The Other Brother_A Billionaire Hangover Romance

by Natalie Knight

  “You’ll miss it,” Alice tugs harder.

  With a sigh, I put the mobile down and roll my eyes.

  “I don’t even know if I want to see it,” I start and reach for my mug of coffee.

  “Of course you do.” Alice corrects me, and I laugh.

  “No, I don’t. And I really don’t think I want to work with him either. From what I’ve read on social media, he’s a prima donna of the highest caliber, not to mention rude…”

  “Shush,” Alice puts her hand over my mouth.

  Luckily, she’s been my best friend since way back; otherwise I might have objected.

  The television screen is filled with none other than Todd Alexander: current mega star and bad boy.

  “Turn it up, I can’t hear.”

  I lift cushions off the couch, push Puff the cat off, and find the remote to the TV. As I turn it up, we can hear Todd’s angry voice. A close up of his face shows his eyes narrowed and his lips tightly draw into a thin line.

  “You’re nothing,” yells Todd at a little Italian man who is holding up a tea towel. “Who the fuck do you think you are, wog boy?

  “I don’t give a shit about your money. So what if you can afford this place? Why don’t you do us all a favor and crawl back down into that hell hole you crept out of.”

  I cringe. It’s worse than I thought it was going to be. Todd’s eyes are now wide open; he is baring his teeth at this poor man who is still holding up his tea towel.

  Was Todd going mad? Rabies? Brain tumor, or simply a personality disorder?

  My money is on the latter.

  Whatever that was, my mind is made up. I don’t need to see the rest.

  Just then, Todd lunges forward, and I watch horrified as his right fist makes for the poor man’s face.

  Jordan, his PR guy, appears out of nowhere. He grabs Todd and tries to pull him back. It is to no avail.

  Terrible Todd seems to be frothing at the mouth. Left jab, right jab and left again.

  I’m holding my breath.

  Dismayed, I see Todd’s fist collide with the face of the Italian. Blood trickles down from his nose. In slow motion, the hurt figure crumples onto the ground.

  “Fucking useless mole,” Todd continues to sneer at the mess of a man on the floor. No one else in the restaurant appears to be moving. Jordan is hot on Todd’s heels.

  Todd is still swearing as he leaves the restaurant. Jordan is hot on Todd’s heels.

  My hands are shaking. There’s clearly something wrong with our alleged superstar. No one in his right mind behaves the way Todd Alexander just behaved. No one.

  He just made a psychopath look like a gentle giant.

  The screen of the television goes black and voices are cut off mid-sentence.

  “Fuck you” are the last words we hear.

  “Can you believe it?” I shake my head and start pacing the length of my living room.

  “You―” starts Alice but I cut her off.

  “No. No. No. And in case you still aren’t sure what I think: NO.”

  I’ve stopped pacing and am looking at Alice, hands on my hips.

  She’s sitting on the white leather lounge, legs tucked underneath her, and she smiles at me.

  I know that smile. I know her too well. I lift my right hand and point my index finger at her.

  “No. Alice, I mean it.” I run my hand through my hair and point at the television. “Did you see and hear him? I mean, who behaves like that?”

  I cringe at the thought of having a confrontation of any type with Todd. So what if he’s got the looks and the talent?

  “Come on Soph, he’s not all bad. You know Megastar has the deal in the bag. Todd has to sign his part of the contract, and it’s a done deal. And we need this. You can’t back out now.”

  I hate it when she calls me Soph. Pouting, I flop onto the couch. Puff hisses at me and abandons his spot.

  He goes to Alice who pats him. Promptly, he purrs and gets comfortable on her lap.

  Traitor.

  “I can’t work with him.” I shake my head. A man of Todd’s caliber would never listen to me. A director has to work with people who get on with other people; Todd isn’t one to get on with his fellow human beings, that much is obvious.

  “The whole thing might have been a misunderstanding. You should listen to Todd’s version of the story first.”

  I roll my eyes before I look at Alice.

