Silence filled the elevator. She could feel he wanted to ask her something. Determined to keep distance between them she stared at their reflections in the shiny metal of the elevator.
“Can I ask you a question?”
She smirked. “You just did.”
He rolled his eyes at her. “Lame mom joke.”
A giggle escaped her. “Go ahead.”
“How do you know Ben?”
Icy fingers crawled up her spine. Few people knew who Mariah’s father was. Chrissy’s own parents didn’t really know. She’d just told them it was a boy from college. Could she trust Max with her secret?
“He’s Mariah’s father.”
Max said nothing. The silence felt thick. She finally chanced a look at him and saw him staring at her like a fish out of water. When the elevator dinged alerting them they were at her floor, she didn’t waste any time exiting the enclosed car. She felt like she could finally breathe when she stepped out into the hallway. He followed quietly.
The suite she shared with James was one of only two on that floor. Holding the keycard up to the lock she heard the lock click. Pushing the door open she looked at Max before shutting it. He still hadn’t said a word after finding out he had just pounded Mariah’s father in the face.
“Thank you for walking me to the door. Good night.”
Max nodded but continued to stand there. Chrissy shut the door quietly. Fear washed over her so quick it made her dizzy. Wrenching the door open she saw Max had taken only a few steps away from her door.
“Max!” she whisper yelled. He stopped and looked at her. “Can you please keep that information to yourself? There are only a few people who know who Mariah’s father is.”
She watched as his hands flexed into fists then relaxed. “Your secrets are safe with me, Chrissy. Now, go get some rest we have a big day tomorrow.”
A weak smile crossed her face while relief washed over her. She really hoped she could trust Max.
Chapter 24
Mornings are Better Off Dead
The alarm she’d set blared noisily. She smashed the snooze button then snuggled back down into the comfortable bed. After her historically awful evening she’d been surprised when she slept like a baby. Opening one eye she noticed the sunrise hadn’t happened yet. Shutting the alarm off, she stretched feeling the ache in her bones from the many falls in the bathroom.
Rolling out of bed, she stretched again trying to loosen the knots that had formed in her back. Chrissy grabbed a robe that hung on the back of the bathroom door. She wrapped herself in the terrycloth and padded out to the common area between her and James’ rooms. Surprise had her stopping in her tracks. James was sitting at the table with a newspaper and plates covered by metallic lids.
“Good morning,” she said padding over to the coffee.
“Morning. Where did you go during the party?” James asked without looking up from the paper.
“I didn’t feel well. I came back early.”
“Ok, but you need to look at the laptop.”
Chrissy stared at the coffee she was making. “Ok.”
Taking the coffee over to the desk she tapped the spacebar on the laptop to wake it up. The screen filled with Dirty Laundry’s YouTube channel. She was confused. Why would James want her to watch that trash? She glanced over at James, but he continued to focus on the paper. She hit play and the video immediately came alive.
“Hello, gossip lovers.” A too chipper for morning blonde filled the screen.
“Do I have some truly juicy gossip for you today. First, James Mathewson, CFO of Top Dog Entertainment, was finally caught with a mistress. Our photographers were on hand when this momentous occasion took place. The notorious bachelor was seen getting very close to a mystery woman.”
A picture of her and James talking closely filled the screen. The picture changed to what appeared to be them kissing. It looked very convincing. Not true but very convincing.
“Normally, we at Dirty Laundry wouldn’t find any of this too gossip worthy. However, the same mystery woman was seen between Max Hamilton and Ben McGee. The two actors seemed to be fighting over Mathewson’s woman. Max even punched McGee to win over this mystery woman.”
Pictures of her, Ben and Max filled the screen. Due to where the photographer was taking the pictures her face was in shadow. Max and Ben were clearly visible, but she seemed to always be in shadow. She wasn’t sure if she was happy about that fact or disappointed.
“Who is this mystery woman? She has gotten three of the most prominent men in Hollywood fighting over her. Who will she pick? A handsome billionaire, an award-winning movie star or a rising star?”
The woman leaned closer to the camera as if she was conspiring with the audience.
“Can all of you keep a secret?” She winked. “It’s just between us but an inside source has told us here at Dirty Laundry that the mystery woman has already chosen. She is currently shacked up with James. If that is the case, then what is she doing with Max and Ben?”
Chrissy put her head on the table next to the laptop.
“We will keep digging into this story for all of our gossip lovers. Next time we will have the answers or die trying. So, from us to you out there, keep gossiping America.”
The video play automatically stopped.
“I need to go back to bed and pretend I didn’t see that.” Chrissy’s voice was muffled from her face on the table.
“It’s not that bad. They still don’t know who you are. I have security looking into who could have taken those pictures but I’m afraid that will be near impossible to figure out.”
Chrissy’s head snapped up. “Am I going to be fired?”
“Why would you be fired?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Bringing shame to the business, putting you in a precarious position, fraternizing with the stars? Any of those would work.”
A laugh escaped James. “Those are not fireable offenses. Chrissy, I don’t care about any of that. If anything, people have become intrigued by me. I’ve already had five calls about that video today. One of which was my grandfather asking when we were getting married.”
