Chapter 3
THREE
Bree gapes at me. “He hired you as his PA?”
“Well, not yet.” I offer up a casual shrug. “I happened to learn that he needs a new assistant. His old one’s getting married and moving to London.”
“How do you know all this?”
“I told you. Three dreams. I haven’t been sitting on my ass for the last few days.”
“So you snapped your fingers and got an interview? The man’s like Damien. You don’t simply jump to the head of the line.”
I shrug.
“Seriously,” she presses. “How the hell did you land an interview like that?”
“Fine, fine,” I say. “Nikki got me pushed up the list.” She’s become a friend of mine through Bree. And Damien Stark might be a billionaire master of the universe, but he’s also a surprisingly nice guy.
And, yeah, wildly intimidating.
“She just flat-out asked Matthew to give you a shot?”
I shake my head. “Nikki said it felt weird calling him directly, but she knows the head of Human Resources at Hardline, so she made a call. I’ve got an interview with Matthew on Monday.”
“What did you tell her?”
“Well, duh. I told her the truth.”
Bree winces.
I exhale a put-upon sigh. “I told her that I’m out of work and want something steady, and I’d love to work in entertainment, and I’d heard that Matthew Holt needs an assistant. With all the jobs I’ve held, I have killer skill sets.”
“You do?”
She sounds genuinely confused, and I flip her the bird. “Yes,” I say indignantly. “I can handle all software known to man, I can put up with asshole bosses, I order a mean lunch, I can organize the shit out of the most clueless exec, and I can handle angry ferrets like nobody’s business.”
“I swear, I need to buy a leash for you.”
“I’ll be careful. I mean, yeah, I’m going into the killer’s lair, but I’m being smart about it.”
Bree’s expression suggests she thinks otherwise. “He’s smart. He’s ambitious. He’s not a killer.”
“Because you know him so well?”
Her brow furrows. “Sort of. I spent some time with him in Austin. He and Ash are friends, and he really helped me out. I told you all that. Plus, he’s had dinner with us twice since we got back from our honeymoon. And I already told you that we’ve had meetings about the movie. He’s solid. A player, but solid.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“Honestly, you should write thrillers. I’m telling you, he’s a good guy.”
“You’re saying that because of what you’ve seen. Of course, Holt would be on his best behavior for a friend and sometime business partner. He’s doing your movie. And isn’t he an investor in Ash’s new venture? That souped up engine thing?”
“I think it’s a little more technical than souped up. ”
I give her the look. “Come on, Bree. I know how Holt built his business. I’ve read dozens of articles about him over the last two weeks. He’s ruthless.”
The fact is, I’ve been reading about him for longer than that. After the party at the Stark estate, whenever I noticed his name on a news stand or online, I dove into the words. And yes, he is ruthless. But he’s pretty damned enticing, too.
That, however, is not something I’m going to confess at the moment.
Bree rubs her temple. “Girl, you need to chill out. You don’t even know the guy. You have no idea what kind of ego he has or how he runs his business or anything at all about him, really.”
I shrug. I’ve been addicted to Hollywood gossip since I was little. I’ve even been an extra a few times, although I don’t have any desire to truly work in the biz. Acting is ten percent real work and ninety percent waiting around. No thank you.
But peeking in on all that glamour? I’m all over that.
Plus, a deep dive into Matthew Holt specifically has shown me that he is not a man lacking in self-esteem. He’s confident as fuck with an ego the size of Alaska. And from what I’ve read, he’s so damn used to getting his own way, that he’d probably freeze up in confusion if someone said no to him.
Maybe Jenny said no.
When I suggest this, Bree scowls. “Like there wouldn’t be another woman he’d be hot for. And, again, I like him. He helped me out, remember? That whole blackmail thing.”
“Of course he helped you,” I say. “He must see himself as the hero. And a man with an ego like his would totally believe he could get away with murder.”
“You’re watching all those true crime shows again, aren’t you?”
“No.” I’m sure she recognizes my words as a lie, but to her credit she doesn’t turn on the television and check my watch history. “I figure if I’m working in his office, I can poke around. He’s the kind of guy who delegates because he has to, but he’ll still keep an eye on every division of his business.”
