Extremely Famous

by Heather Leigh

  Extremely

  Famous

  Famous Series 3

  Heather Leigh

  Copyright © 2014 Shelbyville for Heather Leigh

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-10: 1500646164

  ISBN-13: 978-1500646165

  First Edition, License Notes

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental

  Privacy is not something that I'm merely entitled to, it's an absolute prerequisite.

  Marlon Brando

  You use your money to buy privacy because during most of your life you aren't allowed to be normal.

  Johnny Depp

  Supermarket tabloids and celebrity gossip shows are not just innocently shallow entertainment, but a fundamental part of a much larger movement that involves apathy, greed and hierarchy.

  Joseph Gordon-Levitt

  There is no normal anymore Syd, especially with me. You know this. You’ve seen it. You’ve experienced it! I know you think I’m unreasonable and overbearing, Sydney, it’s because I love you, Syd. I can’t love you and have you putting yourself in danger all of the time. I can’t go through what happened at the premiere again. I won’t do it.

  Andrew Forrester

  CHAPTER 1

  I think I’m going to be sick. Like stomach churning, clutch the toilet, upchuck a lung kind of sick.

  In twenty minutes, my father is coming over for dinner. This wouldn’t make most people run for the bathroom to lose their last meal, but most people aren’t me. My dad is Reid Tannen, Hollywood heartthrob and A-list movie star, but that’s not why I’m nervous. The anxiety is due to the fact that I haven’t seen or spoken to my dad in over twelve years.

  “Babe, you have to stop freaking out.”

  My boyfriend, no my fiancé Drew, has been trying to calm me down for the last half hour. In fact, he’s been trying to calm me down ever since I found out my dad would be in New York this week to go to a premiere for one of his movies and I forced myself to call him to see if he would have dinner with us.

  I pace back and forth in front of the big wall of windows in the bedroom for the hundredth time. “You know I can’t.” I make the mistake of looking down at my West Village street. It’s teeming with paparazzi. Shit. That certainly didn’t help to relax me.

  Ever since Drew and I got back to New York, we’ve been stalked and hounded by reporters and photographers everywhere we go. The huge eavesdropping scandal involving the studio that produced Drew’s latest movie, went public while we were in London. Since we’ve been back in the U.S. the story has only gotten bigger and more sensational.

  It doesn’t help that he’s one of the highest paid actors in the world and I’m Sydney Tannen, the daughter of two movie stars who vanished from the public eye for twelve years, only to reappear on Drew’s arm at a movie premiere.

  James Shelton, the head of marketing for the studio, has been arrested by the FBI for violating the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, otherwise known as illegal wiretapping. The case is a giant mess because the recordings occurred in Canada and the U.K. so Interpol is involved. I’m living in a James Bond movie. A really bad, really stressful, paparazzi-infused, James Bond movie.

  “Sydney, don’t look at the reporters,” Drew says from behind me. His masculine scent surrounds me and gives me a moment of peace. He wraps his strong arms around my waist and gently turns me to face him. “It’s going to be great, your dad is great.” Drew brushes his warm lips against mine. “You are great.”

  I can’t help it, even with the giant ball of barbed wire twisting in my gut he makes me melt.

  How did I get so lucky?

  Drew is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I would never have given him the time of day if I had known he was one of the most highly recognizable actors in the world when I met him.

  Twisting the enormous engagement ring on my finger, I look up at the man I love from under my lashes. He’s so good-looking that it hurts to stare at him for too long. Even the worried expression on his face doesn’t make him any less attractive. No wonder he was named “Sexiest Man Alive”. Twice.

  “You’re right, I do need to calm down.” I stalk out of the bedroom and down the hall to the kitchen, a confused Drew hot on my heels.

  “Syd,” he warns, realizing exactly where I’m headed.

  I’m not sure if it’s nerves or the fact that Drew is practically chasing me to the kitchen while chastising me like I’m a little girl but I burst into a fit of giggles and full-out sprint to the liquor cabinet.

