“I can’t believe you told the world we were through!” thunders Sophia for the hundredth time.
“I’m sorry, you left, and I didn’t have a cover story ready. Come on, Sophia, I’ve apologized for this.”
“It wasn’t part of the deal. I was supposed to be the one to break it to the world, not you.”
“I know.”
Sophia growls at me in frustration. “Don’t you dare yell at me! Now, I look weak while you look like a stud.”
Bringing the car to a screeching halt, Sophia gets out, slams the door, and walks toward Andy Westin. It’s amazing to watch, she’s a hell of an actor. The frown turns into a smile, and I watch as she shakes Andy’s hand, gestures in my direction with a laugh, and then moves on, no doubt telling him it’s a lover’s quarrel.
I get out of the car and wave at Andy. His son, Colton, moves to stand with him, both looking concerned. Colton is wearing a driver’s suit. These are fire retardant, so he must have already been doing laps, or maybe he’s just prepared, but knowing him, he will have checked out the surface of the track.
“Hey, Andy, Colton.” I shake each man’s hand.
“Trouble in paradise?” asks Andy.
“We’ve decided to call it quits, and I promised Sophia she could tell the world, but shit happens.”
Andy looks surprised, and Colton laughs.
“So, the picture of you kissing another woman in today’s paper had nothing to do with it?” asks Colton with a wolfish grin.
“Photo?”
Colton bends and picks up a paper from the table. Athena was right, someone was watching. The picture is of us at the bridal table with Sophia looking down on us with disdain.
“In my defense, we had broken up before that picture was shot.”
Andy purses his lips and nods. “Is it going to affect filming?”
“No, Andy, we’re both professionals. It could make the post-production interviews interesting.”
“Well, they say any publicity is good publicity. I’ll get you two to sit down with the promotions people, so we are all on the same page. We can’t have a scandal hurting the box office sales.”
Colton smiles at his dad, then focuses on me. “You ready to take a lap around the track?”
“Yeah, can’t wait.”
Colton points toward a trailer. “Let’s get you changed. Can’t have you hurt before production even starts.”
“Is there anything I should know?”
Colton shakes his head. “We’re taking this slow.”
“Colton, I’ve done the driving course. I’m ready.”
He chuckles. “This is a bit different. Don’t make me black flag you on your first run.” Colton opens the door to the trailer. “Besides, Dad only wants promotional shots for the film. The real driving will happen later. And I think he wanted to spoil Mom with a trip away.”
“Women, the things we do.”
Colton quirks an eyebrow at me. “Anything you want to talk about?”
I shake my head and climb up the stairs into the trailer. Colton waits outside while I change into the white driver’s suit. It’s embellished with patches from the fictional team sponsors or, in our case, the companies who paid to have their logos in the movie. I step out of the trailer and see Colton and Andy looking through a camera lens. As I approach, both men stop what they are doing.
“We think this spot here is the best place to get a shot of you coming down the track and then around the bend.”
“Okay, what do you need me to do?”
One of Andy’s assistants comes rushing over. “First, we need to get you into makeup. Andy, we need some photos of Sophia and Kris before you start filming.”
Andy looks at the assistant with disdain. “The sooner we get the filming out of the way, the sooner I get back to Dottie.”
Dottie is Andy’s wife, and it’s nice to see after all their years of marriage that they still love each other. I hope that one day I can look back on my life with Athena and still feel the same way.
The assistant nods. “Fine.” Then she points at Colton. “Make sure that face of his stays exactly the way it is now.” Her gaze flicks to me. “Perfect.”
Andy makes a harrumphing noise and moves away.
Colton bursts out laughing. “Come on, Mr. Perfect, let’s get you in a car and warm up before we start filming.”
***
The next two hours are spent with me driving around the track while the camera crew gets shots of me—some with a helmet on, some without. I do get to give it some gas and go around the track at what I thought was a pretty good pace until Colton takes the wheel with me in the passenger seat. The man is one with the machine. It’s impressive to watch and feel the power of the car handled by one of the best.
Colton and I are leaning on the hood of the car when Andy walks toward us, his face flushed, his lips in a hard line. I’ve never seen him so angry.
“We’re done for today.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
Andy shakes his head. For an older man, he’s in good shape and almost the same height as me. I glance at Colton, who shrugs.
“If I let him go too fast around the track, say so.”
Andy looks at his son, his lips turn down, and he fixes me with a look. “It’s not that. We got some good footage, and I’ll need some stills of you, but Sophia will not be joining us for the rest of the production.”
“Whoa! Andy, I told you I can work with her. It’s not a problem. Please don’t let our personal differences sway you.”
He shakes his head. “Your relationship with Sophia Thorne has nothing to do with me.”
Confused, I look from Andy to Colton and see something pass between them.
“Care to fill me in?” I ask as I push off from the car, feeling slightly angry.
“I have never, in my entire career, pressured an actor into working for me in an unethical way, and I will not be accused of it now. I’m not a predator.”
My anger fades as Andy’s words sink in.
“What the fuck?” asks Colton.
