“And the tweets,” I added.
“Nothing to link her to that at this stage,” he said. “That could have been anyone.”
“Great,” I muttered. “I’ve got two stalkers.”
“One,” Lena corrected. “If it’s Miranda, it’s my stalker.”
“But she destroyed my work!”
“To get to me.”
I considered this for a moment. “She can be my stalker, if you like?” I offered. “I’ve never had a stalker before.”
“No. If what Marc says is true, she’s my stalker,” she said with a sigh.
“Don’t be greedy. You’ve already had four. Surely I can take one for the team?”
Lena cracked a smile.
Marc cleared his throat in disapproval. “I need to stress this is all supposition at this stage,” he said. “As I mentioned, there’s nothing actually linking Miranda to the break-in but it’s our best line of inquiry right now so we’ll pursue it. While we do so, it would be helpful if you and Jake go public with your relationship.”
I sat back down in my seat. “Are you serious?”
“I’m always serious.”
Lena caught my eye with an ‘are you OK?’ look and I shook my head.
“This isn’t The Bold and the Beautiful,” I muttered.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Lena interrupted. “I’d play a good Brooke and you’d be Taylor.”
I couldn’t help myself and grinned. I knew what she was trying to do. She knew I was freaking out and wanted to make me feel better. “Ridge is mine, bitch.”
She flicked her hair at me. “True love can’t be denied.”
“I’m glad this is entertaining,” Marc cut in, “but can I remind you that whoever is responsible has made attempts to destroy your career, Ally?”
We fell quiet like a pair of scolded children.
“I wouldn’t suggest opening yourself to public scrutiny unless I thought it was required,” Marc said once we were silent. “And the evidence so far suggests it’s Ally’s relationship with Jake that has prompted the incidents.”
“Then won’t our going public prompt another incident?” I asked.
“Possibly.” Once again Marc’s expression was inscrutable.
“Wonderful,” I murmured to myself.
Lena shot Marc a withering look. “Ally, you don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable doing.” The she directed a glare in Marc’s direction. “I will not have you put Ally at risk.”
“She won’t be at risk. We’ll make sure of that.”
Lena raised her chin at him. “Just like you’ve made sure I’m not at risk? You can’t guarantee that.”
Marc snapped the laptop shut, making me jump. “No, you’re right. We can’t.” He met Lena’s eyes again and they held a challenge. “But we’ll do our best.”
Lena turned to me. “Don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with, Ally,” she repeated.
“I agree,” echoed Suzie. “You’ve had a lot of mixed publicity since arriving in Hollywood. It’s difficult enough for a professional to handle, let alone someone who’s not used to it.”
“I don’t agree,” Marc said. “I believe there’s a safer, more controlled way of showing the world you’re a couple.”
“And what would that be?” Suzie asked, sounding skeptical.
“You attend the Academy Awards with Jake.”
Chapter 33
“No way.”
At first I thought I’d heard incorrectly, Jake’s words were so quiet.
“What? Don’t you want to be seen with me?” I joked. I’d known broaching the subject of the Academy Awards with Jake would be interesting.
He stood up from the leather sofa and went to stand in front of the windows overlooking Malibu Beach. It was late and I was staying at his place again. “For the right reasons,” he said. “This isn’t the right reason. And you’re not ready.”
I tried to keep my voice light. “Surely I’m the best person to make that decision?”
He turned to face me. We’d only switched one lamp on and his features were shadowed by the evening gloom, making him appear eerie. The more I got to know him, the more I realized I didn’t know.
“Ally, even if you think you’re ready, it will still be a shock. Trust me.”
I did trust him, but I’d been thinking about the situation a lot. What was I at risk of, really? So far my designs had been ruined and my reputation had taken a hit, but I’d never been threatened physically. I didn’t think there was any need to fear for my life. And as for my reputation—what reputation? I was a nobody with not a lot to lose. Oh sure, there was my name as a fashion designer, but who was I kidding? I was hardly Coco Chanel. Maybe I wasn’t taking it seriously enough, but my life had never depended on what others thought of me like it did for Jake and Lena. And I wasn’t about to start now, either.
