Hollywood Enigma: Hollywood Name Game Book 5

by Alexa Aston

  “I will,” Scarlett promised.

  By now, she’d arrived at her office and pulled up her email as they’d spoken. She printed out five copies of the document and then went to Erica.

  “A film treatment’s coming off my printer. Would you collate it and get it all prettied up? I need to take it with me to Rylon.”

  “Will do,” her assistant said, moving into action.

  Scarlett returned to the conference room. “We need to head out, Wynn.”

  “It was a pleasure to meet all of you,” he said and shook hands again with the three Lymon men.

  “We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship, Wynn,” Henry said, his smile deferential.

  Wynn joined her and they returned to her office. She grabbed her purse and briefcase and Erica handed her the small stack of outlines, placed in glossy black folders embossed in gold with LM for Lymon McGraw. Shoving them into her briefcase, she led Wynn to the elevator.

  Without warning, Lymon McGraw employees came out of the woodwork, suddenly needing to go to another floor. She hid a smile as she, Wynn, and over a dozen people stepped into the elevator. Camera clicks cut through the silence as they rode to the ground floor. She and Wynn departed. Amazingly enough, not a single person followed.

  Shaking her head, they exited the building. She spotted his sky blue Spitfire and sighed as they walked toward it.

  “I was hoping you’d bring this car today. I was surprised to hear that you restore classic cars.”

  He shrugged. “It’s my version of house flipping. I scour the Internet and find the car that’s in the worst shape. Buy it for peanuts and then lovingly restore it.”

  Wynn opened her door and Scarlett got in. He came around to the driver’s side.

  “How long does it take you?”

  “Depends upon the condition of the car. How far I have to go to bring it back from the dead. Plus, whether I’m filming or not. If I’m on hiatus, I’m a man possessed and can spend ten hours a day at it. When I’m shooting, I might tinker for an hour after I get home. It’s a good way to relieve stress.”

  “Do you keep any of them? Or are they all flipped like houses?”

  “I drive them a while and then get an itch to do it again. I try to move on so I don’t get attached to any particular one.”

  Scarlett thought Wynn had the same policy about people. She ran her hand across the dashboard. “It’s beautiful.”

  Stopping at a light, he asked, “Would you like to drive Philippa?”

  She frowned. “Philippa?”

  He laughed. “I name all of them. This Spitfire looked regal to me. Sleek. I’m a history buff. Philippa of Hainault was the very classy wife of England’s Edward III.”

  Scarlett smiled. “I would love to get behind Philippa’s wheel.”

  The light changed and Wynn drove a block before pulling over. They traded places. Scarlett smoothed her hands over the wheel.

  “This is exciting,” she said as she adjusted the seat and mirrors.

  Wynn picked up the purse and briefcase that she’d left on the floorboard and put them in his lap.

  “You don’t have to hold those.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  Scarlett pulled out into traffic. “Mmm. Nice pickup.”

  “Are you going to get a speeding ticket?” he teased.

  “Not if I can help it. But I can imagine Philippa on the open road and me doing more than forty in her.”

  “If today goes well, let’s take her out and celebrate.”

  She met his gaze. “You’re on. I think we have an even better chance than I thought.”

  “You had some pretty convincing arguments last night. Money is the bottom line to any studio. You’ll be appealing to their pocketbook.”

  Laughing, she said, “I have even more ammunition in my arsenal now, thanks to Cassie and Breck.”

  “What did they do?”

  “More than I could’ve hoped for. I asked them to think about a few ways Carbon Man might get his new look. I wanted to work those into our conversation to let Rylon know what possibilities were out there. Those two actually pulled an all-nighter and wrote a treatment for the film.”

  “What?”

  “I know. Pretty incredible.”

  “They already have a script. The read-through starts Monday. There’s no way Rylon would go for starting from scratch.”

  “I haven’t had time to see what they did but Cassie feels Rylon will love it and make them an offer. Besides, if it’s as good as she believes, the execs could have them write it and it becomes Carbon Man 4. They could sit on the current script and pull it out, with a few tweaks, and make it Carbon Man 5.”

