Chapter 11
Ellie could not believe that this was the carrot Dad was dangling—a fake relationship contract? No wonder her dad was so happy to hear about her trysts with the cowboy; he wanted to use it to his advantage.
"This is absurd,” she told Geneva upon hearing the news.
“I'm sure it feels that way, but people make deals like this in Hollywood all the time." Geneva wore a surprisingly straight face while delivering that rebuttal, which only made Ellie shake her head.
"You don't understand. Things are going perfectly with Nash right now. This is the exact type of thing that could ruin it."
"No, it's the exact type of thing that could buy you time to really get to know the guy and see if there's something there.”
"Yes, but I'm already doing that, minus the creepy contract that says we have to publicly become a thing and promise to stay together until after my next movie comes out."
Geneva lowered her head to level a look at her, then joined Ellie where she sat on the couch.
She patted her knee. “Honey, if this man wants to dance with a diva, he's going to have to learn the moves.
Something tells me that if he wanted just any old country girl, he'd have had one a long time ago.
There's something special about you, and he knows it. Trust me, he’ll be willing to go the distance if it means setting you free.
Besides, how else are you going to get out of the other contract? "
Ellie gave that some thought, wishing very badly she could tell Geneva the extent of her dad's dirty dealings. And who was to say that this wasn't just another one of his shady maneuvers?
Ellie glanced down at the notes Geneva had scratched out during the Zoom call.
This contract would replace Ellie's current contract and all obligations therein.
Ellie will be a free agent once her end of the contract is fulfilled, so long as Nash keeps his end of the deal.
The couple will need to go public with their relationship before production and remain a couple (according to the public) during the production and post-production process (approximately two weeks after its spring release.)
Nash should be seen on set with Ellie throughout the Dallas production, which runs September 20th—October 31st
Ellie nodded as she saw the final production dates. “Just a month and a half of filming?"
Geneva nodded. "Maybe less. They’re not shooting action or anything. And since the production dates got pushed back, the cast has had plenty of time to work on their lines. Something I hope you’ve been doing too.”
“I have,” Ellie assured, considering the irony of playing a role where the character was striving for the very thing Ellie wished she could rid herself of—fame. Still, she felt confident she’d do the character justice.
She dropped her gaze to the notes once more. "So, in short,” Ellie said, “Nash and I sign the contract, we go public with our relationship, and stay together until at least three weeks after the March release?”
“Right.”
And then she’d really be free? Ellie wondered what Montana looked like during Easter. Did they have small-town events like Easter Egg hunts on the church grounds or the County Square?
“And if we do this, I’m free from the other contract, and Nash gets a lump sum for his troubles.” She hated adding that part because she knew it would mess with her head and plant questions that didn’t exist now. Like, did Nash really like her, or was he just sticking the course to get the money?
And while she was almost positive Nash would like her without all the Hollywood ties, she wondered if that would change if he knew she really planned to be through with it for good.
Would she lose part of her appeal?
“Oh, and I forgot to tell you,” Geneva blurted. “That rugged cowboy of yours sent you flowers.”
That lifted her mood. “He did?” Ellie hurried into the kitchen, wondering what sort of flowers Nash might pick out for her. Perhaps something that reflected his country roots, like daisies or sunflowers. Yet the moment she spotted them, Ellie knew they weren’t from Nash at all.
She’d seen this very bouquet several times throughout her career. While the vase often varied depending on the season, the flowers within were the same every time. Today, the vase was black and bulbous enough to reflect the deep purple roses it held.
“Aren’t they gorgeous?” Geneva said, coming up behind her.
“Yes,” she breathed, her spirits lifting as she realized—by the sight of the arrangement alone—who they were really from.
For years now, Ellie’s mom had anonymously sent her a beautiful bouquet of purple roses on the first day of production, no matter the location.
Ellie figured it was her mom’s way of silently letting her know she was there with her, even though she couldn’t be.
Of course, since the flowers had always been sent anonymously, Ellie hadn’t confirmed they were from her.
“He didn’t exactly sign the card, but I’m assuming they’re from him. You don’t happen to have some sort of nickname for Nash, do you?”
Ellie quirked her head. “Why do you ask?” But then she realized why Geneva had asked.
While the cards attached to the arrangements had never been signed, they had all been stamped with the same small design.
A design which, now that Ellie thought of it, might have more of a meaning than she thought.
“I’m asking because maybe he did sort of sign it,” Geneva said, “and he was just being clever and hinting at a nickname.”
Ellie’s heart began to hammer, her insides seeming to figure things out before her brain could. This wasn’t Ellie’s first day on set or anything, but it was a momentous day since she’d been presented with the new contract. Still, how would her mom have known anything about that?
“Where’s the card?” she breathed as her blood turned cold. The image her mind recalled couldn’t be right.
“Just on the counter there,” Geneva said.
Ellie’s gaze dropped to the small card as she stepped slowly toward the arrangement. She pictured the simple line drawing of an animal that had never made any sense.
“And what do you think the nickname would be?” she pressed, heart racing as she pushed past the baby’s breath to reveal the small image that suddenly made perfect sense.
A gulp slunk past Ellie’s throat as Geneva answered.
“Wolf.”