Page 11 of Love Deep
She shrugs and accepts the call. “Hello? Who is this?”
She listens. The tinny chatter of someone talking on the other end of the line fills the silence between Vivian and me.
“No, sorry, I’m not interested, and anyway, any requests should be put through my assistant or my manager and?—”
My jaw tenses. They’re trying to poach her. Typical.
She’s interrupted, and then goes silent, listening to whatever it is the other person has to say. She glances at me, rolls her eyes, and finally says, “Fine.” Then she hangs up.
“Speak of the devil, and the devil shall appear.” She groans. “Can you believe that was Gerry freaking Banks?”
My stomach roils, and my hands ball into fists. What a fucking snake.
“I don’t know why he decided to call me, and I don’t know how the hell he got my number.”
“Did he say why he was calling?” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I feel like an idiot.
We both know why he was calling. He wants to lure Vivian over to Re. He’s got balls—I gotta give him that. And I’d really like to chop them off if I get a chance.
“He said he’s having a small dinner to mark his new job and wanted to know if I’d go.”
She makes a face like she’s tasting vinegar, and I appreciate it. Maybe she really hates him. Maybe she doesn’t. Despite what Juniper said the other night, I have very clear expectations when it comes to talent—they won’t necessarily tell you if they’re thinking of jumping ship. They leave their managers to give bad news.
I pull in a breath, trying to stay calm. What I want to do is punch something. Go for a run. All of a sudden, I have all this pent-up energy inside me that needs a release.
“That’s weird,” I say.
I want to try and figure out exactly what Gerry’s plan is. The fact that he’s calling Vivian—Right Records’ biggest-ever signing—straight out of the gate seems like an act of war. And wars are won and lost not on who has the biggest gun, but who has the best intelligence. I want to know everything about Gerry fucking Banks’ plans. Because then I’ll be in a better position to be able to defend myself.
“Maybe,” she says. “I was between Re and Right Records when I was signing. He’s probably wondering whether he can win me over.”
I chuckle. “I’m absolutely certain that’s what he’s wondering.”
Vivian holds up her croissant like it’s a microphone and then takes a bite off the end. “Well, he can fuck off. He’s a dick.”
Could have ignored the call, I don’t say.
Could have hung up as soon as you knew who it was, I don’t say.
Could have said no to dinner, I don’t say. I didn’t hear her decline. The last thing she said was, “Fine.” My jaw clenches. That could have been,Fine, I’ll think about it. Fine, I’ll come for an hour. Fine, send the invitation over to my manager.
And god knows what incentives Gerry dangled to try to get his own way.I’ve got X, Y, and Z hot actor or actress coming, and they would love to meet you. Or,Afterwards, there’s a private showing of an art exhibition or a movie.
With his new position, Gerry is now one of the most powerful people in the entertainment industry. There are alot of things he could offer Vivian that might be appealing to her.
“Can you believe we were just talking about him, and then he just called? How bizarre!”
“I’m sure he’s calling all my clients.” My stomach drops as I say the words, and I ball my hands into fists.
Ofcoursethat’s what he’ll be doing. If I was right, and he targeted me personally at EMG, he may well do the same now. Maybe I’m being paranoid, and the guy has forgotten I exist, but something tells me he’s shooting his shot, and I’m his bull’s-eye.
This couldn’t have happened at a worse time. I need to be back in New York, at my desk, on the phone, my ear close to the ground. Or I should be putting in face time with my artists. With their managers. But I’m stuck here. In Star Falls, Colorado. And my gut says Gerry Banks is going to do his best to fuck with me.
FIVE
Juniper
Riley’s chatting with Pat, behind the deli counter, about school. I swear, she never tells me anything about her day. Eva—my best friend since high school—is engrossed in her phone as she follows me up the aisles of the grocery store. On my way into town from school, Eva called and said she wanted to catch up. I told her it would have to be while shopping for groceries because our cupboards were bare.