“He knew it was me in the pictures?”
“Of course, he did. You aren’t that invisible, Chrissy. Just because those idiots over at Dirty Laundry can’t figure it out doesn’t mean my still very capable grandfather couldn’t recognize his own assistant.”
“Oh, God!” She mumbled again.
A ringing came from her room. She stood and walked slowly over to her room. By the time she made it to her nightstand the phone had stopped ringing. She picked up the phone and saw she’d had five missed calls and twice as many text messages. Swiping her finger over the screen she pulled up her text messages.
Jeremiah: Call me ASAP.
Talia: Are you ok? We saw the video.
Chrissy groaned.
“Are you ok in there?” James asked.
“Fine. Just checking my texts.”
Silence came from the other room. “Yeah, probably not a good idea.”
“Too late,” Chrissy mumbled under her breath. She continued to scroll through the messages.
Mama: Are you ok? I’m hearing things. Call me, baby.
Chrissy felt shitty. She hadn’t called her mother in weeks. When she did call it had been a short five-minute conversation.
Jeremiah: I saw the video. I talked with Talia. I want answers.
Annie: Everything ok? Jeremiah’s called me twice. By the way, the kids are having a blast. Made them dino pancakes this morning.
Chrissy smiled thinking of her munchkin.
Max: I’m sorry. I fucked up. Please text me.
Unknown: It’s me. I had to bribe one of the crew for your number.
Unknown: Dammit. It’s Ben. Call me, Chrissy. We need to talk.
Max: Please don’t get back together with that asshat.
Chrissy quickly texted her mother and Talia short updates that everything was fine. She told Jere
miah she’d call him later. Annie was sent a smiley face. Everyone else was ignored. She threw her phone on the bed and went into the bathroom for a long shower.
After burning the memories of the previous night and the video from the morning, Chrissy pulled herself together. Dressing professionally, she gathered all of the folders and plans she needed for the day. She was a professional, dammit. Max and Ben weren’t going to ruin that for her. Chrissy closed her door behind her.
James waited in casual clothes. “Ready?”
“As I will ever be.”
Chapter 25
Men Are Idiots
One month into shooting Canon Love
“Hello, Chrissy!” Bill Mathewson’s voice floated through the phone.
“Hello, Mr. Mathewson. How are you?”
He chuckled. “I’ve told you many times, Chrissy. Call me Bill.”
“I’m sorry, Mr.—uhm, Bill.”
He chuckled again. “I wanted to check in with you about how things are going down there. According to your reports everything is going smoothly. We’re actually ahead of schedule.”
“That is correct. If we continue on track, we should be finished by September.”
“That’s fantastic news.” He got quiet then said, “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Sure.”
“How are you doing down there?”
“I’m doing well.” Her reply sounded automatic.
“Hmmm…so no problems with two specific actors?”
“None, sir.”
Silence spread over the phone lines.
“Alright. If there is a change, please call me or James.”
“I’m sure it will be fine.”
“Ok. Will Mariah be joining you next week for the break?”
“Yes. My friend Jeremiah will be traveling with her.”
“That’s good to hear. I plan on coming down with the missus that week also. I’d like to meet Mariah.”
A lump grew in her throat that she tried to swallow. “Yes, sir,” she choked out.
“I will see you then, Chrissy. Keep up the great work.”
“I will, sir.”
Chrissy hung up with Bill Mathewson. Since she’d started interning at Top Dog, she’d developed a love for the old man. The fact he wanted to meet her daughter really made her want to hug him. It would be completely unprofessional, but she really wanted to do it.
Looking around, she realized she’d stopped walking in the middle of the resort while she was talking to Bill. She looked down at the tablet in her hand. She needed to be on the opposite side of the resort than she was currently.
“Dammit,” she muttered.
“Are you talking to yourself, love?” The Irish lilting voice froze her to the spot.
She’d managed to avoid Max and Ben in the last four weeks. She was never alone when they were around and if she needed to do something that included them, she’d delegate it to someone else. Damn her luck.
Chrissy cleared her throat and avoided eye contact with him. “Can I help you with something, Mr. McGee?”
“Mr. McGee? Really?”
“If you aren’t in need of assistance I will have to be going. I am needed on the other side of the resort.”
Chrissy walked as quickly as she could without running away from Ben. His damn accent still made her knees weak. That dirty bastard. She could hear footfalls running behind her. He grabbed her arm to stop her.
“Chrissy. Please talk to me. I’ve been trying to get a moment alone with you. You’ve been very slippery.”
“What did you want to speak about, Mr. McGee?” Chrissy crossed her arms in front of her, still avoiding eye contact.
“How about why you won’t look me in the eye? Maybe we can start there.”
Chrissy raised her eyes to meet his. “Better?”
A sexy smirk curved his lips. “Much. I’ve missed those gorgeous eyes.”
With a pinch to her arm she made sure she didn’t show any reaction. “Really? I’ve seen your eyes every day for the last six years.”
“Thought about me that much have ye?” He stepped into her personal space.