“I know you find me irresistible,” I said. “But they’ll all be looking at you anyway.”
Jake blinked a few times like he couldn’t make sense of what I was saying, then he walked back to the sofa and knelt down in front of me. “No, Ally, they won’t. They’ll scrutinize every part of you from your head to your toes.”
“Well, that’s fine. I’ll be wearing one of my dresses, they can scrutinize away.”
He closed his eyes and when he opened them again they held frustration. It made me feel like I was watching the ocean after a storm.
“I don’t get it,” he said. “You hate this life, you hate the publicity. Why would you want to do this?”
“Because I want to be with you,” I said simply. “That, and I want to put a stop to this stalker nonsense for Lena.” It was funny how when I’d thought it was aimed at me, it was scarier. Now it was about Lena again I was downright pissed on her behalf.
He pushed away from the sofa with a deep huff and went to the window again.
I could understand his disbelief. My words sounded foreign to my own ears as well. Two months ago, even several weeks ago, if you’d ask me to willingly live life in the media spotlight I would have rejected the idea—vehemently. So what had changed?
Jake, of course, and my loyalty to Lena.
He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against the glass. “I don’t like it.”
“You sound like Lena,” I muttered.
He turned to face me again. “Why? Because she agrees with me?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “She was angry at Marc for even suggesting it.” Then again, there was something about Marc that made Lena generally irritable.
“I’m angry at Marc, too,” he said, his deep voice sounding menacing.
“Something tells me he can take it.”
“But what about you?” he shot back.
I shrugged. “I’m tougher than I look. I think we should do this.”
He blew out a long breath. “Just let me think about it, OK?”
“Well, don’t think too long, big shot. It’s less than a couple of weeks away and I’ll need to make a dress if I’m going to look Hollywood beautiful.” Fat chance of that, I thought. At least my design skills would ensure people were so dazzled by my dress they hardly noticed me.
He nodded, almost like he hadn’t heard me. “I’ve got to go to New York later this week.”
I straightened in my seat at the change of subject. “For your new movie?”
“No, it’s about a new project.”
“An audition?”
“No, nothing like that.” He paused, tapping his fingers on his thigh distractedly. “I asked my agent to approach some people on Broadway.”
I jumped out of my seat and clapped my hands together. “Oh my God! Really?”
He smiled but it appeared forced. “Don’t get too excited.”
“Well, someone needs to!” I dodged the coffee table and ran over to throw myself into his arms.
He laughed and shook his head at me. “Ally. I’m just going to talk to a few people, that’s all.”
“They
’ll snap you up, Jacob Swan. You wait and see. Team Jake, rah!” I pretended I was holding pom-poms and did a little spin.
He caught me in his arms and hugged me tightly. “I’m going to miss you.”
“You’ll live. I wish I could come, too. I love New York.”
“Did you want to?”
I eased out of the embrace to look at him. “To come? Do you mean that?”
“Of course I do.” He gave me a lopsided grin and I was glad to see him more relaxed. “I’ve kind of gotten used to having you around.”
I nudged him with my shoulder. “Sorry, but I’m an important fashion designer with deadlines. Maybe next time.”
He pulled me to him again. “I hope so,” he murmured, before he kissed me deeply and I forgot what it was we had been talking about.
*
“Oh. My. God. I look amazing.”
Chloe didn’t have a big head, not really. She actually looked pretty amazing.
“It’s stunning, Ally, absolutely stunning. You’re like some sort of fairy godmother.”
I smiled and carefully secured the last pin to the side of the dress where the zipper was located. “No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are! I mean, look at me.” She spun around in front of the mirror and the emerald green skirt flared out even further. “It’s magical. It’s like the princess dress I imagined wearing when I was six years old but with adult attitude. I love it.”
