Chapter 5
The first thing I notice when I pull up to Chase’s beach house is Cici’s car already in the driveway. Good. For once, I’m actually thrilled to see Cici’s here. I had to wait for twenty minutes at her favorite bakery for a fresh batch of crullers. Part one of my bribe.
Contrary to popular belief, I don’t hate Cici Russell, Chase’s publicist, and one of the most important people on his team. Her value probably outweighs mine in our shared plight to help Chase survive Hollywood. She’s far cleverer than I’ll ever be. But of course, I’ve never said this to her face. Looking back, I don’t know how our feud started or if it’s actually a feud. I just know we live to give each other shit. Call it entertainment. And sure, I’ll tease the crap out of Cici because I love her like a little sister. Meaning, I’ll mess with her, but I sure as hell won’t tolerate anyone else doing it. Isn’t that called family?
“No,” Cici says as I walk through the door with a shit-eating grin. I didn’t ask anything yet. That’s just the first word out of Cici’s mouth when she sees me: no. Or sometimes, ass.
She’s posted at the kitchen island, enjoying the morning ocean breeze with the sliding glass doors wide open. It’s a great view of the beach. It’s why I talked Chase into buying this property. Houses can be renovated and upgraded, but this view will be perfect forever.
“Oh, come on, C.” I place the box of crullers at the edge of the long island and slide it toward her like a fancy bartender. “I brought coffee too.” I hold up the takeout coffee cup in my hand. “This is yours if you want it.”
Cici glances at me from the corner of her eyes and taps the empty mug between her hands. “I’m making a pot of coffee now.”
“So?” I ask, sitting down on the kitchen stool next to her. “This is Twirley’s. Swap?”
Sliding the blue mug away from her with one hand, I scoot the takeout cappuccino in front of her and then open the lid to the box of baked goods. There are mostly crullers in here. I bought one strawberry jelly filled donut for myself.
“Awfully chivalrous of you,” Cici says, eyeing me suspiciously. She tucks her platinum blond hair behind her ear as she sniffs at the box. “You had them put the cinnamon glaze on, didn’t you?”
I nod adamantly.
“Dammit,” she says, succumbing. She takes a quick sip from the Twirley’s takeout cup and then lunges for a cruller. She takes a big bite, chews, and swallows in a hurry. “I’m still livid at you. This fixes nothing.” Cici takes another big bite.
The meeting I skipped to help Amani a few days ago was one that Cici arranged. It was some sort of brand sponsorship for an athletic wear company that she thought Chase would be perfect for. She’d been wooing them for months and needed me to seal the deal and sign the paperwork…but I blew them off. With good reason.
“C, I know you’re mad but—”
“No. No excuses. It was rude, Adam. You left me hanging at the meeting alone, looking like an idiot. They didn’t want to talk to me. They wanted to talk to you.”
“I’m sure you handled yourself flawlessly, as you usually do, Cici.”
She scowls. “Don’t try to butter me up. While Chase has been in la-la land, fixing the wreckage his ex left behind, I have been trying to keep this boat from sinking. By myself. You guys make money, and my job is to make sure Chase’s reputation isn’t a complete shitshow. Over the past few years, which one of us has had the harder job? Hm? I asked you for one favor. One. Aim Athletics has a squeaky-clean record, it was an easy six-figure offer, and Chase could film commercials in his sleep. This was good for him and you fucked it up—”
“C—”
“I’m not done—”
I hold up my hands in defense. “I don’t think we’re missing out on much—”
“That’s not your call to make alone. I’m part of this team, too. I fix all your messes. Does Chase’s fake girlfriend ring a bell? Thanks again for dumping that on my lap. For once, I needed your help. All you had to do was show up and shake some hands—”
“Chase isn’t going to have much time for commercials and sponsorship obligations—”
“Well, he has to do something! You can’t just disappear from Hollywood for years and expect your career—”
“C!”
“What?” she bites out.
“We got Dynasty Man. I got the call on Monday. I was just waiting for LMC to send me the redlines. The deal looks great. Chase can’t take on any sponsorships right now without the studio’s approval, okay? So breathe. We did it. You did it. Let Chase’s redemption story begin. Noa made this happen, and you kept Noa safe and happy with this whole arrangement. We are officially in your debt.”