What an idiot! How could she have ever loved him? “No, you moron. Our daughter has your eyes.”
Chrissy began walking away again. There was a reason she’d been avoiding him, and he just hammered home the point.
“Wait! I’m sorry. I am an idiot. I’d like to know more about her. Could I maybe see a picture?”
She bit her lip. Was he being serious or was this just a game? She wouldn’t let anyone play games when it came to Mariah. “I don’t have time to talk to you about this right now. I need to be on set.”
“Fine. Dinner tonight at seven.”
After thinking a moment, she said, “Alright. Just dinner.”
“Just dinner.” He had a smirk on his face. “I will walk you to the set.”
“Alright, but you have to be quiet for the entire walk.”
He turned a key over his lips as if to lock them then threw away the key. In spite of herself she smiled at him. Memories of their time together flooded her. They had been happy at one time.
Ben walked her along the trail quietly. They approached the set where the cameras and sound equipment were being adjusted. With a small smile, Chrissy walked away from Ben. Her head was spinning from the encounter. She went in search of Frank Stone. As she wandered around the safe areas she tripped over a root of a nearby tree. Her tablet and papers went flying. She braced herself to hit the ground, but strong arms stopped her by wrapping around her waist.
“Oh, my goodness! Thank yo—” The words died on her lips when she turned from her savior. Max stood shirtless with quite a bit of baby oil highlighting his well-defined body with tattoos. She didn’t know he had tattoos.
“Tattoos.” The word popped out of her mouth. If she could have slapped her forehead she would have.
“What?”
She cleared her throat. “You have a lot of tattoos. Are they real?”
He smiled. “Yep. They are all mine.”
Chrissy’s hand started to reach out to touch them when she caught herself. Turning quickly away from him she bent down and retrieved her tablet and papers.
“I saw you with that douche.” Max nodded his head toward Ben.
“Uh, yeah. We just happened to be coming the same way.”
He stared over at Ben who was now staring at the two of them. “I see you aren’t avoiding him.”
Chrissy ignored his comment. She finally saw Frank who was casually gazing at her and Max with a smirk. Tapping away on the tablet she looked down at the schedule while pointedly ignoring Max.
“I need to speak with Frank. Excuse me.” She moved to walk past him but tripped over a cord falling into Max again. “Dammit,” she murmured under her breath.
“See, you belong in my arms,” Max said into her ear.
Straightening she pulled away from him. “I don’t belong to anyone, Max. Let alone you.”
Marching over to Frank she said, “Hi Frank. How are things today?”
He smirked at her. “Oh, just fine, Chrissy. I was just watching the show.”
“I have no idea what you could be talking about.”
“I’m curious. Who is going to win?” he asked.
“Win what?”
“Your heart, sweetheart. I have money on Max, but Ben is definitely a contender.”
Chrissy blushed. “Here is your schedule.”
A laugh escaped him. “Thank you, Chrissy. You are free to go to the second location. I fear you stay any longer and there may be a fight.” He pointed in front of him with his chin.
Ben and Max sat on directors chairs across from each other. The tension between them was palpable. She didn’t need those two idiots getting into a fight and messing up her internship. If they didn’t get their heads out of their asses, they’d fuck this up.
Chrissy marched over to the area between them. “You two need to stop acting like jackass
es. I will not let you fuck this up. If you two get into a pissing contest over some stupid perceived slight I will have your balls. Two pairs will look nicely hanging off my rearview mirror back home. Get it together!”
She marched away from them, passing Frank. “Nicely done. I still have money on Max,” he said with a smirk.
Ugh! Men were all idiots.
Chapter 26
Dinner is spelled D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R
Chrissy looked down at her phone. It was seven on the dot. She’d been sitting outside of the resort’s nicest restaurant for the past ten minutes. Crew passed by saying hello. Her nerves had gotten the better of her. She had been ready for dinner at six. She was wearing a knee length sundress she’d purchased on one of her excursions to the nearby town. It was a pretty yellow with ruffles on the hem around the straps and neckline. Her hair was down with a soft curl. She wore minimal makeup since she’d gotten tan from just walking around the resort. She finished the outfit off with a pair of wedge heeled sandals.
She looked at her phone again. 7:15. Son of a bitch. If he was going to stand her up, she was going to throat punch him the next time she saw him. Her knee nervously bounced wondering how long she should wait for the moron.
“Waiting for someone?” Max stood in front of her in a pair of khakis and a polo that showed off his tattoos.
How the hell had she never seen those tattoos?
“Uh, yeah.”
Max looked around at the empty waiting area.
“It would be a shame to look like that and be alone. Let me take you to dinner.”
“That’s ok. She’s with me.” Ben’s voice cut through the empty area.
“Oh, really?”
Why did her life have to suck?
“It’s just dinner.” Chrissy stood from the seat straightening her dress.
Ben walked over and wrapped an arm around her waist. More stupid male posturing. This was getting out of hand.
Max squinted his eyes at them. “More than you’ll give me.”
Scandal (Dirty Laundry Book 2) Page 14