Page 46 of Collateral Damage
“We have enough money,” Perry continues. “But we have to be smart about our next moves. Keep in mind that money in Hollywood goes fast.”
“This isn’t Hollywood,” Cooper deadpans, and Perry shoots him an incredulous look.
“You know what I mean.”
“Just tell us what you want,” I say, and Perry offers me a cheeky smile that reminds me of his younger years, when he could catch girls with nothing more than a grin in their direction.
“Well, we need to find the perfect place to filmTop of the World, and I’m asking for your help to make that happen.”
“What do you have in mind?” I prod.
Perry straightens his spine, filling out his suit-jacket, as his gaze bounces between me and Cooper. “We need six bedrooms. We can get away with some of the contestants sharing bathrooms, but it’s non-negotiable in their contracts that they get their own bedrooms. We have to film in the city, since that’s also in the contract, besides a week-long trip we’re going to take in July. The location is as important as the cast. It needs to be luxurious—the kind of place people only dream about.”
Both men look at me, and I can actually feel the blood draining from my face.
“No,” I state.
“The Laurence New York apartment would be perfect,” Perry tries. “I don’t know of anywhere bigger or nicer or more old-money New York than your family’s place.”
“Nois a complete sentence.”
“Could you at least talk to Amelia and see if she’d be open to it? It’s only for three months.”
Seasononeis only three months.
I shake my head.
Perry doesn’t give up. “We’ll move all the valuables and furniture into storage, dress it up for filming, do our thing and take really good care of it, and be out before you know it.”
The problem?
Our home will be immortalized in film forever.
Not only that, but the thought of strangers infiltrating it makes me want to vomit. Sure, it’s the perfect size, and it’s beautiful. And sure, Mom and my brothers plan to spend most of the summer on Nantucket. I have my own SoHo loft apartment now, but that doesn’t negate the fact that I don’t wantTop of the Worldfilmed there.
Dad would’ve never agreed.
He’s not here to say no, so I’ll do it for him.
“I don’t have a good reason to say no,” I say firmly, annoyed that my voice cracks. “But if you must know, my father would’ve hated that, and I can’t imagine doing this, even though he’s gone.”
Perry pats my knee, his eyes going soft. “I get it. Forget I asked, okay?” He continues to both Cooper and me. “We need to think of something. Do you have any connections for a similar filming location? We’re already up against short notice if we want to film soon.”
Considering we’re contracted to film through the summer, he’s right. We’re running out of time.
“I don’t know of anything, but I’ll see what I can come up with.” Am I being selfish? Maybe I should talk to my mom about using the house. Maybe I’m being overly protective of it. It’s not like we spend a lot of time there like we used to.
Even thinking about it makes my eyes burn.
“We can use my place,” Cooper interjects, and Perry and I both turn on him. He’s sitting behind his desk while Perry and I are in the chairs across from him, looking the perfect picture of a Manhattan businessman, the midtown skyline silhouetted behind him.
“Your place is big enough?” Perry asks dubiously. “You have six bedrooms?”
“If we clear out the office, then yes, that would make six.”
“How many bathrooms?”
“Three and a half.”