  “You’re joking. How could any of what we saw have been a misunderstanding?”

  Alice doesn’t reply.

  “Alice, please,” I start to beg. There must be a way out of this.

  “Listen, Sophie.” Alice suddenly sounds serious. “You can’t back out now. We’re all tied up in this deal. The movie will be made. You will direct it. You’ve got the balls, girl.”

  I laugh.

  “Don’t forget Jordan’s there as well.” Alice adds.

  Briefly, I think about Jordan. Why does he stay with Todd? Does he like facing a personal challenge every day?

  Can I really manage Todd? Negative self-doubt creeps through me like thorny weeds.

  Of course you can’t, it says over and over. No one can, not even Jordan.

  “But he’s always been bad, Alice.” I chew on my bottom lip. “This latest scandal is one of many.”

  Surely there must be a way out.

  “Do you remember the story your mum used to read to us when were kids?”

  I stare at Alice. What is she getting at? I shake my head.

  “The little engine that could?”

  My lips curl up a little.

  “You do remember.” Alice sounds triumphant. “Remember the I can’t turns into I think I can, I think I can, I can.”

  With a long sigh, I flop back on my lounge.

  “Okay then, if the little engine says so. I guess I’ve got no choice but to give it a go.” I give in and see Alice’s triumphant smile. Her right fist slices the air in a victory punch.

  Oh, what have I just gotten myself into?

  Todd

  Christ on a motorcycle, who isn’t carrying this story? I click through all fifteen hundred channels, both broadcast and cable, and I get no relief. Every morning show has the same video footage of me throwing the punch.

  I can’t get away from it.

  I’ve been sitting here for an hour, and the more I watch, the further I slump into the couch. This crap is depressing me, it’s like a career ending drama.

  I’m so sucked into this that I’m startled when I see Jordan walk into the living room.

  “Hey, bro. How are you doing this morning?” Jordan asks as he saunters in, looking like he came out of a page of GQ.

  “I see you used your key.”

  “Yeah, I knocked, but you didn’t hear me. So, I just let myself in.”

  I sit up a little straighter and adjust the small towel around my waist and make sure I’m covered. I wasn’t expecting to see Jordan this morning and I don’t think he needs a show at this hour.

  “Frankly, I’m surprised to see you up so early,” Jordan says, “but I made sure to be prepared just in case and brought you your favorite.”

  He hands me a cup. It’s a six dollar, triple espresso shot, heavy on the cream and six sugars, just the way I like it. The price is outrageous, but he’s buying so I’m just going to be polite.

  “Thanks,” I say and grab the coffee. “If you didn’t think I was up, what made you come by?”

  Jordan nods his head toward the television screen.

  “Oh, that,” I acknowledge. “That is quickly becoming the bane of my existence. And if you don’t do something quick, fast, and in a hurry, people will really believe I am the biggest piece of shit-crap that ever lived, if they don't already.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s why I’m here.”

  “Please tell me you have a better plan than yesterday. 'Cause the disappearing act just will not work. I am not leaving town. And if I have to, I’ll say it fifty more times, until you get
it.”

  “Relax,” Jordan says, and motions me to sit back, as if I were a child who needed a time out.

  The bedroom door suddenly opens and Jordan looks up. A slow smile spreads across his face.

  “Jordan, this is Katie,” I say, but don’t take my eyes of the screen, and Jordan doesn’t take his eyes off Katie. “This is Jordan,” I add, lifting my coffee cup hand in his direction.

  “Nice to meet you,” Jordan says, without shifting his gaze.

  “I…uh…seem to have…left some things out here,” Katie says.

  I finally pay attention and turn around. Katie is wearing nothing but my deep green silk sheet, and her long raven hair has that messy, I-just-spent-all-night-fucking, look. Sexy as hell. I can see why Jordan is a little slack jawed.

  “Feel free, search away” I say, waving my hand in a gesture that says, 'don’t mind us'.