She’s stunned for a moment, sitting quietly and just blinking at me. Finally, near tears, she hops off the bar stool and wraps her arms around my neck. “Holy shit. I really didn’t think we had a chance. Does Chase know?”
“Yeah, I told him Monday. Actually, he’s on his way to Denver right now with Jay.”
She steps back, breaking our hug, but her hand remains on my shoulder. I’m not complaining. You have to earn Cici’s hugs and affection. It’s rare that she isn’t sassing or snapping at me and Chase for some stupid thing or another we’ve done. “Why is he headed to Denver?”
“He wants to spend the rest of summer with Noa before filming starts.” I pump my eyebrows at her. “We’re no longer liars because if everything goes his way, she really is his girlfriend now. I swear on my life, he’s going to marry this girl. I’ve never seen him so—”
“Relaxed, right?” She squeezes my shoulder. “I didn’t want to jinx it. You know how when something is too good to be true, there’s always an impending fire? I just for sure thought he wouldn’t get the role, or something disastrous would happen between those two. But she’s bringing out this side of him… God, I mean, he’s always smiling and practically bounces around when he’s on the phone with her—which is nonstop, by the way. Maybe this really will be his happy ever after.”
The way her eyes are nearly tearing up in glee is why Cici might be the only woman on the planet I trust. This is our family. We have one common goal. We win together, we stress together, and we protect Chase at all costs. This right here is why I don’t date. The only reason I can trust Cici like this is because there is absolutely no part of my male brain that wonders what she looks like naked, and I’m pretty sure she’d vomit at the idea of me in bed. It’s perfect, the very reason I don’t blur lines with women. Friendship is strength. Love muddles everything. It blinds you and makes you vulnerable.
“Wait,” Cici suddenly says. Whack!
Her palm collides against my chest with such force she nearly sends me backward, completely ruining our sentimental moment.
“Um. Ow?”
“What the hell?” She’s glaring at me now, realization washing over her face.
“What?”
“So you, Chase, Jay, and I’m assuming Mark as well, have all known that we got Dynasty Man since Monday and no one told me? It’s Saturday, Adam!”
“Ah, fuck,” I grumble. Did not see that landmine. Whoops.
“See? This is the shit I’m sick of. I’m always the last to know…”
I’m trying to pay attention, but her words sound garbled as my mind wanders to Amani and what she’s been up to for the past few days. It’s why I’m here, anyway. Cici has information that I need, and so for now, I have to be on my best behavior as she chastises me for my oversight.
“…and not only that, but it’s the fact that it makes my job so much more difficult. You never let me into the little boys’ club, when I’m responsible for…”
Goddamn, I’ve opened up a can of worms.
I hoist my elbow on the counter and rest my cheek against my fist, pretending to listen to her chastisement. “You’re right, C, I was wrong. That was inconsiderate of me. I’m sorry. Moving forward, I’ll make sure you’re my very next call after Chase, okay? Hell, I’ll just three-way call if that helps? Just tell me what makes you comfortable.”
She returns to her seat and glowers at me as she points to the box of crullers. “These are poisoned, aren’t they?”
“What?”
“No way you’re being this nice for no reason. The only way Adam Montgomery would ever utter the words ‘I was wrong’ is because you’re luring me into a false sense of security shortly before my death…or you want something.”
“Not poisoned. But I saw how they make those, and cardiac arrest or a sugar coma should be at the top of your list of concerns.” I smirk. “But are we not allowed to stop the war for one day?”
“A day in which you ask me for something?”
I shrug. “Fine, you got me. I need a favor.”
Cici gives me a sly smile as she rubs her hands together. “Oh, I’ve been waiting for this. What do you want and what’re you offering?”
I point to the coffee cup in front of her and the bakery box. “I offered breakfast.” She raises her perfectly manicured dark brows, telling me she’s unimpressed. I continue, “And an entire week, insult-free.”
“You can do better than that, Adam. Stakes are too high.”
