Kate laughed. “You’ve done quite enough to Clara.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Raymond huffed.
“Was your plan to alter the name on the certificate for the remaining six shares in Pinnacle?” Kate folded her arms over her chest. “That was classic Marvin Weismann. He hid the thing you wanted most right under your nose. That’s gotta hurt.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I secured the other six percent of Pinnacle, which makes me the majority shareholder.” Kate held up a copy of the newly executed document transferring ownership of the shares to from Clara to her.
Raymond looked at the document in disbelief. “That’s not possible.”
“Of course it is.”
Raymond glared at her. “What do you want? An admission of guilt? Vaughn did those atrocious acts all on his own and now he’s dead. I would say justice has been served.”
“You’re right. The evidence is circumstantial at best since Vaughn isn’t alive to testify against you. But I have a suspicion that you have a high regard for self-preservation. You are going to leave Chris and me alone. I want full cooperation when I’m at Pinnacle. No manipulating or sabotaging Chris’s career. His work as an actor will stand on its own merit. If you don’t, then Andre White will come looking for you, Raymond. I’ll give him your address.”
* * *
Billie feared inheriting those companies would be the undoing of her cousin, but Kate was holding her own. No matter the risk, she didn’t turn tail and run. She stood her ground. That stubborn streak ran in the family.
“Does she know you’re in California?” Andre asked.
“No, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Of course.”
“Is he still asleep?”
“Yeah.”
“I have a remedy for that.”
Billie opened the door to see a weary looking Henry in his hospital bed. Thank goodness Andre found him in his home clinging to life. She wanted him alive.
Billie reached for the I.V. connected to Henry’s arm. She took a syringe out of her pocket, removed the cap from the needle, and carefully administered the liquid into his tube. It only took a few moments for Henry to stir awake. Billie pulled the examination light from behind his bed and shined it on his face. He looked around, disoriented at first, but when he focused on her face, his eyes grew wide.
“Henry, welcome back to the land of the living.” Billie sat on his bed. “I think it’s time we had a chat about you and Raymond Whitland.”
“Kate?”
“No. Think of me as Kate’s evil twin.”
* * *
For the first time in weeks Kate had gotten a great night’s sleep. Finally the world was beginning to make sense again. Well, as much sense as it could make in Hollywood. Clara was finally able to get back into her beach house and commenced remodeling immediately to erase the memory of what happened there. No one had seen Henry since he’d left the hospital. Kate asked Scar if she could find out his whereabouts.
Stan called with the news that Chris had been nominated for best supporting actor for his role of Danny in The Knock Around Boys, and Jack received a nod as well for best director. She wondered how long it would take the mysterious red tape to dissolve and get that sequel underway.
Her cell phone rang. The caller ID displayed a number from Pinnacle. She went out onto the deck to answer it. “Hello?”
“Hello, Mrs. Cavanaugh, its Sylvia, Raymond’s assistant.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Raymond asked me to call and get your approval on our next big project before we announce it,” she stammered.
“And what’s that?”
“With all the acclaim it’s received, the studio has finally given the green light to the sequel to The Knock Around Boys. Jack will direct it, of course, and Chris’s supporting role is going to be expanded. He’s going to star in the sequel.”
“Okay, thanks for the update.” Kate ended the call and turned to Chris. “That was Raymond’s assistant. She said the sequel to The Knock Around Boys has been green lit and apparently the role of Danny will become the starring role.”
“How could she know that? Jack hasn’t written the script yet.”
“You have the best luck of anyone I’ve ever met in my life Cavanaugh.” Kate laughed.
“Meeting you is the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me.” Chris kissed her hard. “You know people are going to say you’re using Pinnacle as your personal playground to keep me happy.”
“No matter what I do, the media is going to spin it as something entirely different. In my heart, I know I did the right thing.” She shrugged.
“And yet another Hollywood lie is born.” He laughed. “Close your eyes. I have something for you, he said as he led her into the living room.