  “Can I read it? At least one of us should know what it says going into the meeting.”

  “Sure. Look in my briefcase. Erica put it into black folders. It’s five pages long and will read like a short story. You’ll know the entire concept once you finish it.”

  Wynn opened her briefcase and withdrew one of the folders. She watched him open it. They rode in silence as he read. Scarlett pulled into Rylon Pictures a few minutes later and stopped at the gate to give her name as he finished and slipped the treatment back into her briefcase. The guard handed her a pass and gave her directions on where to park and where the executive offices were located.

  “What do you think?” she asked.

  He ran a hand through his hair. “It blows me away. Rylon would be insane not to jump on this. I can’t believe Cassie and Breck came up with something so fast. It’s creative. Offbeat. And I can totally see it working for Carbon Man.”

  “You inspired them. Not only to write that but now they have direction on the other script they’ve been working on.”

  Scarlett pulled into a parking place and turned off the ignition. She handed Wynn the keys. “Thanks for letting me drive. I’d love to own a car like this someday.”

  Wynn passed the keys back to her. “It’s yours.”

  CHAPTER 10

  Wynn enjoyed seeing the dumbfounded look he’d put on Scarlett’s face. “Consider it a bonus.”

  “Wynn, I haven’t done anything yet,” she said, her exasperation obvious. “I’m pulling out all the stops for you but it doesn’t mean Rylon is going to go for this. I put our chances at sixty-forty, at best.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he told her. “You’ve done a lot for me. Already, I believe in myself more than I have in a long time. You’ve introduced me to a wonderful group of friends. Even if you can’t scuttle my contract, I still plan to work with RCDS on Cassie and Breck’s screenplay eventually. I’m hoping it will help me move into a new phase of my career.”

  She clutched the keys. “It’s too much,” she said, but he heard the wistfulness in her tone.

  Taking charge of the situation, he said, “Hey. I’m Wynn Gallagher. I’m made of money. I have half a dozen more cars waiting for me at home that need restoring. I’m happy to give Philippa a good home with you. That way, I can still see her from time to time.” His eyes met hers. “Take the damned car, Scarlett, and say thank you.”

  She let out a long breath. “Okay.” A radiant smile lit her face. “Thank you, Wynn.”

  He started to open his door.

  “Wait a minute. Before we go in, remember that I’ll do the majority of the talking. I want you to be calm, cool, and collected. If you can pull off being a bit arrogant, that would be great. I want them to know you think highly of your acting skills and that you’re going to take them for every dime you can if they don’t let you go. Via me, of course, as your new negotiator.”

  “Got it.”

  Wynn got out of the car, holding her purse and briefcase. He handed them to her. “These look better on you than me.”

  As they approached the building, he ignored the cells that appeared, all lifted in his direction, snapping photos. All his thoughts were on the smile she’d given him.

  Wynn would give her a hundred cars just to see Scarlett’s look of joy again.
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  Entering the building, an assistant met them and provided lanyards to wear, proclaiming them VIP visitors. She escorted them to the fifth floor and led them to a large conference room. Ushering them in, Wynn saw the enemy came well prepared.

  Ed Mussfield, Rylon’s president and CEO, sat at the head of a long, rectangular table. To his right was Rick Princeton, Rylon’s chief attorney. At least fifteen other employees were present, half of them wearing that smug lawyer look. He recognized a few from his and Del’s original negotiations but new faces had come to do battle.

  Mussfield stood and made his way across the length of the room. The stern look on his face reminded Wynn of his one trip to the principal’s office after he’d punched a bully who taunted a skinny kid who’d just moved to town. Still, Mussfield shook his hand, so some civility might occur during the next hour.

  “You must be Ms. Corrigan,” the CEO said. “Ed Mussfield.”

  “Thank you for putting together this meeting so quickly,” Scarlett said smoothly. “With the Carbon Man 4 production starting soon, I appreciate you making this happen.”

  “We’ll see if I appreciate what you have to say, Ms. Corrigan.” Mussfield returned to his seat.