I smiled again, genuinely pleased Chloe was so happy with the dress. She seemed to recognize the concept of what I’d been attempting to create without me having to explain it to her.
There was indeed something magical about the dress, but what she didn’t realize was it was her who brought the magical quality to the outfit. Despite almost officially being an adult, Chloe retained a sort of winsome quality that was evident in her big blue eyes, her alabaster complexion, and her enthusiasm for life.
I’d wanted to capture that in the dress so I’d created something super-sweet but given it a sophisticated edge. The bodice of the dress was fitted with boning, like a corset, and an intricate ribbon was plaited through the back to give the dress a fairytale quality. It was just for show. (I was sewing an invisible zipper into the side so it was easy to get in and out of.) The bodice was an emerald green like the skirt and covered in an exquisite piece of matching lace I’d spent hours sourcing. The strapless heart-shaped neckline was very princess-like, but I’d cut it just low enough to hint at her cleavage. The skirt had been a nightmare but worth all the hard work. Layers of tulle were adorned with emerald green beadwork that had taken hours with a needle and thread.
“Oh wow, Ally. You’ve outdone yourself.” We both turned toward the door of my workroom where Lena was standing. “Or am I ruining the surprise?”
Chloe just grinned. “Of course not. I’d wear it home now if I could.”
“Not a chance,” I said. “This dress does not leave the premises until the day of the awards when you’re wearing it, Chloe.”
Chloe’s grin faded and she nodded seriously. “I know, I was just joking.”
We weren’t taking any chances this time. The security around Lena’s house had been ramped up significantly. We’d all agreed the dresses were safest here until the day of the awards, when Chloe would come here and get ready with Lena.
Chloe’s features lit up again. “You are coming, aren’t you?”
Stupidly, I’d let slip at one of our fittings earlier in the week about the possibility of me going. I turned away to return a pin to the container and secured the lid. “I doubt it.”
I could feel Chloe pouting despite my back being to her. “You need to come, Ally. You should be there to enjoy the reaction your dresses are going to receive.”
I made sure my face was neutral when I faced hear again. “Nonsense. You don’t see other designers attending.”
“The other designers aren’t going out with Jake.”
Since our conversation a week earlier, Jake and I hadn’t discussed it further. Now he was in New York and not arriving home until two days before the event, so I figured that settled it. “Another time,” I said.
“I don’t understand why he’d say no,” Chloe said. “You two would look fabulous on the red carpet together.”
“It wasn’t about that,” I replied quickly. “It was more a question of safety.”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous. There will be security everywhere.”
Lena stepped into the room. “I can’t say I’m disappointed. At least that means I won’t have to endure Marc’s company on the night.”
“What?” Chloe’s eyebrows shot up and so did mine.
Lena sighed. “I was waiting to tell you as I didn’t want it to color your decision, Ally. Marc said if Ally was going to attend, he was insisting on being on the red carpet for safety reasons. As my plus one.”
“He can’t do that!” Chloe protested. “You’re not a couple.”
“Thank God for that,” Lena muttered.
“And he can’t just strut out there with you as a security specialist,” I added. “That’s ridiculous.”
Lena sat down on the sofa opposite my worktable. “Oh, he wasn’t going to do that. That would risk his reputation. He’d be undercover.”
“An undercover bodyguard,” I mused. “Isn’t there a movie about that?”
Lena rolled her eyes at me. “He’s not a bodyguard, Ally, you know that. He said he would go as an up-and-coming model.”
What?” I cried. “Are you serious?”
“He was and he wasn’t too impressed when I laughed in his face, either,” Lena said.
With that, we all giggled immaturely.
“He’s far too old to be an up-and-coming model,” Lena continued. “Although I won’t deny he has the looks for it.” She seemed to catch herself. “Anyway, it wouldn’t work.”
“How old is he?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Man of mystery and all that, but he’s got to be around mid-thirties. So anyway, I told him he’d have to go as an actor.”
Chloe and I stared at her.
