Chapter 12
Harlow caught Robert’s eye, watching as he crossed the room and joined her at the table. “Hello.”
“Hello, Robert.” She forced a smile, still fuming over her conversation with Janice. “What do you think of our winter weather?”
He shrugged his jacket off and hung it on the back of his chair. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen this much snow.”
“We were snowed in up to our eyeballs.” Harlow told him the holiday had been officially postponed until New Year’s.
“I don’t mind snow but this is a bit much.”
They ordered lunch, and after the waitress left, they made small talk. All the while, Harlow knew from the look on Robert’s face that he had something on his mind.
“You seem preoccupied,” she finally said. “Is there a problem?”
“Possibly.”
“Involving me?”
“Yeah.”
“What is it?”
Robert cleared his throat. “I have an update.”
“An update?”
“About your upcoming film.”
“You mentioned a schedule change, and my needing to show up on the set sooner than originally planned.”
“There’s something else.” Her ex tugged at his shirt collar. “They’ve signed your co-star.”
“Wonderful.” Harlow, in no mood to let Robert off the hook easily, pretended she hadn’t already heard. “This means they have the entire cast and crew in place.”
He began fidgeting with his straw. “To be honest, I’m not sure how you’ll feel about this person.”
“As long as it isn’t Derrick Flynn, I can work with anyone.”
Robert grimaced. “It’s Flynn.”
Harlow blinked rapidly. “You can’t be serious.”
“Unfortunately, I am.”
“When…when did this happen?”
“I…uh…recently.”
“How recently? This morning? Last night?” Harlow watched Robert squirm as she continued pressing him about the exact timing.
He muttered something unintelligible under his breath.
“When?”
“Friday. It was Friday.”
She pinned him with a hard stare. “Before or after you hounded me to sign the contract?”
“Look, you’re a professional,” he deflected. “If anyone can handle Flynn, it’s you.”
She leaned in and lowered her voice. “You knew, didn’t you? That’s why you were bugging me to sign.”
“C’mon, Harlow. It’s no big deal.”
“No big deal,” she exploded. “Derrick Flynn is a first-class jerk. Everyone in Hollywood knows it. No one wants to work with him.”
“That’s not true.”
“No?” She clenched her fists, struggling to remain calm. “Then maybe you should spend hours on end dealing with him.”
A flicker of fear crossed Robert’s face. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I have half a mind to back out of the contract.”
“You can’t unless you want to kiss your career goodbye.”
“I don’t need money. I have enough to live comfortably for the rest of my life.”
“Quit with the temper tantrum.”
Harlow gritted her teeth. “You blindsided me. You knew Flynn had been offered the deal, not caring about what I’ll have to put up with for weeks, months, however long filming takes.”
The conversation paused when the server arrived with their food. Harlow stared at the Greek salad and side of dolmades, no longer hungry. Robert was her manager. He was supposed to be on her side.
She picked at her food, a glum expression on her face.
“It’s not the end of the world.”
“Says you. I forgot the exact number we negotiated. How much are we making on this contract?”
Robert rattled off the considerable sum…money Harlow could bank, invest and put into her retirement. The movie was another feather in her cap, one she’d been thrilled to land…until today.
“It should’ve been higher. We should have negotiated PITA pay.”
He laughed out loud. “At least you haven’t lost your sense of humor. Seriously, I’m sorry it happened the way it did. Believe it or not, you and Flynn signed at almost the same time. I would have given you a heads-up had I known.”
Their eyes met, and Harlow shrugged. “At least I don’t have to live with him.”
“See? You’re already looking at the bright side.” He reached across the table and patted her hand. “I have faith in you, Harlow. You’ll cruise through this project like the star you are.”
Her scalp tingled, and she shivered involuntarily. It was the feeling she got whenever the paparazzi were stalking her. “Do you feel it?”
“Feel what?”
“Like we’re being watched.”
Robert lowered his voice. “You mean like the rag magazine dirtbags?”
“Uh-huh.”
“There’s no one around. Maybe you need to get out more.”
She pointedly changed the subject and began discussing New Year’s Eve. Robert confirmed what he’d already told her—he was heading to New York to ring in the new year.
“You’re missing out. You know how much fun New York City is during the holidays.”
“Actually, I think a nice, quiet New Year’s Eve will suit me fine.” Harlow stabbed a piece of lettuce and took a bite. “Are you flying out this afternoon?”
“I had planned to.” Robert looked away.
“Planned to?”
“I might hang around for another day or so,” he answered evasively.
“Why?”
“I…have a new project I’m working on and figured I could work here as easily as in New York.”
Harlow suspected his “new project” might be none other than Cheyenne Clifton. “A new project for me?” She couldn’t resist, feeling a snippet of satisfaction at paying him back for signing her up with Flynn by putting him on the spot.
“It’s more of a personal project.”
“Hmm.” Harlow took another bite of salad. “Although the Grand Hotel has closed for the season, there are some other nice hotels in town. Which one are you staying at?”
“Clifton Manor.”
“Clifton Manor,” she repeated. “I’ve never been inside, but I hear it’s one of the more upscale places to stay.”
“It’s no LA or New York high-end hotel, but it offers some luxury touches.
” Robert began talking about another deal he was salivating over, one that was still in the planning stages.
Clearly, her ex’s goal was to get as many deals under contract as possible before their management agreement expired.
The meal ended, and Harlow slipped her coat on. “Happy New Year, Robert.”
“Happy New Year, Harlow.” His cell phone chimed for a third time, all texts he’d received in less than a minute. Robert was careful to keep his phone screen turned away so she couldn’t see, which made her even more curious.
“Is everything all right?” she innocently asked.
“Yes. Fine. I’m working out some details regarding my private project.” Robert paid the lunch tab and led the way out of the restaurant. “Do you need me to call a taxi?”
Harlow pointed to her fat-tire bicycle parked nearby. “I rode over.”
“On the bike?” His eyes widened.
“Yeah. It has winter tires.” She slid her helmet on and secured the chin strap. “It’s a lot faster than waiting for a carriage.”
“Better you than me.” Robert told her to be safe. She secretly suspected it had less to do with him being genuinely concerned for her safety and more about making sure his valuable asset was protected.
With a jaunty wave goodbye, her ex sauntered down the sidewalk in the opposite direction, toward Clifton Manor.
“What a barrel of laughs…not.” Harlow steered her bike onto the street, her mind whirling.
Robert was up to something. There was no way he would “hang around” Mackinac Island.
It wasn’t his speed…not by a long shot, which meant only one thing—someone was persuading him to extend his visit, and Harlow had every intention of finding out who that person was.