her tits against my chest. “Ariela was your high school girlfriend? she asks. “Are you still in love with her?”

  “Obviously not,” I say, running my hand across her nipple and feeling both it and myself harden.

  “Again, daddy?” she giggles.

  “Yes, again.”

  TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14th

  Riley’s Penthouse - L.A.

  RILEY

  I wake up to the smell of bacon. I roll over and glance at the clock. Shit! It’s almost eight!

  Although it shouldn’t be that big of a surprise. I was fucking Shelby until at least four this morning.

  I drag myself out of bed, quickly shower, and get dressed.

  “Well, look at you,” Shelby says, when I join her in the kitchen. “There’s just something so sexy about a man in a suit.”

  I grab her around the waist, pulling her close. “And there’s something pretty sexy about a woman cooking me breakfast naked.”

  She giggles. “I thought you’d like that, daddy.”

  Although it used to make me cringe when she called me that, it’s honestly starting to grow on me. I take the spatula out of her hand and spank her ass with it.

  “Oh! Yeah. You know I like it like that,” she says, bending over. “Do it again.”

  I smack her again, harder this time. She flips around, unzips my pants, and drops to her knees, taking my dick in her mouth and expertly sucking it. I lean back against the kitchen counter and think this is the life of Riley Johnson.

  And I fucking love it.

  Especially when I pick her up, set her on the counter, and drive the point home.

  After a thorough fucking, she finishes cooking breakfast and presents it to me on a plate. “I’m going to make you breakfast every morning before you go to work.”

  But Riley Johnson doesn’t do every morning. “Today you’ll be moving into a bungalow.”

  “You mean after last night I don’t get to stay here?”

  “I’m a bachelor and set in my ways, Shelby. I need my space.”

  “But—”

  “Have you ever seen a bungalow at Chateau Marmont?”

  “That’s the kind of bungalow you’re talking about? Oh my God! I’ve heard about those!”

  “So do you think you’d be okay staying there until we can find you a suitable place to live?”

  She frowns and hangs her head. “They’re really expensive, Riley. I don’t need anything that nice. Besides, I don’t have anything to wear to a place like that.”

  I push her chin up. “Then it sounds like you’ll need to go shopping first.”

  “Riley, I can’t . . .”

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  “Are you trying to get rid of me?” She starts crying. “I’m sorry, Riley
. I’m just so emotional right now. Must be all the pregnancy hormones.”

  “Speaking of that, I thought you told me you’ve been sick?”

  “I have been. I threw up first thing this morning. I usually feel okay until about midday then I’m exhausted.”

  “Are you still planning to work?”

  Her eyes get big, and she looks at me like I’m nuts. “Of course I am, Riley. I appreciate that you’re going to put me up and all, but I know how men are. As soon as they’ve used you up, they move on. And if you decide to move on, I’d be fucked. I’m not stupid.”

  “I’d say I’m not like other men, but I probably am. I work hard. I fuck a lot of women. It’s who I am.”

  “I don’t care about any of that, Riley. You know, sexually, I’m pretty open-minded. But just to be clear, if you’re going to fuck around, so am I.”

  “I understand,” I tell her, appreciating her candor. “Tyler, my assistant, will get in touch with you this morning. He’ll have a personal shopper work with you and then get you all checked in.”

  “Will you come help me christen my new place tonight?”

  “I’ll try,” I tell her, not wanting to commit, but knowing I’ll be there with fucking bells on.

  Captive Films - Santa Monica

  DAWSON

  I took the girls to the airport this morning and got them on a plane back home.

  It was not fun.

  Harlow hung on me and cried, saying that she didn’t want to leave. That she didn’t care if Ava liked the school. That she wanted to be with her daddy and her soon-to-be-adopted pony.

  I’m not sure what to do. Harlow loved the school when they visited yesterday. She and Carder seem thick as thieves, and I know if she came here, she’d do well. But she’s more easygoing like me.

  Ava is tougher. She said she had a good day, but that she didn’t know yet if she wanted to move. My mom says it’s because she’s almost a teenager. That they are moody and don’t know what they want. She says at some point, I’m just going to have to tell her she’s moving, and that’s it.