Chapter 14 #2
But he could see that she did care, at least a little. The casual dismissal didn't quite hide the vulnerability underneath, the awareness that her every public appearance was subject to scrutiny and judgment.
They descended to the hotel's restaurant, a space that was sophisticated without being intimidatingly formal.
The lighting was warm and flattering, the decor tastefully understated, and the clientele clearly consisted of industry professionals conducting business over expensive meals.
It was exactly the kind of place where deals were made and careers were launched, where being seen was almost as important as the actual conversation.
"There they are," Willow said, her face brightening as she spotted two men at a table near the back of the restaurant.
Both men rose immediately upon seeing her, their faces lighting up with affection.
The taller of the two enveloped her in an enthusiastic hug, followed by the second man, who offered a more restrained but equally warm embrace.
The easy familiarity between them spoke of relationships built on mutual respect and genuine friendship rather than mere professional convenience.
She turned back toward Casper with her smile still radiant, the transformation from nervous traveler to confident professional complete.
"Casper, I'd like you to meet my agent, Nathan Foster.
He handles all my screenplay deals and has been putting up with me for years.
And this is Christopher Baldwin, the best entertainment attorney in the business and the man who keeps me out of legal trouble. "
Handshakes were exchanged with the kind of firm, assessing grip that successful men used to measure each other.
Nathan was younger than Casper had expected, probably mid-forties, with the kind of effortless polish that came from years of high-stakes negotiations.
Christopher appeared slightly older, his silver-touched hair and expensive suit speaking to established success and hard-won expertise.
"Nathan, Christopher, this is Aldo Caspani, my security specialist," Willow continued, using his formal name in a way that made their arrangement sound more official and less personal.
While Casper wouldn't have minded sitting at a nearby table or even at the bar to maintain professional distance, Willow had insisted he join them directly.
He was grateful for the decision, since it gave him the opportunity to observe her in her professional capacity while closely evaluating the people who had access to her schedule, location, and personal information.
The men ordered cocktails while Willow selected a glass of wine, but Casper stuck with water, wanting to maintain absolute mental clarity.
As they ordered lunch and settled into conversation, he listened with growing interest to the easy flow of personal updates, professional gossip, and genuine concern for Willow's recent security issues.
"So this stalking situation is real?" Nathan asked, his expression growing serious. "When you first mentioned it, I thought maybe you were just being overly cautious."
"Unfortunately, it's very real," Willow replied. "Casper's company has installed a comprehensive security system, and he'll be staying close until after the trip to Kansas City."
Christopher studied Casper with the assessing gaze of someone accustomed to evaluating potential threats and allies. "What's your professional assessment of the situation?"
"Someone has been conducting surveillance on Ms. Thorton for weeks," Casper replied carefully.
"Gifts had been mailed directly to her home, yet were now left there and not by a delivery service.
The pattern of behavior suggests escalation, which makes professional protection a necessary precaution. "
Both men’s eyes widened, and Casper felt the dynamics around the table change. While they had been polite, he felt their surprise that Willow had him sit at the table instead of off to the side. Now, he wondered if they appreciated his presence or resented it.
The conversation shifted to business as Nathan outlined a new screenplay opportunity that Christopher had already begun negotiating.
Casper was continually impressed by Willow's intelligence and business acumen as she asked thoughtful questions about creative control, production timeline, and financial terms. This was a side of her he hadn't seen before…
confident, shrewd, completely in command of her professional destiny.
"The studio is offering a significant upfront payment plus backend participation if the film performs well," Nathan explained. "Christopher has already negotiated approval rights for the director and lead casting."
"What about the production company?" Willow asked. "I want to make sure we're working with people who understand the material's emotional core, not just its commercial potential."
After some detailed discussion, Nathan glanced at his watch and sighed with obvious regret.
"I hate to cut this short, but I have a meeting with another client across town.
" He stood and embraced Willow again, shaking Casper's hand with genuine warmth.
"Take care of her," he murmured. Casper heard the protective concern underlying the casual words.
After Nathan departed, Christopher's demeanor shifted slightly, becoming more serious and focused. "There's one other business matter I wanted to discuss with you, Willow. It concerns Max Sterling."
Willow's reaction was immediate as her chin jerked back. Her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open in obvious surprise. "Max?"
Casper's attention sharpened, his gaze moving between Christopher's grim expression and Willow's shocked face. "Who is Max Sterling?"
"My college boyfriend from twelve years ago," Willow said, her voice carrying a mixture of disbelief and growing irritation. She turned back to Christopher. "The fact that you're bringing him up suggests he's not just trying to catch up for old times' sake."
"He's been trying to reach you through Nathan, claiming you stole his ideas for your recent screenwriting success. He wants to discuss what he calls 'unfinished business' regarding collaborative work you did together."
"That snake!" Willow's voice rose slightly before she caught herself and glanced around the restaurant.
She leaned forward, her voice dropping to an angry whisper.
"We dated during my junior and senior years at Columbia.
Yes, we co-wrote a couple of screenplays, but neither ever went anywhere.
I didn't use any of that material in my professional work, so there's nothing to steal. "
Christopher raised his hands in a calming gesture.
"Legally, he has no recourse. The collaborative work you did was never optioned or produced, and according to your academic records, you received joint credit for the course requirements.
He can't retroactively claim ownership of your independent professional success. "
While Christopher continued to reassure Willow that Max Sterling posed no legal threat, Casper was already composing a message to the LSIMT team.
If her former boyfriend was now making overt claims and causing professional disruption, it wasn't a large leap to imagine him escalating to more underhanded tactics.
The lunch that had begun with such a pleasant professional discussion had taken a decidedly darker turn, and Casper wondered how many other ghosts from Willow's past might be stirring up trouble now that her career had reached new heights of success.