Kate tore into the big gift-wrapped box on the coffee table to find a framed charcoal drawing of herself. She recognized the furnishings in the background from the bungalow they stayed in on their honeymoon. She wished she could go back to paradise with him, back to before their lives had gotten even more complicated than they had been before.
“I love it. And I love you.” She kissed him. “I’m going to hang this in my dance studio.”
“I wish I didn’t have to go back to the set on Monday, but there are a few more scenes to shoot for the movie.”
Kate looked at him. “Want some company?”
“Are you kidding me? I would love to show you around New Orleans. Do you think you can get away?”
“I’ll put in for a personal day.” She smiled.
Kate was confident Raymond would no longer be a threat to Chris or anyone she loved. He may not be brought to justice by the legal system, but there was an unwritten Hollywood law he couldn’t escape: the balance of power had shifted to her. She now had a greater understanding of what she’d learned from Marvin’s legacy. It was a matter of sheer survival in this town.
~ About the Author ~
Rhonda Laurel is a contemporary interracial/multicultural romance writer whose two great loves are writing and landscape photography. She uses both as a vehicle to convey the complexity of the human spirit and the beauty of the world around her. Ebb Tide, For the Love of the Game and Masquerade were released in 2012. Shutter, Memories of You, Star Crossed, MVP, California Bored and Tourism and The Blake Legacy in 2013. The print anthology, The Rhonda Laurel Collection, featuring Ebb Tide, For the Love of the Game and Shutter released June 2013. Texas Heat, Love Notes & Football and The Perfect Storm, books 4, 5 and 6 in The Blake Boys Series released in 2014.
The author is happily building her backlist.
http://www.rhondalaurel.com
http://www.facebook.com/authorrhondalaurel
http://www.twitter.com/rhondalaurel
http://pinterest.com/rhondalaurel/
~ Also by Rhonda Laurel ~
The Hollywood Heat Series
Star Crossed
Hollywood Heat Book One
Rhonda Laurel
When Hollywood’s sexiest secret explodes, stars are born.
Music mogul Kate Garrison’s husband is a leading Hollywood director. He also happens to be a cheat. When he’s caught having an affair with an actress, Kate becomes the talk of the town—and not in a good way. So when she stumbles into Hollywood’s new golden boy, Chris Cavanaugh—in the men’s room, of all places—the gossip mill starts working overtime. Especially since Chris is starring in her husband’s next film.
Chris Cavanaugh couldn’t imagine a woman would have such an effect on his life. But amid the gossip and Hollywood politics, his only option is to ride out the media storm and play house. He never expects to actually fall for her, but when illusion begins to look more and more like reality, Chris has his hands full keeping his career intact and his eye on the target of making the Hollywood A-list. So why does spending time with Kate suddenly seem more important?
The Blake Boys Series
/> For the Love of the Game
The Blake Boys Book One
Rhonda Laurel
This quarterback is making the greatest play of his life…
Quiet bookstore owner Morgan Reed can’t wait to lie on the beach on her much-needed tropical vacation, but getting tackled by a tall, green-eyed stranger playing touch football isn’t exactly what she had in mind. Neither is falling for said stranger, or going along with the eccentric islander who sends them off with a mock wedding. But all’s fair when it comes to vacation romance, and Morgan has plenty of time to get back to reality when she gets home.
When he slams into the beautiful Morgan on the beach and sends her to the infirmary, superstar quarterback Seth Blake insists on helping her recover—if she agrees to share his bungalow with him. Seth is nothing less than smitten, and the best part is that the beauty has no idea who he is.