“Says who? How do you know I’m not asking you to water my plants while I’m out of town?”
Cici holds up one finger. “Because first of all, you don’t have plants. You couldn’t keep an idea alive, let alone anything that needs sunshine.”
“Rude.”
“Second of all,” she says, her middle finger joining her first in a peace sign, “you want something big. It’s the only reason you’d corner me at the beach house with your tail tucked. So what’d you do? Did you ditch any more meetings or throw any more unsuspecting single moms in front of the paparazzi today to pose as Chase’s lover?”
Sighing, I reply, “No. That was a one-time thing.”
“Talk fast, Adam. I’m losing interest.” Cici flashes me her teeth, eating up every single minute of this.
“Fine. So you know Amani—”
“No.” She closes the bakery box and slides it back in front of me. “Nope. Not happening. Hell no. Not worth your cruller bribe.”
“C, come on. Plus, you already ate one. That’s worth at least hearing me out.”
She seems to consider my response and then rolls her wrist, telling me to continue.
Damn, I can’t believe that excuse worked.
“I ran into her at Chase’s birthday party in the bathroom…” When Cici narrows her eyes at me, I clarify. “Nothing happened. She was feeling sick. We just talked briefly. She left in a hurry.”
“If you had a chance to talk to her and couldn’t seal the deal, doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know?” Cici’s smile grows mocking, making it really hard to maintain the imaginary truce flag I’m currently waving.
I blow out an aggravated breath and try to keep my snarky replies buried deep. Honey, not vinegar. Cici is the key right now. “She said something cryptic like she was interested but in a weird place in her life, so I let it go. But then a couple of days ago, I happened to run into her at Elm community when I was dropping off my keys—”
“Wait. You still have your condo at Elm? Why the hell?”
“Yes.” I widen my eyes at her. Cici knows I used to live there with my ex-wife, but she also knows I hate talking about it. “It’s a good investment property. Will everyone please stop asking about it?”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine, continue.”
“Amani was having what looked like a psychotic break in her car, which had just crapped out on her. Which is why I missed the Aim meeting, by the way.” To my utter shock, Cici’s scowl transforms into a soft, sweet smile. “What? Why are you smiling at me like that?”
“Fine. You’re forgiven.”
“Just like that?” I ask, my tone conveying my skepticism.
“You ditched the meeting to comfort Amani? I like that version of you much better. Sweet, smitten Adam gets a pass.”
Okay, great. I’ll take it.“Anyway,she said she was debating moving home to Denver, which is why she didn’t renew her lease, but she was really disappointed by it. So she’s carless, about to be homeless, and then there was the—” I stop myself abruptly, realizing that Amani probably doesn’t want me telling people she was trying to have a baby. “Look, I want to help her, but I don’t know how to read between the lines, I guess. You helped her with PR when she first moved here, right? And you guys are still friends? Do you know what’s going on with her?”
Cici’s dark, manicured brows pinch as she gives me a quizzical look. “If you two are dating, why don’t you just ask her?”
“We’re not dating. I took her on one date to Luna’s. I think. Actually, I’m not sure what the hell that lunch was.” All I know is I’m pretty sure she never wants to see me again. I drove her home, and she didn’t even let me walk her to her door. She even left behind two twenty-dollar bills for lunch. She didn’t say anything, just tucked the bills into the cupholder and fled.
“You took her to Luna’s?” Cici’s eyes pop into wide circles.
“Yes. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You once told me that Luna’s was sacred. For close friends only. Mona’s Italian Eatery is the restaurant you prefer before taking women to…what was that delicate little phrase you used? The Boneyard? Pound Town?”
I scowl. “Excuse me. I have never described a hookup with that level of crassness.” Boneyard. Pretty sure I said boneyard.
“Regardless, continue,” Cici instructs.
“She was sad and crying. She needed a decent meal and Luna’s was like five minutes away. It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Uh, wrong. Luna’s is like a forty-minute drive from Elm Community.”
“Can you quit calling me on my shit now?” I point to the bakery box. “I brought you crullers. Be cool.”