“Yes, that was pretty much his response, too,” Lena said.
“He hasn’t acted in anything,” I pointed out.
“No, not yet. He’d be starting out. We’d fabricate his past and say he worked in some boring career like financial planning before throwing it all in and following his dreams to Hollywood.”
Chloe and I both cracked up and Lena smiled.
“I know, it’s absolutely absurd, isn’t it?” she said. “The man couldn’t act if his life depended on it. He’s as stiff as a board. Anyway, if you’re not going, Ally, it’s beside the point. He’ll be there but only in the background.”
“I’m not going,” I said firmly. “I’ll leave that to the movie stars.”
“Then why are you making this dress?” Chloe asked. She’d wandered to the far side of my workroom where several dresses were hanging.
I stared at her in surprise. “How did you know that’s for me?”
“It has you written all over it,” Chloe said.
“Show me,” demanded Lena, and went to join Chloe.
Chloe carefully took the dress off the rack and held it up.
“Oh,” Lena breathed. “I see exactly what you mean. Allegra Valenti, fashion designer. It’s perfect.”
“Don’t be silly,” I said. “Anyone could wear that dress.”
“I don’t think so, Ally. That’s got ‘siren’ written all over it.”
I marched over to them and took the dress out of Chloe’s hand. “Now who’s being absurd? I’m not a siren, not even close.”
The women watched in silence as I put the dress back on the rack. I wasn’t sure why I’d even made it. I’d done it on a whim last week, the first night Jake had been away. I was missing him and the way he made me feel. When I was with Jake I felt beautiful, sophisticated, curvy and sexy, and suddenly I’d wanted to create something that captured that.
&nbs
p; I’d designed and sewn the dress over two nights—it was an incredibly simple design. Or what I hoped others would consider classic. It was nothing more than a whisper of ruby red satin fabric that I’d wrapped to fit around my curves. I’d given it a plunging neckline and adorned it with diamantés. It was classy rather than revealing. Then I’d let the flowing fabric fall naturally to the floor. It was a dress full of suggestion and sophistication and I loved it but wasn’t actually sure I’d ever have the confidence to wear it.
Once I’d made it I’d promptly put it on the rack and left it there.
“I’m not going,” I repeated, and for reasons I couldn’t articulate, I suddenly felt like Cinderella who had been told she wasn’t going to the ball.
Chapter 34
“Why is Jacob in New York with bitch face Faith Martin?” Arabella demanded.
The jar of peanut butter I was holding almost slipped from my hands. Somehow I managed to tuck the phone between my ear and shoulder in time to catch the jar before it ricocheted across the kitchen. I set it down carefully on the counter.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, not sure I had heard right.
Bella groaned. “Don’t you ever check the news?”
“Hollywood gossip isn’t news,” I told her.
“Why, oh why, do you get to be in California and I’m stuck here in freezing cold Providence? It’s so not fair.”
“You’re still in high school,” I pointed out.
“Six more months, Ally, then I’m out of here. You need my help.”
“Just finish school first. And yes, I’m aware Jake is in New York.”
“With bitch face?”
“Why do you call her that?” I hadn’t told Arabella my opinion on Faith. In fact, we’d never even discussed her.
Bella let out a derisive huff. “She’s too good-looking.”
I laughed. “Um, so is most of Hollywood. What about Lena?”
“Lena’s nice,” she replied immediately. “I’m not so sure about Faith. She has hard edges or something. Plus, I reckon she thinks she’s all that.”
Indeed, Faith was all that and more, and it definitely annoyed me, too. “Why would you say she’s with Jake?”
Jake and I had been talking every day. His initial meeting with the Broadway people had gone well—as I’d expected—and he might have heard ‘I told you so’ on more than one occasion. It meant he was staying on until the day before the Academy Awards to attend more meetings. He hadn’t mentioned Faith at all. It didn’t matter; I trusted him.
Heartthrob (Hollywood Hearts, #1) Page 24