  Wynn pulled out one of two remaining chairs for Scarlett. She sat and he eased into the one next to her. Every eye glared at them. Wynn hadn’t asked Scarlett what she’d told Mussfield in calling this kind of group together. He’d taken a leap of faith and signed with her. Now, he was ready to see her in action.

  “Rick Princeton,” the lawyer said from across the table. “Head of Rylon’s legal department.”

  “Your reputation is spotless, Rick,” Scarlett said. “Good thing you leave all the blood in the water.”

  A palpable silence blanketed the room. Scarlett had gone for first blood and definitely drawn it by the sour look on Princeton’s face. Wynn wondered if that was the right way to begin but he did what Scarlett had told him to do and kept his mouth shut.

  “I have an interesting proposal to make to Rylon,” she began as she removed a flash drive and inserted it into the waiting computer. She clicked on the file she wanted and brought up the first slide, which was projected on a large screen.

  In the next quarter-hour, Scarlett seamlessly outlined why it would be in Rylon’s best interest to release Wynn from next year’s Alpha Tharra Universe movie with the combined cast and how limiting his role in his upcoming solo movie would benefit the studio. Although she hadn’t talked numbers with him, Wynn had given her permission to do whatever it took to end his stay at Rylon. Accordingly, she offered to slash Wynn’s salary on the picture by two-thirds since he wouldn’t appear in more than the first third of the new film she proposed.

  Mussfield balked at first but Wynn could see the studio boss was intrigued by the prospect.

  “So, Wynn would give up most of his salary on the solo and all of the joint superhero movie—if we could find a way to pull him.” He paused. “What about his points on the back end?”

  “Those would remain. It’s still a Wynn Gallagher movie. His name would be the one selling tickets. Especially when it leaks after the first showing that it’s his last film.” Scarlett withdrew a sheet from her briefcase and slid it toward Mussfield.

  “What’s this?” he growled, picking it up.

  “A list of names that might be suited to take on the Carbon Man role. The first three are actors recommended to you by Sydney Revere. She’s worked with the first one and thinks he has the most potential. She auditioned the next two and while they weren’t suited to the role she needed to cast, Sydney believes they have the acting chops to take on something of this magnitude. The remaining names are several up and comers in Hollywood. The list gives you a place to start.”

  Mussfield scanned it with suspicion. “What’s in this for Sydney? Why is she offering these actors up?”

  “Sydney is a personal friend of mine. And my brother’s. She’s a co-founder of RCDS Productions, which I represent. She wanted to help me in any way she could.”

  Mussfield pushed the list to a balding man on his left. Wynn realized he was head of casting for all the Alpha Tharra movies. He hadn’t seen the man in about four years since once Wynn auditioned, his role had been locked up. The casting director nodded to himself as he looked it over and then leaned close to Mussfield. They spoke in hushed tones a moment before he drew back.

  “Remember, Ed, replacing Wynn Gallagher shifts the power from the actors involved in the Alpha Tharra Universe from them to you. If Rylon can swap out a star of Wynn’s magnitude, it can happen to anyone. It’ll keep your actors in line. You won’t see outrageous salary demands come time to negotiate sequels. And I’d advise whomever you select for the next Carbon Man, that you don’t arrange to give away any percent of the merchandise rights.”

  Mussfield glared at Princeton. The attorney stared back coolly at his boss. Wynn knew merch had been a sore point between the two when he and Del had haggled for it.

  “Who’s to say I even want to replace Wynn?” Mussfield asked. “He’s signed for two more pictures. He should live up to his obligation.”

  “Mr. Gallagher is more than willing to do that. However, he was excited by this idea of wrapping up his journey with the Carbon Man character while allowing Carbon Man to live on in another incarnation.”

  “How the hell am I supposed to change out Carbon Man?” Mussfield roared. “We begin production in less than a week.”

  “I’m glad you asked.” Scarlett removed the treatment copies. “Read over this and see what you think.” This time, she walked the folders over to Mussfield.

