Page 98 of The One for Forever

I rest a hand on his forearm. “I just have one question. Why did you send Pete to that remote film set in Nevada?”

“Why should I tell you?”

“Because it matters. Trust me. I’m not here for the reasons you think.”

Christian shrugs. “He made comments about my father that I didn’t appreciate. Called him a doddering old fool who wouldn’t have lived long anyway, so who cared if he was dead? I thought about firing him, but I didn’t want Pete to start talking that way in the media. I didn’t realize what else he was up to.”

“So you care about how your father is viewed. But you’ve cancelled a lot of Thompson’s projects. You’ve taken Hayworth Productions in a direction that Thompson wouldn’t like.”

“Says who? I’ve made some necessary business decisions, but I’m not completely heartless. I loved my father. Not that it’s anything to you.” He steps back, tugging at his lapels tostraighten his jacket. “Goodnight, Miss Ainsley. I don’t imagine I’ll be seeing you again.”

We watch him walk out the exit.

“Still holding to your theory?” Rex asks quietly.

“Yep. Christian wasn’t the secret witness.” He never knew Pete Diamond concealed evidence that Amber was the murderer. If he had, he’d have done far more than just shuttle Pete off to Nevada.

Murmurs spread through the crowd, and everyone turns to look at the house. Amber Printz has just emerged. Fashionably late to her own party, of course. She’s wearing an off-white tea-length dress, fitted to hug every inch of her body. Stiletto heels.

She walks forward, exchanging air kisses and smiling angelically as the crowd parts around her.

“That’s my cue,” I say. Nerves zip through me.

“You’ve got this.” Rex’s large hand rests on my lower back, warm and reassuring. It drops when I walk toward Amber. But I hear his footsteps as he follows a couple of feet behind me.

“Hello, Ms. Printz. Freedom suits you.”

Ugh. Saying that makes me throw up a little in my mouth.

Amber’s smile falters when she sees me. But she recovers fast. “Quinn. I don’t remember putting you on my invite list. What a…pleasant surprise.”

“Must’ve been one of your assistants.” My grin is as fake as hers. We have an audience, and several of them are probably reporters or influencers who’ll repeat every word we say online.

Amber must be thinking the same thing. She grabs my hands and leans in to air-kiss my cheek. “It’s wonderful to see you again. After you weresoinstrumental to the jury acquitting me.”

Eyebrows raise, and I spot more than one phone recording.

“I was just doing my job. You know how it is. Win some, lose some. No hard feelings?”

Amber waves a hand. “I believe in forgiveness. Letting the past go.”

“That’s my attitude as well. What happened with Pete Diamond on the stand was embarrassing for me, but I’m over it.” I make a show of glancing around. “Whereishe tonight? Oh, right. Jail.”

“He’s not here, and that’s all I care about. I had no idea he’d sent those people to harass you. You know that, don’t you, Quinn?” Her tone is sickly sweet. “I don’t need friends like Pete. That’s not the image I’m going for. Take a selfie for my feed?”

She plucks her phone from a beaded drawstring purse and holds it up, posing as she snaps our photo. Then another. And another. “There. Had to get my angles right. I’ll tag you. You’ll probably have ten thousand new followers in ten minutes.”

“I can only hope,” I deadpan.

“I’m up to three million.” She points at the tables with swag provided by her sponsors. “That’s where the money is these days. There are no movie stars anymore. It’s all about the influencers. Not that Ineedmoney after what Thompson left me.”

I notice a familiar face lurking just beyond the circle of people vying for Amber’s attention. It’s Kendall Simms. Thompson Hayworth’s former assistant. My gaze meets hers, and I give her a small nod.

There you are, I think.Exactly where I want you.

Just a few more pieces to get into place before my big finale.

Amber tucks her phone back into her tiny drawstring purse. I stare openly. “That bag is gorgeous.”

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