“That woman tried to force herself on me, and when I wouldn’t comply, she then said she’d slander me with accusations of sexual advances. It’s a good thing you and she are no longer dating, or this whole production would be without me as a director.”
Holding up both hands in surrender, I say, “She’s been under a lot of stress. Things came to a head last night. Andy, she’s not herself.”
“Kris, the problem is I think this is who she’s been all along. It’s not the first time she’s tried something like this. George Hunt hinted that Sophia could be a viper.”
Colton bursts out laughing. “Isn’t George gay?”
George Hunt is a director with a swag of Oscars under his belt, but he is very gay.
One side of Andy’s mouth goes up in a half-smile. “Yes, he is. I’m just lucky that I had the mic on, and the whole production crew heard Sophia’s lies.”
“Jesus,” I mutter.
“Indeed. Did you like Loretta Reed? She was who I originally wanted for the part, but you were seeing Sophia, and the studio thought she was a better fit. I should have gone with my gut.”
Placing my hands on my hips, I look down and mentally go through Loretta’s movies. She’s an up and coming and would be a good fit.
“We read together a while back for Pascal Lorenzo’s film. She was easy to work with.”
“You haven’t fucked her, have you?” asks Andy.
His candor throws me for a moment. “No, I have not.”
“Good, let’s keep it that way.” Andy looks around. “We’re done for today. See you in a month, providing Loretta is available. I’ll get her details, and we can have a sit-down.” Andy holds out his hand. “You did well today.”
Taking his outstretched hand, I shake it and nod, then I do the same with Colton.
“Thanks for today, man. It was fun.”
“The real work will begin when production be
gins. Keep fit, take care of yourself, and keep away from vipers.”
I chuckle and head for the trailer. Once inside, I find Sophia there, looking distraught.
“Hey.”
“What do you want, Sophia?”
“He’s booting me off the film because… because I—”
“Because you made a pass at him. What the fuck were you thinking? He’s been married to Dottie for ages.”
“I was looking to trade up,” states Sophia matter-of-factly.
“Well, how’s that looking for you now?”
Standing, Sophia straightens her blouse and looks at me from underneath her long lashes. “I made a mistake. Is there a way to fix this and us?”
Shocked to my core, I finally see her for what she is, a soulless entity who will use anyone to get what she wants.
“No, Sophia, you’ve fucked yourself on this one. Now, get out.”
Her mouth drops open, then she straightens her shoulders and pushes past me out of the trailer. One thing is for sure, Sophia is a survivor. This will only be a minor setback for her.
***
The drive back to Boothbay is much more pleasant without Sophia nagging at me. I feel lighter knowing she’s out of my life for good. I hadn’t realized how much I didn’t want to work with her was affecting me. I park at the bottom of Athena’s home and jog up the path. Her phone has been off all day, and I need to hear her voice. When I get to her door, I try to open it, but it’s locked, so I knock. There’s no response.
“Athena!” I yell out as I knock again.
Nothing.
The gate to her walled-in garden is also locked with a padlock, which is weird since Athena never locks anything. Unperturbed, I drive to her parents’ house, but they aren’t home either. TB and Ashlea are off on their honeymoon, so I can’t check with them where she is. The only person I can think to ask where Athena is, is Todd at the police station.
As I open the door, the woman at reception is someone I went to school with. She was a couple of years ahead of me, and I smile at her.
“Julia?”
“Oh my God, Kris!” she shrieks.
Julia runs around the desk, through the gate, and hugs me. “It’s so good to see you.”
“Ah, thanks.” She has that crazy look in her eye that some fans have, so I disentangle myself from her and ask, “Is Todd here?”
“Todd?”
“Yeah, he’s a deputy here, right?”
“Right.” Julia throws her arms in the air and nods profusely. “Yes, yes, he is. Let me just see if he’s in.”
With a huge grin, she walks backward through the gate. The police station still looks the way it did when I was a kid—same gray walls, same setup. Not that I was dragged in here very often, but as kids, we were always in trouble for bonfires on the beach. The sheriff didn’t mind too much when it wasn’t peak tourist season, but when it was, he got a bit cantankerous. He didn’t want any of the tourists getting hurt and affecting the tourist industry. What he could never understand is the tourists liked hanging with the townies to see if they could score with us.
Todd appears at the far end of the building. I wave, but he walks toward me, hand on his gun, face masked in anger.
“Todd?”
“Don’t you Todd me! Have you come back to gloat?”
I’m bewildered.
Shaking my head. “Todd, I don’t know what your issue is, but I’m looking for Athena.”
“You’re looking for Athena?” Todd raises his voice.
“Yes, Todd,” I reply forcefully.
He cocks his head to the side and frowns. “Wait, you didn’t leave?”
“No, I didn’t leave. Where the fuck is Athena?”
My stomach turns to stone as I dread what he’s about to say.
“Athena is gone. She thought you left with Sophia Thorne this morning. So, she left…”
I shake my head and try to understand what he’s saying.
“What the fuck? Where did she go?”
“New York.”
I rock back on my heels. The one place she’s afraid of, and that’s where she goes? It doesn’t make sense. “Why there?”