“And in addition to positioning yourself in Matthew’s office, you’re going to try to wheedle your way into one of those parties, aren’t you?” She sounds exhausted. And concerned.
“Well, yeah. Who knows what I might learn mingling with half-drunk wannabe actors? Maybe someone knew Jenny and—” I cut myself off, seeing her face. “What? ”
She drags her fingers through her long, black hair. “I can’t believe I’m saying this—but I’m hoping you’re right. Not about Matthew—seriously, I like him. In fact, I’m kind of bummed he’s not going with us to Monte Carlo. He’s fun to hang out with.”
“Oh, man. I forgot you’re leaving on Tuesday.”
“Grand Prix,” she says. “Ash isn’t driving, but he’s got a car in the race, and it’s the biggest showcase yet for the INX-20 motor.”
“You sound like a regular car fan.”
She grins. “More like an Ash fan. And Monaco . Hello? I mean, it’s going to be fabulous.”
“Not jealous.” So jealous .
“Anyway,” she continues, “I really do like the guy. I mean, he’s not a warm fuzzy puppy. He’s arrogant, but he’s brilliant. And he definitely knows he’s good looking, and?—”
She cuts herself off with a wave of her hand. “Sorry. Not the point. All I’m trying to say is that even though I’m sure Matthew’s hands are clean, I hope you’re right that it wasn’t suicide. Because we’ve known Jenny since third grade, and I hate the idea that she would kill herself and neither of us even had a clue she was struggling.”
“Me, too.”
She meets my eyes. “So I guess it must have been murder. Or an accident.”
“Jenny loved that bridge,” I say. “It represented Hollywood royalty to her. She picked her apartment because it had a view of the damn thing.”
“I know. She said the towers made her think of castles.”
The Glendale-Hyperion Bridge really is awesome. With its arches and towers, it has both a majestic and an industrial look. You can’t help but notice it. I’ve always thought it looks lonely, but Jenny saw a raw beauty that she found inspirational. As far as she was concerned, it was the gateway to her Hollywood dreams.
“She’d never kill herself there.” My voice is barely a whisper, and I wipe away fresh tears.
Bree sniffles. “I can’t believe I’m leaving the country.” She swallows. “Listen, it probably was suicide. But in case it really was murder … you’re not going to do anything stupid, are you?”
I shrug. “Probably.”
As I’d hoped, she laughs. “Fine. Whatever. How can I help?”
I realize that at some point I’d stood up and started pacing. Now I plunk down on the coffee table in front of her. “I don’t see how you can, especially if you’re leaving so soon.”
“You want to check out one of the parties before your interview with Holt?”
I nod. “I figure if I can get into one tonight or tomorrow, then I can ask around. Maybe she slept with the wrong guy and someone’s wife was pissed. Or someone wanted her to transport drugs. Or, I don’t know, something else. I won’t know until I go.”
“And that’s all you’ve got?”
“At least until Monday morning when I walk into Holt’s office. I’d hoped to look through her stuff, but her roommate’s already mailed the boxes to her parents. Which sucks, because I figure there’s probably an invite to one of the parties mixed in with her things. Which would have made things a hell of a lot easier.”
“I can ask Matthew for you.”
I cock my head and give her a look that I hope she translates as What conversation have you been having?
“Right. Suspect. Got it.”
“Who else do we know who might have a party invite for this weekend?”
“No one I can— oh. ”
I sit up straighter. “What?”
She pulls a face. “No. Forget I said anything.”
“Um, yeah. That’s not happening. Spill it.”
“Dammit. I shouldn’t say anything. It’s sort of a secret.”
“Sort of?”
“I guess it’s an open secret. But only to people who, you know, travel in certain circles.” She bites her lower lip and gives me an apologetic shoulder raise.
I fight a laugh. “Marrying Ash has definitely pushed you up in the world.”
She flips me the bird. “Actually, I know about it from Nikki.”
I narrow my eyes. “Okay. I’ll bite. What do you know?”
She draws a breath, then lets it out. “I know about the parties at Masque.”