  “What the …?” I look back and see a smirk breaking Drew’s concerned expression as he hustles to catch me.

  Laughing, I reach the bottle of tequila and snatch it up just as Drew pulls me into his tight embrace. “I just want one shot!” I yell out between giggles.

  “You don’t need to do this,” he replies, trying and failing to hold in his own laughter.

  “Tell me you’re not nervous too.” I clutch the bottle to my middle in a pathetic attempt to keep him from getting it.

  He freezes in place, dropping his arms and letting me go. I stand up straight and stare at his blazing green eyes, worried that I said something stupid and upset him. I watch as Drew slowly turns to the cabinet and grabs two shot glasses, setting them on the granite countertop.

  “Fine, just one,” he says seriously. As I move forward and unscrew the cap, he unleashes a patented Andrew Forrester, panty-incinerating, dimple-revealing grin. “Well, maybe two… each.”

  We laugh for no real reason as we each have a couple of tequila shots. When there’s a knock on the door ten minutes later, I realize that Drew was able to distract me from my panicking and relax me. The tequila may get some credit too, even though Drew said I need to buy a better brand than my standard Patrón. Snob.

  I stare at Drew as the color drains from my face. Placing the bottle back on the counter, he takes my hands in his and squeezes, though I barely feel it. “Let’s go babe.” He tugs me from my stupor and leads me to the front door. “You want me to get it?”

  “I … I can do it,” I manage to croak out.

  I feel disembodied as my twitchy hand reaches out and grabs the knob, twisting it open. When I pull the door back, I reveal a face that I haven’t seen in person in over a decade.

  “Daddy?” I whisper.

  All of the memories of my Dad come rushing back to me at once. He looks the same, but different. Same tousled hair, same vibrant blue eyes and pouty lips. It’s as if time never passed.

  “Heartbreaker?” he says, choking on his words.

  He steps forward and pulls me into his chest, holding me tight in a familiar embrace. Tears of joy run down my cheeks, leaving wet spots on his navy blue shirt. I notice a large bodyguard standing in the hallway behind him.

  “I missed you so much Daddy.” I’m sniffing and crying like a baby.

  “I missed you too, Syd. More than I thought would ever be possible.” He gently rubs my back and presses a kiss to the top of my head.

  After what seems like an eternity, but still somehow not long enough, we break apart. Drew must have closed the foyer door and stepped into the living room to give us privacy, leaving the bodyguard outside.

  “Come in Daddy, let’s go sit.” I lead my dad to the large sofa in front of the fireplace. He doesn’t sit right away, but greets Drew with a handshake and a slap on the back.

  “Drew, good to see you again. Thanks for taking care of Sydney.”

  “Good to see you too, sir. Glad you could make it, I know it means a lot to Sydney that you
’re here.”

  He smiles at Drew. “I believe the last time we met, I asked you to call me Reid,” he says as he takes a seat on the sofa.

  “Okay Reid, I’ll get some drinks. Beer okay?”

  “Sure, whatever you have will be fine,”

  “Syd?” Drew turns to look at me.

  “Whatever you’re both having.” I respond automatically, my mind too full to process his question.

  Drew nods and leaves the room. I know he’s going to call the concierge to have them send up the food we ordered. I can’t cook at all, and didn’t want Drew to have to worry about being in the kitchen and missing out on time with my dad. It’s just appetizers anyway, since Daddy has a movie related dinner later tonight.

  Daddy turns to me and takes my hand. “Are you okay Sydney? I’ve seen some things in the news since I last saw you at the … after your incident.” His voice is gruff, he’s holding back his emotions. “I don’t believe most of that crap, but I need to know that you’re safe.”

  Tears prick my eyes again. He’s just like he always was, worried about protecting me. Mom was right when she told me that Drew is a lot like my dad.

  “I’m doing great Daddy.” I feel small and vulnerable under my dad’s concerned gaze. “There’s a bunch of legal stuff with the guy that attacked me and the studio and the tabloid website, but Drew has his lawyers doing all of that. I really don’t have to worry about it. He watches out for me.”