  Katie tip toes in and picks up her bra from behind one of the seat cushions, a black lace thong from the coffee table, and her shirt and pants from the corner of the room.

  I flash on a moment from last night and think oh, yeah, the coffee table. Blood quickly rushes to the center of my body, necessitating a quick adjustment of my towel, you know, to get a little more comfortable, cause I’m getting a little …stiff.

  Katie pads back into the bedroom, leaving me and Jordan alone with our thoughts. They're probably pretty much about the same thing.

  “Earth to Todd,” Jordan eventually says, snapping his fingers in front of my face, and dropping a folder on my now infamous coffee table.

  “What’s that?” I ask.

  Jordan doesn’t answer right away. Instead he sits next to me and simply says, “Open it up.”

  “Unless that’s the answer to this nightmare, I’m not interested.”

  “It may just be.”

  I stare at the folder for a few seconds. I’m curious.

  I lean forward and grab the manila envelope and look inside. It’s just a bunch of papers. Okay, I’ll bite. I pull out the papers and discover it’s a script and a production schedule, neither of which interest me.

  I toss them both back onto the table. “What the hell is this?”

  “You didn’t even give it a good look.”

  “Don’t have to. Right now, I need a solution to this,” I say, pointing to the television where the non-stop bullshit of my life seems to be playing without pause. Damn, aren't there any murders or hurricanes these assholes can cover?

  Jordan sighs, and leans over, picking up the script. “Look at this, it’s a movie and it’s being directed by Sophia Palmer.”

  I don’t respond.

  “Don’t you get it? Sophia is a ‘Palmer’. Her father is legendary. He’s larger than life in this industry. And Sophia has become the little darling of the media, her last two films were each a big success–“

  “Big success in the world of independent films…big difference.”

  “Regardless, she’s gaining clout. She’s smart, talented, and she’s fucking gorgeous. And if that’s not enough, she’s also starring in this movie. You have nothing to lose and everything, everything to gain.”

  I pick up the production schedule, and look through it. I can see that the schedule is tight because it’s an indie and they have no money.

  “No, thanks. Not interested.”

  “Listen, Todd, you want me to get you out of this mess you’re in, right? Well, you and I both know that you’ve been in the tabloids too often, you have a reputation, you’re becoming someone the studios aren’t going to want to touch—“

  “Hold up,” I interrupt. “I make the studios a shitload of money.”

  “Yeah, but only when the fans love you and are willing to pay to see you. Right now, I don't feel a whole lotta love out there.”

  And there it is. With all this negative air time, I am now damaged goods.

  “You need to give this script a read,” Jordan continues, “it’s good.”

  I don’t want to hear what he has to say. Besides, something else has caught attention: the sound of my career flushing down the toilet.

  Jordan gets up and walks to the floor-to-ceiling window. He just stands there looking out, saying nothing.

  It’s a standoff. No words between us.

  I cave first, “What?” I say in a tone that is both annoyed and a little worried.

  Jordan combs his fingers through his hair and turns to me, “Stop being such a piss-ant and let me do my job. I’m good at what I do. And I’m telling you, you need this script and you need this director.”

  I give him the middle finger.

  “Good God, get serious, Todd! You got a major situation and you’re acting like you’re in high school giving me the finger. I’m telling you straight up, this part could mean an Oscar nomination, it’s that good. Besides, you need to be around Hollywood royalty right now. It will help get the stink off you. And Sophia Palmer is Hollywood Royalty.”

  The one thing I know is that Jordan has never steered me wrong and he's doing a good job of selling me on this. I’m still on the fence about doing an independent film, but I can feel myself relenting, grudgingly.

  I turn toward the screen and damn, I’m still there. That settles the matter. The media is giving me no choice, and I need to distance myself from this hot mess.

  “Okay. I’ll do it,” I say, looking up.

  “Great.” Jordan claps his hands together, “because production starts in two days.”

  Sophie

  I walk into the boardroom and notice that my entire crew is present, punctual as ever. I smile. It’s good to have reliable people behind you, people who share your passion and commitment for a film.