She cackles. “Adam, I’m just saying, it’s not a crime to have feelings for a girl.” She flashes me a shit-eating grin. “Smitten looks good on you.”
I roll my eyes at her and mutter, “I’m not trying to get into the feelings thing. I just want to make it right. She was so upset at me. And now she’s probably leaving L.A.”
“I don’t doubt it. She likes to pretend like she’s okay, but she really hates it here.”
I point right at Cici’s forehead. “See? You know stuff. Spill.”
Cici presses her fingertips against her eyelids. “This feels sleazy. Like I’m going behind her back so you can get into her pants.”
“Wrong.” I scowl. “She offered. I actually turned her down.”
Cici purses her lips and nods her head up and down as if in understanding. “So you turned her down but now you’re here asking me for tips on how to get her to see you again?”
“Yeah, sorta.”
“It’s shocking you need help with women, Adam. You seem to have this completely under control.”
“I don’t need help with women. I need information about one woman, and I’d really prefer it without all the Cici commentary.” I sigh, then grumble. All right, I didn’t want it to come to this. I pull out my final Hail Maryfrom my back pocket. Cici’s jaw drops when she sees the key to my Jag in my hand. “Why did Amani move to L.A.?” I ask, making my intentions clear.
“Stop. You’re that hard up for her? You’re offering me the Jag?”
I scoff so hard my throat catches. “I’m offering for you to use the Jag. Not have. Use.” I dangle the key above her open palm as I calm my sputtering. “One week.”
Cici rakes her top teeth over her bottom lip. “One year.”
I narrow my eyes. “One month.”
“No deal.” She shrugs and takes a prolonged sip of the coffee I brought her.
Damn, she’s good.She knows she has the upper hand. “The rest of the summer, and you can borrow it when you drive home for the holidays this year. You can lie to your family and tell them you bought it,cash, so they stop giving you so much shit for being…what is it they think you do again?”
She rolls her eyes. “Party planning.”
Right. Cici’s parents are completely clueless as to the purpose of celebrity PR. I know they’ve made a snide comment or two about her career choices. Little do they know their daughter is one of the best in the business.
In a final show of hesitation, she twists her lips. “And what exactly are your intentions?”
Honestly?“I don’t know.” I exhale as I lift my shoulders then drop them. “I simply want to help her. She seems like she needs a friend.”
“Why, Adam? There’s a lot of fish in the sea. Why chase a messy situation?”
Grumbling to myself, I throw my head back. “I’m not chasing anything. I’m just trying to be a decent guy, okay?”
She cocks her head to the side briefly in pity. “Fine.” She opens and closes her palm rapidly, telling me to drop the key in her hand, but I close my fist around the fob instead and give her a knowing look.
“I’m sorry, do you think this is the first deal I’ve ever closed? Info first. Why’d Amani move to L.A.? She talks about Denver like she had the best life. Close friends, her family, and she loved her old apartment downtown. Why leave?”
Her playful smile disappears and her lips tighten. For a moment, we just listen to the slight whistle of the breeze, but I’m quiet as I watch Cici’s demeanor change. It’s clear she’s reflecting on something really unpleasant, and now I’m a little nervous to get the information I just paid for with my favorite car.
“She came to L.A. for an audition as a news anchor.”
“I had no idea she was in journalism.” I can’t really picture Amani as a news anchor. Actually, at the moment I’m having trouble picturing anything other than her, red-faced, sniffling, and trying desperately to cover up the fact she was crying in her car.
Cici shakes her head. “She’s not. It was a scam anyway.”
“How so?”
“It was a little fishy when she was told that the audition was simply a formality, and she definitely got the job. But she had such a big following on social media, she figured they’d seen her on camera enough to know it was a good fit. So she packed up and moved to L.A.”
I immediately come to Amani’s defense. “It’s not that far-fetched to cast based off of social media these days. I don’t blame her.”
“True. But it got very fishy when she made it to her audition and they wanted her to strip down naked. Apparently, it was an ‘all nude’ set.”
I roll my eyes as I let out a short exhale. “They lured her into porn.”
