Page 51 of Faking the Pass
His were strong and warm, and the gentle rubbing was starting to bring down my pulse and allow rational thought back into my brain.
Which was bad.
“I can’t believe it. It’s over. My career is over,” I said.
My head swung back and forth as if on a pendulum. “Now that people know about Gina, they’re going to think I’m a homewrecker. And I’m going to be bankrupt. Is debtor’s prison still a thing?”
Presley’s voice was soothing. “No. You’re gonna be fine. Everything’s fine. I just couldn’t let you do it. You can’tmarrythat guy.”
The door behind him flung open, and Randy strode inside. His face was red, and his eyes had a wild look in them.
He pointed at Presley. “I hope you’ve got a good lawyer, jock boy, because I’ll be seeing you in court.”
Presley stood to face him, moving slowly and deliberately, not the least bit intimidated.
“For what? Telling the truth isn’t a crime, fuckboy.”
“No, but violating an NDAispunishable in civil court,” Randy said.
He was so mad there was spittle flying from his mouth when he spoke.
Finally he looked down at me. “I’m not sure what’s going on between you two, but it’s obvious she told you some protected information.”
Presley smiled. “Actually, she didn’t even mention your tiny dick size—I figured that part out myself.”
Randy’s fists clenched at his sides, but then he looked at Presley’s much greater height and impressive physique and wisely decided against making things physical.
“This is no locker room joke,” he spit. “A hundred-million-dollar investment was riding on her performance in this situation. Now you’ve just made things harder, if not impossible, with your juvenile stunt.”
“So sue me,” Pres said in a challenging tone that only threw more gasoline on the fire burning in Randy’s eyes.
“Oh I intend to,” he said. “You’ll be receiving a subpoena within days. And trust me, it’s going to beverycostly.”
Randy turned his malevolent glare on me. “I’m going to push for the full penalty amount—two hundred fifty thousandperviolation—and I’ll get it. Plus legal fees.”
Addressing Presley again, he said, “Now if you don’t mind, I need a few minutes alone with myfiancée.”
Presley’s eyes narrowed, and he took a step backward to stand directly beside my chair. Reaching down, he lifted my hand and resumed the gentle stroking motion with his thumb.
“She’snotyour fiancée anymore.” There was a pause. “She’smine.”
Then he lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it, shocking the breath out of me.
If I hadn’t been sitting, I would have fallen over.
“What?” Randy roared.
“These last few days have been the happiest of my life,” Presley said. “Rosie and I reconnected—thanks to you, actually—and it was as if not a day had passed. I decided not to waste any more of them. She’s agreed to make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife—at long last.”
It took everything inside me to keep my mouth from gaping like a wide-mouthed bass.
Randy resembled an angry bull more than a fish, his nostrils flaring and his eyes wild with fury.
He turned to me, both brows raised to his augmented hairline.
“Please tell me this isn’t true,” he snarled. “I know you’re gullible and easily led, but if you go along with this… stupid revenge plot or whatever it is, I promise you, the price will be higher than you can even imagine.”
He leaned closer and started wagging his pointer finger in my face. “Not only will the NDA fine wipe out your entire salary for the film—it’ll be yourlastfilm. Ever. I’ll make it my life’s mission to see that you never work again.”
