ELEVEN
“I KNOW THIS IS A LOT.”
Mieux’s voice stole her awareness from… somewhere. Who was she kidding? Only one thing played on her mind. One man.
“Yeah.”
In the provided car, on their way to work, she needed something normal to invest herself in or this would consume her.
“Brooker will do what they can to keep you safe, keep you comfortable.”
“Except Roman’s paying for it, right?”
“Yes,” Mieux said with enough confusion to draw her eye. “Why wouldn’t you trust your boyfriend wants the best for you?”
Right, her boyfriend. That again.
“I’m not accustomed to this, any of this, it’s… exhausting.”
“I can imagine. If there’s anything you need or concerns, don’t worry about bringing them to me. It’s my job to look after you.”
“It’s like stepping into a movie halfway through,” she said, shifting to lose some of her slouch. “Listening to you and Struan… There’s this whole world of… so many names, and people, and alliances. I don’t belong in this.”
“Being with Roman, there are only two names you need to know. Magnus Anders and Struan Lowe. They’re Roman’s closest confidantes. They’ll never steer you wrong. They care about what he cares about.”
Except Roman didn’t give a crap about her.
“You have an unusual name. Do you spell it M-E-W?”
That was how it was said.
“It’s French, M-I-E-U-X.”
“Makes you stand out.”
“Which isn’t always a good thing.” The assistant unlocked her tablet again. “Do you want to go through some of these interview and appearance requests? I don’t have to send any hard yeses or nos right now, but it would be good for me to know your gut reactions to them.”
“Why?”
“Because at some point, if you don’t do it, someone else will tell me to approve or reject each of these requests. I can only argue your side if I know what it is.”
“I can’t come up with any argument for or against—”
“Let me worry about the argument, just share your thoughts.”
“Honestly? I’d reject them all. Why would anyone want to speak to me?”
“The public are curious. Roman’s been in the news on and off for years. It hasn’t been the easiest road for him. Now he’s got the show, he’s with a new woman, his life is looking up. Don’t be surprised if the world believes you’re the reason for his salvation.”
“Me?”
“As I’m sure you know, he was with Sway Sheridan for years, that was a tumultuous relationship, always some new story, some new scandal. They were mostly related to his addiction issues, but you know how the press sensationalizes everything.” Did she know that? Not from the inside. “ Undercover Ops is Roman’s chance to get back on top.” Had they known each other a long time or was Mieux spouting a script? “Like I said, you must know all this, stop me before I offend you.”
Luckily, she wasn’t easily offended… or was she? Roman managed it with little effort.
“Isn’t it late in the year to start shooting?” she asked, nudging the conversation in a slightly different direction.
“Oh, preproduction started months ago, Roman wasn’t even in the original pilot.”
“He wasn’t in the pilot? Why did they switch to—”
“Other guy got arrested.” Oh, well, that was a good reason. “Less said about that…” Yeah, agreed. “The studio still wanted it.” And Roman got the gig. Maybe not a smart idea to go from a guy in prison to a guy with addiction issues. Maybe it was a tale of redemption, who knew? “Didn’t Roman tell you all this?”
Hmm, shit, yeah, she shouldn’t be asking a stranger questions about the guy she was supposed to be marrying.
“We don’t talk much about work.”
“You were okay with the Sway stuff?”
“Sway?”
“You weren’t on the island, were you and Roman together before—” Stopping, the woman exhaled and dropped her shoulders. “Sorry. Not my business. So we have the talk shows, online influencers are—”
“Really I don’t want to…”
“Okay,” Mieux said. “I’ll handle it.”
They stopped outside the Brooker building and the car door was opened almost immediately. What a turnaround. She’d seen people pull up and the suited doormen greet them before, she’d never been one of them, never even imagined she might be.
A security guy joined her and Mieux in the elevator. Was he there for her? Was this a…? No, she didn’t need security. Why would she need security at her own workplace?
The security guy hit ten, ha, good. She reached for four, the floor she worked on, only to have Mieux intercept her hand.
“You don’t work on four anymore.”
She didn’t? Wow, what a way to get a promotion.
On the tenth floor, she got out first, with Mieux at her back, and… yeah, the security guy was with them. Fuzz.
A boardroom in the far corner was already full of people. Mieux came to her side and nodded toward it. No way. She was going into a boardroom with—this was a bad idea. How did this become her life? And she was completely without a net, of any kind.
She stopped. “Can I, uh, use the restroom first?”
“Sure,” Mieux said.
Her gaze went left to right. “I don’t know where it is.”
“Right.” Mieux adjusted course and led her to a corridor and opened a door. “We’ll wait out here.”
Yeah, ‘cause no one needed to hear her pee. She wasn’t under arrest, though it kinda felt that way.
Checking all the stalls were empty, she went into the last one and grabbed her phone from her purse. Thank God Struan followed through because he was her first call, the only call.
“Fawn?”
“I can’t do this.”
“Do what?” His concern was instant. “What is it?”
“There is a boardroom full of people,” she hissed under her breath, cupping her mouth near the microphone. “They are going to ask questions. I’m not qualified to do this. I was an idiot in the car with Mieux, asking stupid questions about Undercover Ops .”
“Questions your boyfriend should’ve answered?” He exhaled. “Shit, baby, I’m sorry, we didn’t prep you for this.”
“I don’t think there is prep for this. No one can prep for this. Now there’s NDAs and people want interviews. Why were you on the island? The Pacific island?”
“With Mieux? Don’t read into that, baby, it was work. A dumb competition thing meant to improve Ro’s image. Course he screwed it up.”
Like he screwed everything up. And instead of judging Struan for putting up with it, she ached to comfort him.
“Why wasn’t I there?”
“People will want the story,” he said, getting her meaning without missing a beat. “We should’ve come up with a narrative. I’ll talk to Priest.”
