Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (40 page)

What’s going on?

STEVEN

Nothing, business talk.  New opportunities.

(He takes ROXY’S hand and pulls her down on the couch with him.)

ROXY

What kind of opportunities?

STEVEN

(Tilts his head.)

New horizons.

ROXY

Opportunities for some.  Misfortune for others.

STEVEN

There are always two sides to every coin.

Chapter Nineteen

“YES, I UNDERSTAND you’re concerned.” Cora paced in the kitchen at Wilson’s bar.

Refusing to leave her, Ryder watched Cora retrace her steps over and over again. She had been on the phone for the last ten minutes talking to that Dane Ellis ass who seemed to want to analyze every single thing his woman was doing to make
Stardom
successful.

Yes, she delayed production a couple of days while his face healed enough to put makeup over the cut, and yes, she went over budget in a few minor spots, but the fact was, she had done everything in her power to make the movie a success. A finale for the ages, no jerkoff director required.

His superwoman not only managed
Hollywood Stardom
, but she also was working on an extensive budget for
Working Title
. While this wasn’t exactly what he wanted as far as funding went, he knew he would make any movie with her at any time. She was the personification of what a producer should be.

“Dane, we are one third done with the movie. Things will pick up now, and I’m absolutely confident that the final product will be worth it in the end, not only from an artistic standpoint, but a financial one as well.” She stopped, faced the wall, and balled her hand into a fist.

Ryder held his breath and held his tongue, but every part of him wanted to snatch that phone away from Cora and tell the not so great Dane where to shove his doubts.

“Yes Dane, I’ll be at the meetings. Have a good afternoon.” She hit a button on her phone, but didn’t turn around.

Now a Cora aficionado, he retrieved her iced coffee off the counter, snuck over to her side, and while he kissed her neck, gave her a sip of her preferred elixir. “Don’t let that guy get you down, you’re brilliant.”

She grabbed the drink and shook her head. “Just make me a blockbuster, so I can rub the reviews in his face.” As if envisioning the act, she smiled.

“I’ll do my best.” Though he kept his tone light, the pressure was on, and he had every intention of bringing this movie in on time and making it a success for her. “Come on let’s go join the others.” He took her hand and they entered the main room at Logan’s brother’s bar. Already Logan, Ivy, Drew, Erin and Madeline were there, and Ryder had to admit, he took a little bit of pride when Cora sat down next to him. At last he was part of this elusive coupledom that eluded him, and dare he say, he had the best of the bunch.

“Cora, Ryder, we were just discussing the location shoot in Arizona next week.” Logan filled in the blanks.

His co-director’s mention of the location shoot made his proud coupledom vanish. Cora had to attend some stupid corporate meetings and wouldn’t be able to go with him. It would be the first time they were apart since they got together, and he had to admit he wasn’t all too happy about it. Since he was with the queen of the Internet, all he knew was the hotel better have some amazing Wi-Fi because they were going to have spectacular video conferencing sex. Still, at the mention of the trip, he let out a groan.

Cora patted him, but he glimpsed a bit of a glimmer in her eye at his misery. Well, as long as she was happy.

“Now that we’re all here, let’s get down to it.” Cora took out her laptop and tapped away. “Madeline, the floor is yours.”

Ryder had never seen anyone type quite as fast as her.

“That’s a good one.” Madeline laughed, unearthed a yellow pad and jotted something down.

“Did I say a joke?” Cora narrowed her eyes.

“That would be good for a comedy, you know someone says, the floor is yours and another person comes in and hands that person a floor.” Madeline cracked up complete with a snort and hitting the table.

The rest of them sat there waiting for their screenwriter to compose herself.

After one last snort, Madeline cleared her throat. “I would like to discuss the end of the movie with each of you in your character’s point of view.” She opened a file folder. “Ryder let’s start with you.”

Cora sat up.

For her he had to give it his best effort. “William was the first to love Roxy and he always wanted her happy. They need to end up together because that is the storybook ending, the one everyone is waiting for.”

At the slight nod of Cora’s head, he knew he hit it and everyone could take that. The boss had spoken, so to speak, and he would get the big ending the world waited for.

“I disagree,” Logan interjected.

Ivy shifted in her seat, opened a notebook on the table and pushed it toward Logan.

“Explain, Logan.” Pen at the ready, Madeline took notes.

“Steven is the ending everyone wants to see. It’s the ultimate comeback story.” Logan glanced at Ivy’s notebook. “Deep down every woman wants to be with the bad boy and with the way Roxy has continued to return to Steven, it makes the choice evident.”

Ivy pointed to something on the page.