“Yup. I mean, of course she didn’t do it, but she kind of got stuck out here, I suppose. She left Denver because…” Cici trails off much to my annoyance. I mentally count to ten, remembering I’m not the most patient man when I’m feeling agitated. The idea of someone preying on Amani like that is making me want to pay a visit to that producer with a crowbar in hand.
“Because of what?” I bark out. “Sorry,” I mutter, softening my tone.
Cici glares at me but acquiesces my request nonetheless. “Adam, I honestly don’t know. We met because she was looking for part-time PR and social media management. We went through her influencer business and as much as she wanted to outsource her involvement with social media, she’s the brand. It’s really hard to have someone else take over. All I know is she seemed desperate to get away from the apps, but she was making so much damn money. All other job avenues paled in comparison and she had some big expenses.”
“Expenses such as?”
Cici claps in my face. “Dude. Enough. This is not an episode of Gossip Girl and I’m done spilling my friend’s secrets. All I’m saying is Amani was desperately looking for a way out of the social media game…and I guess she never found it.”
I grab the only jelly-filled donut in the box and take an unenthusiastic bite. My mind is swimming. Was someone harassing her? Did someone hurt her? Did she secretly do that porno and had mixed feelings about it? Cici clearly doesn’t know that Amani’s trying to get pregnant, so what big expenses is she talking about? I have a hundred questions, but I settle on only one more. “Why would a ridiculously successful influencer want out? It’s kind of the American dream, isn’t it? You’re a business owner making a lot of money from a platform that you’ve built on your opinion. I mean—”
“Adam,” Cici grumbles. “You’re not honestly that dense, are you?”
“Apparently…” I screw up my face in confusion.
She sighs. “You know how we don’t let Chase touch his own Instagram. He’s not allowed on TikTok. And remember how after Kayla cheated on him, and he walked off The Renegade set, then was later caught by the paparazzi with what can only be described as a parade of strippers, we didn’t let him on the internet at all for like a month?”
“I remember.” After Chase singlehandedly put the hashtag “manslut” on the map, the studios shied away for a while and we lost a few opportunities, but I knew it’d pass. It always does.
“Mark moved into the beach house to watch him, and Jay was literally on babysitting duty to make sure he was never alone with his phone to accidentally stumble upon all the atrocious bullshit people were saying about him.”
“Yes, yes, Cici, I remember the dark age of Chase’s career. What’s your point?”
“It took a team of us to protect him. Amani is absorbing all of that shit on her own. Of course she wanted out.”
“That’s different, though,” I say. “Chase is a major celebrity. People are far more brutal with A-list celebrities because they don’t see them as people. Just subjects to talk about.”
Cici shakes her head and blows out a small breath. “You’d be really surprised. It’s not just celebrities. And plus, they have the privilege of being an asset that very powerful people want to protect. Influencers like Amani? They bear the same responsibilities and have none of the same protection and privileges. They are bullied, ridiculed, shamed, and then told they are pussies if they admit they are hurt about being bullied, ridiculed, and shamed. Believe me, it’s my job to know how disgustingly arrogant and cruel these keyboard warriors are and make no mistake…it is a warzone.”
My heart clenches. I’m suddenly feeling angry enough to be vengeful. Is this why she wanted a baby? Something to distract her? Or she just wanted something…innocent?
“You okay?” Cici asks, glancing at my fist. I suddenly realize I’m squeezing the donut so hard, red jelly is spilling down my hand.
“Oh, crap.” I reach for the roll of paper towels and quickly clean up the sticky mess. Once I’m done, I slide the keys to my Jag over to Cici. “Want to go pick up the Jag? It’s in storage in Malibu.”
“Bleh, Malibu?”
“Yes, Malibu.” Randy’s is one of the only garages I trust with my cars. It’s also where Amani’s vehicle is being fixed. So, two birds.
“Fine,” Cici says, grabbing another cruller. “Let’s go.”
She sees me eyeing her cruller as she makes her way to the front door. “Oh, don’t get your panties in a wad. I’m going to finish it in the driveway. You’re so annoying with the no eating in your car rule.”
“I’m loaning you my Jag. Quit whining.”