His best friend. “Why would—”
“Because things went down on the island, we’ll need to prep Sway.”
“People will ask her about us too, won’t they?”
“She’s been doing this a long time, she’s a pro, but someone has to look out for her.”
This guy cared about everyone. Roman cared about no one. Maybe there was a set amount of empathy imparted on a fetus and somehow Struan got Roman’s dose too.
Though she didn’t want to be pathetic, she asked, “Can you come here?”
A beat. “Me… or Roman?”
God, she didn’t even know how to answer that. She wanted Struan’s support, trusted him to have her back. If Roman showed up… Maybe he meant him as Roman. God, it was complicated.
“I’m sorry, never mind. Forget I said anything—”
“I’ll come down there, baby, no questions asked. You just have to tell me who you want me to show as ‘cause Roman is due on set. They’re refilming the pilot. Roman wasn’t in it, he wasn’t the guy set to—”
“Mieux told me.”
“Your stupid questions.” Though he immediately grumbled. “I’m sorry we set this up and turned you loose. It isn’t fair. I can tell Mieux—”
“I don’t want more people lying for us.”
And as frustrating or annoying as this situation might be, she had to remember that it was her actions that put them there. Her and Struan’s. Even if she hadn’t known who he was, she still shouldn’t have been so forward, so willing to sink into him, so eager.
“I’m sorry I got us into this, baby.”
This wasn’t all his fault. “You think if the power hadn’t come back on we’d still be down there?” she asked. “In the basement?” The point of the question was to ease the mood, though it didn’t do that. Instead, it cranked the crackle to a sizzle; goosebumps rushed across her skin. “On that bed… you and me… alone…”
“I think if I could choose to be anywhere in the world right now, it would be back there with you. Anywhere alone with you.”
His support lessened some of her burden. “I can be vague with them, nod along. Do what I’m told, but…”
“If you need me there, I’ll be there.”
How many questions would that raise? If he was Roman, okay, maybe, sure, her boyfriend would want a say, but he couldn’t be in two places at once. Roman couldn’t be on set, where he was supposed to be, and there at Brooker with her. Or he could, if they wanted the ruse revealed.
If either twin showed up for her, no one could be filming. They didn’t need Roman seeming more unreliable. And he’d lord it over them if the situation went that way. More than that disgrace, she didn’t want Roman at Brooker. If he showed up, she didn’t trust him to care about her or help her out of awkward situations.
“If I screw this up—”
“You can’t screw it up. It’s karma. Whatever happens, it’s not your fault.”
“You sure?”
“Positive, Fawn. And if you want to walk on out of there—”
“This is my job, I can’t do that. I still have to make rent.” Whether she was living in her apartment or not. “I’ll need somewhere to live when this is over.”
When she went back to her life. Was she going to do that? What life? Would it even be possible, or would she always be known as Roman Lowe’s ex? A jilted, dumped, humiliated fiancée? Somehow, she could tell this wouldn’t end with everyone smelling sweet and innocent.
This was a fast education. A baptism of fire she’d rather douse. Struan’s comment about this being Roman’s life, not his, started to make sense. Somehow, she was on that same rollercoaster. This wasn’t the life she chose, and couldn’t make decisions for herself, none that would damage Roman.
Without looking both ways, she’d stepped out into the street and been swept up by the Roman Lowe Express. No stops, no takebacks, just Roman at the wheel while the rest of them held on for dear life.
“You don’t have to worry about money, Fawn, I’ll cover whatever you need, but I wouldn’t ask you to detonate your life. Just keep your phone close. If you need me, call. I’ll pick up… Do you want me to call you back in a few minutes? Get you out the room?”
“No,” she said and sighed. “I can do this. I’m sorry I—this is just all happening so quickly.”
“Don’t say more than you have to, don’t ask anything you don’t want to lead to other questions. You can text me, ask questions, call whenever you can. I’m with you on this, Fawn. I promise. I’m there with you.”
“Thank you for letting me vent.”
“Always, baby.”
And the smile in those words reinforced her armor. Do this. She could do this.
On leaving the restroom, Mieux was at the opposite side of the hall with the security guy a little further down.
“Thank you,” she said as they returned to their route.
“Good?”
Just a mild panic attack. “I’m good.”
“Don’t let it overwhelm you. If you want to step out or need a break, just give me the nod and we’ll leave. You’re in charge. Don’t forget you’re with the heartthrob, the one they want to impress, the one you can influence.” Uh, no, not even slightly, but she couldn’t confess that. Lowering her volume, Mieux leaned in when they stopped outside the boardroom. “They want your approval. Let them fawn over you. You don’t owe these people anything.” She smiled. “You get to share your bed with the hot, rich, famous guy tonight, every night. This is for him.”
For Roman? No. If she cast Struan in that role…
“Thanks.”
“It’s what I’m here for.”
When Mieux opened the door, everyone quieted. Renata was there, right in the middle of the room. The woman who’d owned her life just a few hours ago didn’t seem so confident anymore.
“Bambi, we had no idea,” Renata said. “If you’d said something…”
“She doesn’t have to clue us in on her personal life. What’s important is we know now.”
Great. Except who the hell was that. Who were any of these people?
“I’m not looking for special treatment. I just want to do my job.”
“Sure, yes.” Renata beamed. “To make things easier, we wiggled roles around a little, so we’ll be working on set.”
“On set?”
Was that a good thing? What set? She couldn’t mean Roman’s set… could she?
“Perry and I will join you. And Mieux, of course, she’ll make sure everything is just right for you.”
Three months in LA and already someone was offering to peel her grapes. Impressive. If that had ever been her goal. It hadn’t. So much for Struan calming her down. Her last dose of him was wearing off, she needed his coaching, needed him, again already.