“Her publisher is there. They’ve been trying to get her to go for a book signing and to discuss a deal with a studio for one of her books.”
“Why did she leave?”
Todd moves his hand off his gun. “She thought you left with Sophia as in left, left if you get my meaning.”
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I let out a frustrated growl. “I didn’t tell her. I didn’t tell her we were filming at Wiscasset Speedway. Things got heated between us last night, and I had to be out there early this morning. This explains why she isn’t answering her fucking phone.”
Todd reaches out and pats my shoulder. “Shit, sorry, man.”
“No, I can still fix this. I can go to New York. Do you know the name of her publisher?”
“Nope, but I have one of her books.”
Todd turns and walks back the way he came. I watch impatiently as he goes through a desk and comes back with a book that is dog eared. Opening it up, he points to some words inside the front cover.
“Write Well Publishing.”
Taking the book off him, I double-check the name. “Thanks, Todd. Can I have this?”
“Sure, it’s one of her first books. It’s a romance.”
“Aren’t they all?”
Todd shakes his head. “No. Haven’t you read anything of hers?”
Feeling like I’ve let her down, I shake my head. “No.”
“I want it back, she signed it for me. Read it. It’s not bad.”
“Thanks, Todd.” Turning around, I run for my car.
***
The next available flight isn’t until eleven o’clock. In between trying to call Athena and waiting around, I read Athena’s book. It’s called Lost. It made USA Today’s bestseller list, and the more I get into it, the more I realize it’s about us. Skipping to the end, I read the last chapter where she’s given them a happily ever after.
This time, I’m going to give Athena the happily ever after she’s looking for.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Athena
The plane lands, and my heart accelerates. What the hell was I thinking coming to New York on my own? I’m sucking in air and trying to calm my nerves when the airline steward approaches me. “Are you all right?”
“Y-Yes. I think so?”
I feel foolish and afraid. I’ve let my emotions get the best of me, and right now, I’m not sure how to get myself under control. She looks over her shoulder to another member of the crew then back to me.
“You can get off the plane now.”
I stand and look up and down the length of the cabin. There’s no one else left on board.
“I’m so sorry.”
She gives me a tight smile, and I move down through the cabin. I’m terrified. I can’t do this. Standing outside the plane is an older woman shifting from foot to foot. When she sees me, she makes an excited sound and waves at me frantically.
“It is you!”
“It is?”
“You’re Athena Goddess! You’re my favorite author.”
Athena Goddess is my pen name. I smile awkwardly at the older woman. “Yes, I am.”
“I knew it. I told my Harry it was you, but well, he doesn’t read you, so he has no idea.” She links her arm with mine and guides me down the walkway. “I’m Harriet Golding. We’ve come in a few days early so I could do some shopping here in New York. Tell me you’re here for the signing. I didn’t see your name on the list, but you must be here for it. Aren’t you?”
“Yes, I hope so. It’s sort of last minute.”
Harriet slaps my arm. “They’d be foolish not to have you. I can’t wait to tell my friends. Oh, can we get a selfie together?”
Not waiting for me to say anything, Harriet lets me go and rummages through her handbag until she finds her cell phone.
Holding i
t up above her head, she says, “Smile.” Harriet takes a half a dozen shots and then looks at me. “Do you want to pre-approve them before I put any in the Facebook group?”
“Facebook group?”
“Yeah, the signing group.”
“Oh, ah, no… I’m sure you’ll pick the best one.”
Harriet nods. “It’s why I take them like that, not that you need it, but us older women need the proper camera angle to look our best.”
The woman’s smile is infectious, and my fears slowly melt away as she walks arm and arm with me to collect our bags.
“Do you have a dinner planned with any of your fans?”
“It was kind of last minute.”
Harriet waves a hand at me. “Oh, you have to. It’d be such a treat. What hotel are you staying at?”
“I’m booked in at The Langham.”
“Oh, fancy! Harry and I are at the Hampton Inn, it’s not far from you.”
“Wait, your name is Harriet, and your husband’s name is Harry?”
Harriet laughs. “Yes. It’s a long story, but it’s how we met. Years ago, we went to a dance, and they put us in alphabetical order. Harold and Harriet. You could put that in a book.”
Still holding onto me, Harriet drags me toward an older gentleman who I assume is Harry.
“Harry! It is her, I told you so.” Harriet waves frantically at him.
“Let the poor woman go, Harriet.” Harry holds out his hand. “Harry Golding, pleased to meet you.
“Athena,” I reply as we shake hands.
“How are you getting to your hotel?” asks Harriet.
“I think they’re sending a car for me?”
I go to bend to pick up my bag off the carousel when Harry reaches around me and drags it off.
“My Harry is a gentleman,” gushes Harriet.
“Thank you.”
Harry smiles at me and moves to grab their bags off the carousel too.
“Well, see you on Saturday.” Harriet hugs me. “And think about a dinner?” Her eyebrows are up, and she looks so hopeful.
“Well, what if we just go for dinner. You could come to my hotel?”
Powerful: A Driven World Novel (The Driven World) Page 14