Chapter 36
Chapter
Thirty-Six
Serena
The email on Anthony DeMarco’s behalf requesting my bank routing and account numbers comes from some fancy attorney, but I’m not giving out that information.
And I don’t want any money from Tony unless and until we have some sort of court document enforcing boundaries.
And assurance that he won’t try to get full custody of Joey.
I’m probably going to need a lawyer but if this thing with Dusty Peaks works out, I’ll be able to afford it.
Even if it doesn’t, I’ll swallow my pride and ask West to help.
I haven’t told him about the follow-up call from my agent yet because I wanted to surprise him, but after our argument yesterday, I’m both hurt and annoyed.
Why would he automatically believe I took money from Tony?
Because he’s in Minneapolis.
Of course.
Tony probably went out of his way to tell him he’d spent time with Joey. I’d forgotten that’s where they were playing yesterday and now it makes a little more sense.
Except I’m still annoyed that he would believe Tony over me.
Not being able to have real conversations probably hasn’t helped but he has to trust me. Otherwise, how can this ever work?
Why is everything so hard all of a sudden?
As much as I want to call West and let him know exactly how mad I am, I’m about to have a really uncomfortable conversation with my boss, who’s never been anything but good to me.
This wasn’t the job I wanted but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Not only because I’m able to cook, which I love almost as much as acting, but because it would afford Joey excellent opportunities.
Now I’m potentially walking away from both, which scares me.
There are so many things up in the air in my life right now, I feel like I’m spinning in the wind.
But I’m also hopeful.
Getting back into acting was never on my radar, but now that it’s happening, I’m clinging to it like a lifeline. The money I’ll make will change everything for me. Not only will I be able to afford an attorney to fight Tony, I won’t need to borrow money from West.
Except he’s mad at me right now and I’m annoyed with him too.
“Hey, Serena.” My boss, Adele, comes in and closes the door to her office. “What’s up?”
I steel myself but then blurt out the whole story.
“Oh, wow.” She listens carefully, nodding occasionally and then giving me a big grin. “Serena, that’s incredible! You must be so excited.”
“I’m terrified,” I admit. “Leaving my good, stable job for an unknown is a huge risk but…”
“But it’s something you have to do. You don’t have to explain that to me. I have a Ph.D. in education but if someone offered me a part in a TV show, I’d be gone. Like, yesterday.”
We both laugh.
“We had a meeting a couple of nights ago and technically, shooting won’t start until July, but I didn’t want to leave you hanging. I’ll also have to fly to L.A. for a few meetings next month.”
“Honey, use your sick and vacation days. No one needs to know your business. At least, not yet.” She meets my gaze directly.
“I appreciate you coming to me but do yourself a favor and don’t tell anyone else.
Like you said, anything can happen, so don’t officially give your notice until you’re on set actually working. ”
“You think?” I wrinkle my nose. “I don’t want to be dishonest.”
“You need to think about yourself. Your son. Do what you have to do, and then this summer, if things work out the way you’re hoping, turn in your letter of resignation.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, feeling a little choked up.
“You’re very welcome.”
We talk for another minute, and then I head back to my own office.
That’s one big item checked off my to-do list.
Now I have to talk to the lawyer I contacted, to make sure the contract includes everything I asked for before I sign anything, and at some point, West and I need to have a serious conversation about him listening to Tony.
The more I think about it, the madder I get.
And like he knows I’m thinking about him, Tony’s name flashes on the screen of my phone.
He’s another one I have to put in his place.
“Tony.” I answer on the second ring.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
“My name is Serena. You don’t get to call me pet names.”
“Aw, don’t be that way. I’m just being sweet, baby.”
“You don’t have a sweet bone in your body,” I say. “Speaking of which, we’re going to set some ground rules.”
“Okay.” The amusement in his voice tells me he’s not taking me seriously.
Well, that ends now.
“First and foremost, stop lying to West. There is nothing between you and me and there isn’t going to be.
Period. End of story. I didn’t take your money, and I have no interest in it.
If you truly want to spend time with Joey, then let’s go to court, establish paternity, and you can work on the back child support you owe, along with a reasonable custody arrangement.
But there’s no universe where we’re together.
If you want to spend time with Joey, it will be one-on-one, without me.
” I’ve never been this strong or straightforward with anyone in my life, but it’s time.
I love West and I’m not going to risk losing him because of something Tony has done. Things are tricky right now but I’ll be damned if I let Tony change the course of my life yet again.
He must sense that I’m not screwing around, and he’s quiet for what seems like a long time.
“What are you babbling about?” he finally demands. “You know damn well I can take him away from you if I want to.”
“No, you really can’t,” I reply. “I have screen shots of all the nasty, threatening texts you sent me when I told you I was pregnant. I also have a lawyer who thinks you’re full of shit.
” That last part isn’t true, but he doesn’t need to know that.
“And in case you’ve forgotten, I have some powerful friends too.
Just because I left show business doesn’t mean I don’t still have friends.
” That’s only partially true but again, he has no way of knowing for sure one way or the other.
And short-term, I want him to think long and hard about whether or not he’s going to sue me for custody.
Because I will fight him with everything I have. With or without West, I’ll do whatever is necessary to keep my son. That’s all there is to it.
“You’re seriously going to take me to court?” He sounds a tiny bit surprised. Maybe even a smidge impressed.
But I don’t give a shit what he thinks of me—good, bad, or indifferent.
“Not at all. I’m giving you the option to leave things alone.
You know you don’t want to be a full-time parent, even if it’s only some of the time.
You have no idea how to be a dad and being the one in charge for any length of time is a lot of work.
The only reason you want to be with me is so that I’ll take care of Joey while you just live your life, occasionally come home and play with him, and then go back to hockey or whatever else you do. You don’t care about me.”
The silence between us lengthens, but I don’t say anything else.
The ball is in his court.
“This isn’t over, Serena. He’s my kid, no matter what I said or did in the past.”
“I never denied that.”
“So why are you making this so complicated? You can’t possibly really care about McGregor? He’s a fucking pussy.”
“See, that’s what I’m talking about. You two have had some stupid pissing contest since high school, and you keep bringing him up like he’s the prize in this situation.
The only thing you should be thinking about is Joey.
But you’re not. Not four years ago and not now.
Tony, why are you so determined to suddenly be in his life?
I think we both know the answer to that question. ”
“I’m his dad!” he snaps.
“No. You saw him with West at the fan fest in St. Louis and you couldn’t stand that West actually has something you could have had.
You threw it—and us—away. I’d be willing to bet you haven’t given either of us a second thought since the day you sent that last text.
But seeing me with West grated on your ego. And Joey deserves better.”
“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about!”
“I think I do.” I take a deep breath even though my hands are shaking and my stomach is in knots. “Leave us alone, Tony. I mean it. If you have any feelings at all for your son, you know he’s better off with me.”
He doesn’t say anything for a beat.
Then, to my surprise, he disconnects without a word.
I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but whatever he wants to do, I’m prepared to fight him.