Logan nodded. “Additionally, the whole first movie ended on one of the most famous cliffhangers in cinema history where Roxy opens her eyes and watches Steven drive away. The fact they end up together will finally put closure, not only on the entire relationship, but on the movie franchise as a whole.”

Madeline looked to him.

In a burst of action, Cora typed something into her computer, hit enter and then turned the screen to him.

Ryder scanned the words on the screen and slid his chair closer to Cora. The woman was brilliance personified. Ivy may have studied the movie, but no one could beat his girl and her furious fingers. “Let me offer a rebuttal to my esteemed colleague’s case.” Hell, he played an attorney at least twice in his career.

Everyone around the table turned to him, and he stood to make his point. “Roxy and Steven had a passive aggressive relationship, the proverbial cat and mouse, while Roxy and William’s relationship was built on mutual admiration and respect. I believe that’s the message we should be sending to the women of the world.” With a nod, he returned to his seat.

From beneath the table, Ivy pulled out a red leather bound book, opened it to a marked page, and slammed it in front of her husband.

Ryder caught sight of the title of the book. Ivy was reading from her master’s thesis. Cora didn’t have a thesis. Damn it.

Rather than stand, Logan sat back and crossed his arms. “While you make a point, I believe showing the world that people can change and one can get their dream is what Hollywood movie magic is made of. In her heart, Steven is who Roxy wanted and giving her the Hollywood send off, while showing the world that a relationship can be strong, vibrant and sexy after two decades is what the public needs to see.”

“Are you saying William wasn’t sexy?” Ryder leaned forward.

“Why did Roxy open her eyes?” A smile took over Logan’s face. “Why did she return to Steven time and again? William obviously lacked something.”

“There’s more to life than awesome sex!” Ryder hit the table, then looked over his shoulder to hear who said that using his voice.

Logan got up. “Everyone is waiting for Roxy and Steven.”

Once more, Cora entered something into her computer then motioned for him.

Not to be outdone, Ryder shot out of his chair as well. “The current algorithms state the public is split between Steven and William, with a small percentage hoping for Charles.” At least he thought that was what Cora’s chart was showing him. No matter, Ivy might have a thesis, but Cora had algorithms. No one knew what the hell an algorithm was or did, so no one could argue.

Madeline jumped up. “Why don’t we hear from Charles…I mean Drew?”

Each keeping an eye on the other, he and Logan returned to their chairs. Ivy patted Logan and Cora took his hand as they all looked toward Erin and Drew.

Without any props to aid him, Drew shrugged. “I’m not sure Charles was ever a contender.”

Both Ivy and Cora smiled.

“Drew!” Erin burst out. “Why wouldn’t you fight for us?”

“Sweetheart, for you would get into a ring with any heavyweight, but this isn’t us.” Drew shook his head.

Apparently, Drew tamed the savage Erin, and Ryder watched her visibly relax.

“No, you don’t understand.” Erin’s voice lowered.

“Erin, please elaborate.” Madeline continued to write her notes.

“Charles played an integral role, especially in the second movie. He was Roxy’s best friend with no pressure, and she loved him in her own way.” Erin took Drew’s hand and held it to her chest.

At his wife’s attention, Drew kissed the back of her hand.

Ryder resisted the need to roll his eyes. That was Erin and Drew’s story not Charles and Roxy’s. Self-insertion much?

“Then again, I always feel like in real life she would have ended up with William, seen the love he had for her, and gone to him.” Erin sniffed. “Of course, Steven was the unattainable one, the one in the back of her mind.” A tear rolled down her cheek.

Madeline reached out to her. “Erin?”

“This is why Roxy could never choose, and in the second movie it was even worse. How do you choose between the dream, the one, and the unlikely source?” Erin motioned toward each one of the men. “How does one choose?” Her voice broke, and she burst into tears.

Of course, Drew or not, Erin would always be Erin.

“It’s all right.” Drew pulled her into his arms. “Come here.”

Erin planted herself on her husband’s lap and cried into his shoulder. “How can Roxy choose?”

“It’s going to be okay.” Drew rubbed her back.

After wiping her nose on Drew’s shirt, Erin straightened up and looked at her husband. “You’re like all the heroes rolled into one.” She kissed him and hugged him.

“So are you.” Ivy kissed Logan’s cheek.

Madeline went into a round of applause. “Thank you.” She gathered up all her papers. “That’s all I need.”

“That’s it?” Ryder pushed Cora’s computer back to her. They needed more magic numbers. “We have more algorithms.”

“We have a thesis.” Logan held up Ivy’s book.

“I have my end.” Madeline shoved all her items into some oversized, overstuffed bag.

“What is it?” Everyone asked in unison.

“I have a contract with a strict clause.” Madeline patted her bag. “I have to keep my security tight.”