  “I want you to know that I never stopped thinking about you or loving you baby.” My dad squeezes my hand in his.

  “I know Daddy,” I tell him, my voice trembling. “I just missed you.”

  My dad shifts over on the couch and pulls me to his chest again, like he can’t be close enough or he’s afraid I’ll slip away. I hear his breath hitch and pull back so I can look up at him. His eyes are shut, hiding his emotions behind closed lids.

  “Syd, when I saw you in that hospital,” he begins, pausing between carefully controlled breaths. “It nearly killed me. It was so much like before. With the car.” He stops and rubs his eyes with his big hands, hands that soothed me when I was scared and put Band-Aids on my scraped knees. I almost lose my composure when I see the tattoo of my nickname scrawled across his wrist.

  “Daddy, I’m okay. I know it’s been hard for you too. I know that you gave me up to keep me safe.”

  “But all that shit still came back and found you. I’m sorry Heartbreaker, sorry to have put you through all that back then, and sorry you’re going through it again now.”

  “Well I’m not sorry!” I look right into my dad’s shining blue eyes as they widen in surprise at my outburst. “A lot of bad stuff happened back then, and yes more recently. And maybe it is because of celebrity and fame and all of that fake crap that comes with it, but I’m not sorry. I’m glad you’re my dad and that Mom is who she is. I’m glad to have found Drew and to love him and for him to love me. If being safe means having to give all of you up then I’ll just take my chances, because I’d rather have you all in my life than hide out and lose you.”

  My dad’s eyes get even wider as I rant passionately about my life. I feel Drew’s presence behind me and wonder just how much of it he heard. When his hand touches my shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze, I know he heard all of it.

  They’re both staring at me. Certainly, Drew is shocked that meek, easily intimidated Sydney is strong enough to deal with all of this crap, but I’m not sure what my dad is thinking.

  “I’m so proud of you Heartbreaker.” Daddy is smiling like he used to before life got all fucked up.

  “Thanks Daddy.” I force back my tears. It was the perfect thing for him to say. “Were you able to get in the building okay?” I know there are at least a few dozen paparazzi out front, if not more.

  Daddy waves it off. “Nothing I’m not used to. Besides, I brought my guy Nico, he’s waiting in the hall. He’ll keep them away.” He leans back on the couch, looking every bit the movie star that he is. The only thing that lets me know he’s nervous is the way he keeps tapping his fingers on his knee.

  Drew brings our drinks and sits on the other couch, facing me and Daddy. My dad gets up and wanders over to the shelves that flank the fireplace, looking at the photos I have displayed.

  I used to keep all of my personal items hidden away, just like I hid away who I was. In the month and a half since getting back from Boston and becoming Drew’s fiancé, I started putting up photos of us, of his family, of everyone important to me. Mom is back from filming so she helped me find all of our old memories. I don’t have to hide who I am anymore.

  Daddy takes one off of the shelf and holds it in his hands, studying it closely. I know which one he has and wait for his reaction.

  “You still have this?” He angles the photo so I can see it.

  “I’d never get rid of it.”

  It’s a picture of my dad and me on the set of one of his films, a big budget action-hero franchise that he headlined. He’s in his character’s signature leather jacket and faded jeans, and I’m wearing a purple T-shirt and black leggings. We’re both grinning like idiots, my dad hunched down to my height with his arm wrapped around my shoulders. I’m eleven years old in the picture and we look the happiest I can remember being.

  He struggles with his emotions for a moment and puts the photo back on the shelf. “I’d like to meet them sometime.” He gestures to a picture of Drew’s parents.

  “Absolutely,” Drew answers. “We can arrange a dinner or something, maybe an engagement party.” He turns to me. “What do you think, Syd?”

  Engagement party? Involving Andrew Forrester, Reid Tannen and Evangeline Allen? All in one place? Sounds like a giant paparazzi clusterfuck waiting to happen.