But when he finds out that their little “wedding” was the real thing, Seth finds himself in a sticky situation. Especially when Morgan finds out the man she fell for isn’t at all who he made himself out to be…
MVP
The Blake Boys Book Two
Rhonda Laurel
The game has just begun…
Morgan Reed-Blake discovers that being the wife of MVP quarterback Seth Blake has its perks…and its challenges. Thrust into Seth’s high-profile world, she must wade through the celebrity, status, and the ghosts of girlfriends past. So when Seth takes Morgan home to his ranch in Texas and introduces her to his family and friends, she’s not surprised when his high school sweetheart comes to call. Morgan suspects she wants to rekindle the flame, and how can she blame her? Distraught over the changes their relationship has caused for Seth, Morgan wonders if maybe he’s better off without her.
Pro quarterback Seth Blake is elated that his wife Morgan is giving their “fake” marriage a real chance. But he doesn’t anticipate running into the woman who broke his heart years ago. He hasn’t told Morgan about the complicated relationship with his ex, but as he guides Morgan through the maze of his celebrity lifestyle, can he convince her the past is in the past? The MVP does not accept defeat, and he’s determined not to lose. But winning Morgan might be the most difficult game of his life…
The Blake Legacy
The Blake Boys Book Three
Rhonda Laurel
Two lovers. Two dreams. One hell of a hard decision…
NFL quarterback Seth Blake is having an unbelievable hot streak—he’s won his third Super Bowl title the same day his wife Morgan gave birth to their son. Life couldn’t be better for the new father and MVP. His contract with the Philadelphia Titans expires in a year, giving him a chance to make a professional dream come true: to play in his home state for the Texas Wildcats and return to his much-missed Twelve Horseshoes Ranch—this time, for good.
Morgan Reed-Blake has never been happier. She’s got the best husband, the cutest baby, and she’s successfully juggling career and family. Her bookstore is expanding, her charitable organization is growing, and she’s been offered her dream job on the literacy council. Everything in her Philadelphia world is coming up roses. Until Seth’s contract with the Titans expires, and his dream of returning home comes close enough to touch…and the powers that be in Texas start romancing Seth in earnest. Morgan and Seth both have dreams. But a choice has to be made…
Texas Heat
The Blake Boys Book Four
Rhonda Laurel
Isabelle Reed is having a bad year. The classical violinist is struggling with a divorce, and a broken arm has left her unable to play. So when she receives a wedding invitation from her cousin Morgan, her heart just isn’t in it. Going to the wedding will mean seeing everyone from back home, and seeing everyone back home will mean facing the music about her divorce. Unable to miss her cousin’s wedding, she bites the bullet and takes off—and lands right in the arms of Morgan’s brother-in-law, country western music star Tate McGill. She’d heard about the singer and his bad-boy reputation, but there’s something about those storm-filled eyes that made her yearn to look deeper. Even though she should know better than to risk being the subject of a song on his next album.
Country western singer Tate McGill is living the good life. He’s surrounded by beautiful women, hit music, and a great family. But he gets more than he bargained for when he agrees to babysit his nephew Jake for his brother Seth Blake, and finds a beautiful woman in his way. Isabelle Reed is talented and strong-willed, and she’s a natural with little Jake. But she’s keeping a secret from Tate, and he’s determined to find out what it is...
Love Notes and Football
The Blake Boys Book Five
Rhonda Laurel
New baby. New adventures. Love deluxe.
Philadelphia Titans quarterback Seth Blake couldn’t be happier. Toddler Jake is growing like a weed, and Seth’s wife Morgan is expecting another baby. He’s just signed a new contract to play football for five more years and has a plan for retirement. Things couldn’t be better...until an unexpected family crisis turns the world upside down for them all.
Morgan Blake is ecstatic to become a mom again. The bookstore owner is happily balancing work life, homelife, and love life while preparing for their new arrival. But the family is keeping a secret from her. And the secret will threaten the very happiness she’s worked so hard to find.
The Perfect Storm
The Blake Boys Book Six
Rhonda Laurel
Sometimes you have to tear everything down and start over…
Private security specialist Samantha Jane Carson gets the surprise of her life when she arrives at Blake Enterprises for the annual security audit. Instead of her usual contact, she’s greeted by the company president himself, the sexy and elusive J.J. Blake. It’s her job to know everything about the Blake family, and J.J.’s recent divorce is the talk of the town. Women are lined up to become the next Mrs. Blake, and who wouldn’t want to be? J.J.’s gorgeous, rich, and has stormy green eyes that hold women captive.
