“He’s never going to go for this,” she groans.
“No, he won’t. But it doesn't matter because he won’t be giving any public statements, and he won’t be interviewed until the junket. In fact, I want him on full lockdown, no internet or leaving his estate for at least two weeks. This will already be leaked by the time he’s seen in public. And at the junket, he will be heavily guarded.”
“Or medicated.” Mia snickers.
I should laugh at that but instead, I start writing down that we will be using the idea and emailing the doctor we keep on staff for something to slip to Liam. I don’t know him at all, but I’m sure his handler in our office, Laura, will have no problem making certain he’s extra chill at the junket. “I have to call the studio now and beg for favors. I’ll get back to you after all this is in the works.”
“Thanks, love. You’re the best. And I want to say that even though you’re junior there, we all know you’re the miracle worker.”
“Thanks. The word is ‘workaholic who is indebted to her boss,’” I joke, sort of, hanging up and calling the studio rep. “Angelo, how are you?” I ask as he answers gruffly.
“Fucking terrible, Laura, how do you think I am?”
“It’s Jenny.”
“Jenny, how are you?” Angelo’s voice lightens. He’s a little on the flirty side of things with me. I use it to my advantage.
“I’ve been better. I need something from you. Well, two things.”
“Okay.” He sounds leery. He should be, I am about to ask for the moon and stars.
“We can take this entire thing and swing it into something profitable for everyone, but I need your help.”
“Go on.”
“I need you to give Liam the best role you have coming up—whatever you haven’t filled yet that’s going to be a blockbuster. I mean something sweet that your big names are being recommended for. And I need that offer to come to him in two weeks, right before the junket. I want him to hear whisperings of the role but no confirmation until the offer hits him.”
“Are you kidding me?” He scoffs. “Jenny. This is a huge favor.”
“I know that. But right now he’s about to be in the papers a ton. He’s got the attention of the press. He’s a good actor and a solid investment, adding that he’s in the spotlight and on everyone’s lips can’t hurt.” I try to smile while I say it.
“He’s a mediocre actor and he’s a diva.”
“What if I guaranteed he wouldn't be a diva?” Not that I have any idea on how to make that happen. Not that it matters; it will be Mia and Laura’s problem, not mine.
“He will be a good boy and make the movie and work hard. He will not be a diva or a pain in my ass in any way. And you will agree to go to dinner with me.”
“Done.” I promise, hating that part of it. “The other favor is for Natasha Wentworth. I need her offered the same thing. She needs a substantial role to smooth over the fact I just made her a bit of a whore in the news to cover this up.” And to make it appear she slept with someone for the role, but I keep that to myself.
“Wow, you gingers truly don’t have a soul.” He says it with a smile I can hear. “She’s no problem. She’s a hot seller right now.”
“Can you make it all happen?” I want to feel bad about it, but my mind whirls with details.
“I can. Dinner next time you’re in LA,” he adds.
“You name the place and I will be there.”
We hang up and I open my email, sending the solution to Stan.
The fix is in.
Sukii comes back into my office with a Bavarian cream donut on a plate. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“Good. Problem solved.” I take the donut from her and smell it as a text comes in from Victor reminding me that tomorrow we’re having that meeting with the New York team for the hockey game we’re hosting. “Fuck.” I shouldn’t eat the donut but my anxiety levels are through the roof. How could I forget about the meeting and the game?
“What?”
“I’m helping Victor organize a hockey game against the Rangers. They have to play a fundraiser game against our office team here and do a barbecue afterward.” I laugh nervously, realizing I’ll have to play hockey against Lawrence. “The meeting is tomorrow and I completely forgot about it.”
“Our beer league team is going to play an NHL team?” She can’t hold back her grin.
“Yeah.” I blink and stare at the screen.
“Aren’t you the one decent player on the team?” Sukii lifts an eyebrow.
“No, there’s a couple of us.” I take a bite and close my eyes. The food should taste like heaven but stress eating never does.
“So the Rangers are coming here tomorrow for a meeting?” Her eyes dazzle with delight. I’m pretty sure it’s the opposite expression to what I’m making.
22 The meeting
Tuesday, June 20
Lori
The elevator is a whole new level of no. The air is polluted with too many dudes, and someone has been an ass and farted. I hold my breath and lean into Brady who always smells like an aftershave commercial, in case I can’t hold it long enough.
Brady’s face is getting redder and I realize he’s holding his breath too. Our eyes meet and he smiles, making me laugh and blast my breath all over Matt’s cheek. He grimaces but doesn’t glance back.
The doors open and we escape into the fresh air as the guys laugh and joke like ten-year-olds. Matt gives us both one of his uppity asshole glares. “I don’t want to know which one of you did it,” he says before he turns and strolls down the hall.
“So this is her building?” Brady asks too loudly as we pass what appears to be a bullpen of office cubicles. Eyes lift but these