  If there’s one thing I hate, it’s people who don’t give a project one hundred percent, who miss meetings, and who, if they do attend, are disruptive.

  So far so good, I think.

  Alice smiles brightly, and Eric nods in my direction. Time to get down to business.

  Thirty minutes later, it’s time to wrap up.

  “So, unless anyone else has a question or wants to add something, that just about wraps it up for today.” I have a definite need for caffeine.

  I see heads nodding, mumbling between cameramen. I hear the scraping of chairs being pushed back. Looks like no one has anything to add.

  “Thanks, Sophie,” one of the ground crew calls over, giving me the thumbs up sign. In return I give him a short wave.

  For me, however, meeting time is not quite over.

  “Great work today, Sophie,” Alice pats me on the arm.

  I force a smile on my face. My insides are about to explode.

  “Remember the steam engine?” her voice is almost a whisper. “I think I can, I think I can, I know I can,” another reassuring rub on the arm. “You’ll blitz it, mark my words.”

  With a deep sigh, I slump back in my director chair, a present from my dad.

  Briefly, I reflect on Dad. He was my idol. Of course he would never ever have an inkling of self-doubt. But then I’ll never fill his oversized boots anyway.

  Dad was the doyen of directors.

  “Thanks,” I glance at Alice and adjust my papers, clipboard, pen and laptop.

  “Should I be part of this huddle?” Eric has joined our end of the table.

  Instantly, Alice wraps her arm around his waist.

  “It’s not a huddle. I’m just injecting Sophie with a little bit of self confidence.”

  Eric feigns mock shock.

  “Sophie.” He points in my direction. “This Sophie needs confidence?” Now he shakes his head. “I don’t think so.”

  All three of us laugh.

  I’m lucky to have such supportive friends.

  Alice and I go way back. We sat together on our first day of school.

  But we really bonded when Charley Chatterley called me clumsy. I burst into tears, and Alice broke her ruler over pig boy’s head. Since then, we’ve been through thick and thin―as well as film school.

 
; Luckily, Eric understood our friendship and was not one of those guys who tried to break us apart.

  I push my own chair back and hug first Alice, who promptly makes choo choo noises in my ear, and then Eric, who thankfully doesn’t.

  “Thank you,” for some reason I feel a little teary. “You two are too good to me.”

  With a deep breath and my shoulders held proudly back, I smile brightly.

  “What’s the worst that can happen?” I quip and glance at my watch. The two stars are due in three minutes. “With any luck, he won’t show up.”

  I stress the word he.

  Alice pecks Eric on the cheek and sits down again. I see him give us one last thumbs up before he’s gone.

  I’m trying to think of words of wisdom Dad would have thrown my way over the years, but nothing comes to mind.

  For another few seconds, I indulge in strolling down memory lane. I used to love sitting on dad’s knees when he was sitting in his director chair. It was black and had the words “Director” written on the back in large white letters. The words Do not touch were printed underneath.

  Dad did not take me often on set, but when he did, I relished every second.

  Suddenly, the door opens, and a petite blonde woman walks in, accompanied by a much taller and slightly round man at her side.

  I watch Emma closely as she comes into the room. She’s not very tall, but she’s very well proportioned. Her eyes remind me of a deer. They look a little timid, but they’re beautiful.

  To my surprise, I register that her blonde hair is naturally blonde; it’s not the peroxide blonde most actresses seem to have these days. She wears it in a casual up-style. A few strands have escaped and hang loosely down to her shoulder.

  Alice stands to take over the introductions.

  I hold out my hand and am pleased Emma takes it and actually shakes it. No dead fish handshake with this woman.

  Something else I instantly like about her is her smile. It looks genuine, non-Botoxed.

  “Nice to meet you, Emma,” I invite them both to sit down.

  For the first few minutes, we engage in the usual small talk: about the weather, the traffic and then about the film.

  “I’ve read the script,” Emma steers the conversation to business. “Who is playing the lead role?”