J.J. Blake is making some major changes in his life. Freshly divorced from ex-wife Eden, he’s building a new house, coming to terms with the injury that ended his NFL career, and is ready to start fresh—without romance complicating things. His friends and family encourage him to get back into the dating pool, but he’d rather not be sucked into those rough waters again. Work is the obvious diversion, and he opts to handle the security audit himself for some good old-fashioned guy/tech work. But when Sam Carson walks into his office, J.J.’s brought up short. The “Sam” he was expecting turns out to be Samantha—beautiful, smart, and a tough-as-nails ex-cop in a polished, professional package. And she’s just the kind of woman who could drag him under…
Ebb Tide
Rhonda Laurel
Simmering passion at play.
Natalie Griffin is an attorney who is practical, smart and good at her job. Legalese is the least of her worries, for much of her time is spent keeping her employer, playboy extraordinaire Evan Darchon, out of trouble. Natalie has managed organize everything for him--his company, his home, and his women--but if she could teach him to control some of his wilder impulses, her job would be a heck of a lot easier.
But what about her impulses? Her cool, controlled demeanor is the perfect complement to Evan’s wild side, but she craves the carefree way he makes her feel. His attraction is obvious, but can either of them afford to rock the boat of their professional relationship?
Shutter
Rhonda Laurel
Photographer Antonio De Soto’s life is out of focus. Everyone in his family thinks it’s time for him to settle down. He doesn’t want to be strong-armed into domesticity, even if he does feel the bachelor lifestyle is starting to wear thin. So when his friend invites him to do a pictorial on the community theater, Antonio’s prepared to do his thing and follow his normal womanizing M. O. Instead, he finds himself sparring with the resident artist, Lucy Marceloni. Lucy’s dime-store analysis of his love life—and him—
leaves him angry and shaken, but it’s too close to the truth to dismiss. The quirky artist is not his type, but their passionate fights generate a deeper heat between them he can’t ignore…
Lucy wants a man who’s sensitive and intellectual, the exact opposite of Antonio De Soto. The moment she meets the handsome photographer she pegs him as arrogant and self-centered, but that doesn’t protect her from the sizzling chemistry between the two of them. Being drawn to the rogue’s charm and subtle seduction tactics is the last thing she wants. Working with him on the community theater fairytale production could prove to be more than she can handle...
“Masquerade” Halloween Heat IV
Rhonda Laurel
An Anthology of Erotic Contemporary Romance
Four erotic stories of contemporary romance with just the right amount of Halloween spice to warm up those cool autumn nights.
“Party Games” by Mina Carter
“Punished by the Cowboy” by Sue Lyndon
“Unmasked” by Brooklyn Wilde
“Masquerade” by Rhonda Laurel
More Romance from Etopia Press
The Ranch Hand
Hannah Skye
A rugged cowboy, an ambitious cowgirl...and a whole lot of rope.
After growing up on her uncle’s ranch, Carol McCreedy has longed for a place of her own to put down roots, raise a big herd of cattle, maybe a few horses, and make a name for herself. And now, with the ink barely dry on the deed, she’s finally made it happen. But leaving Snowbrook to go off on her own isn’t going to be easy. Not only is she in debt up to her eyeballs, but she won’t have the excuse to flirt with her uncle’s long-time ranch hand, Harlan Lee. He’s a mighty fine specimen—rugged, hard-working, and drop-dead sexy, and Carol’s going to miss watching him ride the fences and haul bales of hay in the Colorado sun. There’s heat between them, she can feel it every time his eyes meet hers and that slow smile spreads across his amazing mouth. But she just can’t get the man to make a move.
Hollywood Rush Page 8