  “Sounds great babe,” I say weakly, not wanting to disappoint the two most important men in my life, both of whom were eagerly awaiting my answer with their puppy dog eyes fixed on me.

  Daddy grins. “Perfect. Have your assistant call mine with the date. I’ll be there no matter what.”

  The chef comes out from the kitchen and gestures to Drew, who excuses himself and leaves the room.

  “I’ve been watching out for you all these years, Syd. I don’t know if your mom ever told you that she kept me informed.”

  I didn’t know that, and him telling me that he kept track of me fills my heart until it just about bursts. “I didn’t know Daddy.”

  “She sent me pictures and emails about your life, your schoolwork and friends, and important events.” He sighs. “I just wish that things had been different.”

  “We can’t change what’s already happened, let’s just be thankful that we’ve been given another chance, Daddy.”

  “My little Heartbreaker, so grown up and mature. Shit, I’m lucky I wasn’t around for your dating years, I would have killed all the boys that came sniffing around.”

  I laugh. “Not much has changed with you, has it?” My dad was always getting into trouble with his hot temper. So much so that he was known as the “Bad Boy” of Hollywood. I guess it’s true that women tend to gravitate towards men who are just like their fathers because if there’s anyone who’s a hothead that’s quick with his fists, it’s my dad and Drew.

  “No, not much.” He laughs with me.

  I hear the door close and Drew comes in with the tray of food, setting it down on the coffee table.

  “I let the caterer out.” Drew pops a small bite of food into his mouth. “Let’s eat.”

  We spend the next hour talking and catching up. Drew tells my dad about his career and Daddy tells Drew all about Hollywood in the 90’s and the things that have changed. I talk about my designs and show my dad a book with some of the remodels that I’ve done. Everything is perfect.

  As my dad gets up to leave, he turns to us both to say something. “It’s fine if you say no, since the press has been a nightmare for you both, but I’d love it if you could come with me to my premiere Thursday night.”

  Drew becomes rig
id at my side. I know he’s thinking about our last appearance at a movie premiere. A crazy stalker stabbed me and I ended up in the hospital for almost a week. Drew’s arm that had been casually wrapped around my waist tightens and his fingers dig into my hip.

  I know he’ll be pissed but I’m done letting other people determine what I will or won’t do. I want to go. “Daddy,” I reach out and take his hand. “I’d love to go. We’d love to go, right Drew?” I look over at my poor, shocked fiancé.

  He stumbles over his words, but gets his ‘acting mask’ on quickly and pretends that everything is fine. “Of course we’d love to go. Just send Jane the details.” His voice is stressed. It’s subtle, but I know him well enough to hear it.

  “Great, I will,” Daddy says. I give him a hug and he whispers in my ear. “I love you Syd.”

  “Love you too Daddy.”

  He shakes hands with Drew and then he’s gone. Not even ten seconds pass and the yelling begins.

  “What the fuck Sydney!”

  I turn to face Angry Drew. I haven’t seen him in a while. He comes out to play sometimes when the paparazzi outside get pushy or try to touch me, but we’ve pretty much been living in our own little bubble for the six weeks that we’ve been back in New York. When Drew gets upset enough, he kind of loses it and starts acting irrational. His intentions are good and he just wants to protect me from getting hurt, but Angry Drew can be a scary bastard.

  “Don’t yell at me Drew.” I calmly walk away from him and into the kitchen to clean up.

  “You can’t seriously be considering going to this thing are you?”

  Naturally, he follows me. His agitation is obvious.

  I sigh and put the glasses in the dishwasher. “No, I’m not considering it. I’m going. You can come with me or you can stay home, I don’t care. But I am going.” I try to keep my body language as un-hostile as possible so he doesn’t find an excuse to argue.

  “But … the cameras and the crowds, you… you…” He can’t form a coherent thought. He’s just clenching and unclenching his fists. The control-freak in him is losing his shit, quickly.