  He opened one. “A treatment for Carbon Man 4? We’ve got an entire completed screenplay that’s been cast. I don’t need this.” Angrily, he shut the folder.

  “Read it,” she urged. “Let your casting director have a copy.” She looked around. “I wasn’t introduced to everyone. Is the director of the upcoming film present?”

  Craig Cullen raised his hand. Scarlett made sure he got a copy.

  “Give me the room,” growled Mussfield as he handed Princeton a folder.

  Everyone pushed back in their chairs and began filing out.

  “You two stay,” Mussfield commanded, pointing at Wynn and Scarlett. “And those who have the treatment.”

  The room emptied and Wynn flicked his eyes from one to the other, trying to gauge the opinion of the four men reading the treatment. One by one, they closed their copies, a contemplative look on their faces.

  “It’s fantastic,” Cullen said when everyone had finished. “Bloody fantastic. It makes the current screenplay look like gibberish.”

  “Two advantages come to mind,” Scarlett said quickly. “One, if the current script needs work, this would give time for that. It could become Carbon Man 5.”

  “I like that,” Cullen said. “Not throwing the baby out with the bath water.”

  “We’d still have to get a new script based on this treatment written and cast,” the casting director said.

  Mussfield sighed. “I see Cassie Corrigan and Breck O’Dell wrote this treatment. It’s good. Better than good.”

  “They would certainly entertain the idea of writing the screenplay,” Scarlett said, sweetening the pot. “I spoke to Cassie before we arrived and she said she and Breck could be persuaded to clear their schedules to concentrate on Carbon Man 4.”

  “Seriously?” Cullen asked. “Ed, come on. We’ve got to do this. Think of the bloody money we can make off it. It’s quality stuff. A real story. The public will come out in droves to see Wynn Gallagher’s last time as Carbon Man. Multiple times, most likely. This story’s got the depth the others have been missing. We can take this franchise in an entirely new direction.”

  “With someone we’re paying a lot less, Ed,” chimed in Princeton. “We could cast Carbon Man as ten years younger in order to get more years in the franchise. While the script gets written, we can find our new Carbon Man. Groom him. Sign him to a multiple film deal.” He paus
ed, looking at Wynn. “Much as I’m not in favor of releasing you, I think it’s a clever move. It gives both you and Rylon tons of free publicity. We’ll blow up the Internet. I guarantee you worldwide box office figures will be broken.”

  Mussfield glanced at his team. “You’re sure this is the right move?”

  “Absolutely,” Princeton said, showing he was firmly committed to the idea. “I can work on drawing up new contracts. Have them ready by tomorrow.” He looked to Scarlett. “Is that agreeable with you, Ms. Corrigan?”

  Scarlett opened her briefcase a final time and extracted a notebook.

  “I’ve taken care of the preliminaries, Mr. Princeton. Why don’t you look over this and let me know if it can stand as is or what adjustments you might want to make to the documents?”

  “A little arrogant on your part, Ms. Corrigan,” Princeton said grudgingly.

  She smiled. “I like to call it being prepared.”

  Mussfield waved his hand. “Do whatever. Read through it. Draw it up. Let’s meet back here at ten tomorrow morning and finalize things.” He stood. “I only ask that you keep all of this quiet. The new contract. Wynn leaving the franchise. If this is going to have the desired effect, secrecy begins now.”

  “Agreed,” she said. “It benefits us all to keep the proverbial cat in the bag. For now.”

  “Give me the number of those writers,” Mussfield said to Scarlett.

  “Give me your card and I’ll have them contact you.”

  “Today,” the CEO barked.

  “Of course. Gentlemen.”

  Scarlett gathered her things and Wynn helped her from the chair. They left the conference room, very much the object of attention as they departed from the Rylon executive offices. In the distance, Wynn heard Mussfield hollering for everyone to return to the conference room. He assumed the studio exec would read the riot act to anyone who’d been present in order to maintain silence regarding the new Carbon Man project.

  He punched the button and the elevator opened right away. No one was on it as they got on and he sent the carriage down. Halfway through the short trip, he stopped it. Scarlett looked at him quizzically.