Page 72 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
“Who is she?” Jennifer asked him. “Your current girlfriend? Don’t you have two of those here already?”
Caroline’s head started to swim as Jennifer and Brad took a stand against each other.
“Excuse me?” Brad’s face crumpled in confusion at the hostility and accusation in Jennifer’s voice.
“You heard me!” Jennifer glared at him accusingly.
“That’s Vanessa Turner.” Brad pointed down the driveway.
The name rang in Caroline’s ears, and her brow furrowed as she tried to remember where she’d heard Vanessa’s name. Buther mind was still a little foggy from the bump on her head, and she didn’t want to admit to anyone that she felt like she had holes in her memory after the knock on her head. She remembered pieces of the day leading up to the incident and flashes of the incident. Luckily, her friends and family were so astounded by what had happened and caught up in the thrill of the movie crew in town that they hardly noticed that Caroline had taken a back seat and let them fill in the gaps for her.
“Are we supposed to know who she is?” Jennifer’s slightly raised voice drew Caroline back to the present.
She was in the middle of a heated conversation between Brad and Jennifer.
“She’s the …” Brad’s voice faded away as an article Caroline had read a few days before Brad had come to town came to mind.
Jules had bought Television Magazine for Caroline as it had an article featuring the up-and-coming Cobble Cove Mystery series. Caroline had kept the magazine and underlined some of the troubling bits she wanted to discuss with Jennifer.
There were no pictures of anything but the Cobble Cove lighthouse attached to the article, only names.
In a surprising turn of events, Danes Productions, renowned for its stellar track record in the entertainment industry, has announced an upcoming television series that has set tongues wagging. The production, an adaptation of the best-selling book series by emerging author Carrie Lines, will be spearheaded by none other than Brandon Danes. This move has left industry insiders speculating about the dynamics at play within the Danes family.
Television Magazine recently delved into the casting decisions that promise to make this production stand out. Of particular note is the appointment of Vanessa Turner, a figure known for her diva tantrums and second-rate acting, to a significant role. The magazine has already given Brandon onestrike for the controversial hiring, leaving readers to wonder if he’s playing with fire or orchestrating a strategic masterstroke.
In an interview with Travis Danes, Television Magazine was told that he supported his son’s decisions and that we should give Vanessa a chance. We at the magazine would like to know a chance for what? Is the legendary King of Danes Productions putting Brandon in the position to choose between Dawn, a scion of one of the industry’s oldest families, and Vanessa, the daughter of a congressman, as the future Mrs. Brandon Danes?
Another question burning through the show business industry’s minds is: Can Brandon Danes prove himself capable of taking the reins of Danes Productions? With his career trajectory back on track now that he’s back in the fold of the Danes family. Rumors are flying around that this production is Travis Danes’s test to ensure his son is finally ready to lead the family business. The stakes are high for Brandon, who needs to make this production a resounding success by any means if he wants to prove his fit to take the crown from his father, the industry icon Travis Danes.
The stage is set, and all eyes are on Brandon Danes as he steps into the limelight, navigating the complexities of family, relationships, and the entertainment business. Let’s hope you make the right choices this time, Brandon!
Caroline still couldn’t believe the Brad she’d met in New York six weeks ago and let her heart get caught by was Brandon Danes. Her head started to ache, and bile rose in her throat, and where his lips had met hers, she felt their sting of betrayal. Caroline’s mind reeled, and her stomach lurched. She clasped her hand over her mouth, spun on her heel, and rushed inside, heading for the bathroom. Caroline decided against the downstairs guest toilet and ran to her bedroom, where she locked the door behind her and just made it to the bathroom before she got sick.
“Caroline!” Jennifer cried through the door, concern ringing in her voice.
Caroline collapsed on the bathroom floor for a few seconds, letting her stomach settle and the fog lift in her brain while trying to ignore the pain stabbing her heart.
I can’t believe I let myself get pulled in by Brad’s charm and feigned compassion!Caroline seethed.I’m beginning to think he knew who I was when we were in New York.
Hurt and anger mixed together, fueled by betrayal, as tears started to sting her eyes while trying to squeeze through her closed eyelids. She nearly jumped out of her skin when there was a pounding on her bedroom door.
“Caroline!” Brad’s voice echoed through to her.
His voice was like another arrow through her heart because she knew the panic in his voice was just a lie. How could she have been so naive?
“Caroline, if you don’t answer me, I will let Brad break this door down!” Jennifer warned.
Caroline sat up, ignoring the pain starting to pound in her brain.
“I’m fine,” Caroline called. “Just give me a minute.”
“Please, Caroline, open the door so we can see that you’re okay,” Brad pleaded.
“I said I needed a minute!” Caroline couldn’t stop the anger that spurted into her voice.
“Let’s give her a minute,” Caroline heard Jennifer say.
She leaned over the basin, taking a few steadying breaths, wishing no one was in her house as Caroline needed to be alone with her thoughts and pain. Her life had blown up in the past year, starting with the publishing company wanting to publish her series. Then, eight weeks ago, she got an invitation to meet Travis Danes, who was interested in making her book series into a television series.
