Page 25 of How He Got the Girl
“What were you thinking, Griffin?” I can practically see her pacing in her office, shaking her head. Because she’sthe kind of person who works in the office, even on a Sunday. “No. Youweren’tthinking,” she continues. “That’s the problem. How am I supposed to spin this for your benefit? We need your romantic comedy to do well, if you want to keep the new rom-com movie offer on the table. And especially if you still want me to try to get you an audition for that fantasy script you loved,The Heartless Prince.” Her tone rises an octave. “How is your rom-com going to do well, you ask?” Karina sighs. “By being seen everywhere with Britt. Not some mystery woman.”
My heart constricts at the thought of losing my dream role. I rub the back of my neck, thankful she can’t see me as I deflect. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk for so long. You’re usually so busy.”
“My role as your agent is to save your career. That’s what I’m doing.”
“That’s why you’re the best, Karina.”
“Who is she, Griffin?” She sounds tired. I bet she’s squeezing the stress ball I bought her after our first meeting. It has my face on it, so hopefully it’s somewhat cathartic for her to squeeze the crap out of my head while working overtime. “What happened in that coffee shop?”
“That’s the question that’s been running through my head since yesterday.”
“You don’t even know who she is?”
“Oh, no. I know who she is. I just have no idea where we stand.”
She sighs. “What’s her name?”
“Veronica Mallory Porter. She goes by Mallory, though.”
This bit of information seems to shock Karina into silence. After I landed my first movie and hired Karina as my agent, I told her all about Mallory. She could tell how upset I was that she even had her team try to look for her, butMallory was like a ghost in a cemetery: she haunted me, but I could never find her.
A few beats later, Karina exhales loudly. “No kidding. After all these years of looking, you found her in a coffee shop?”
“Right where it all began. Well, not the actual coffee shop, but you get the picture.”
Karina groans. “I’m going to take a wild guess that you’re not going to change your mind about the latest rom-com? The offer’s already on the table, and it’s a good role.”
But it’s not the role I’ve dreamed of. There will always be another movie. There’s onlyoneMallory.
“I’m not changing my mind,” I say, resolute. “I’m going to stay in Louisville, but I’m still interested in an audition forThe Heartless Prince.”
“I’ll try to work my magic, but this situation just got a whole lot stickier. I think we need to include her in the conversation.”
My heart drops into my stomach. I’ve been thinking about how much work this will be for my agent, but I failed to consider how much this will impact Mallory. The girl who doesn’t have social media because she didn’t want her students to ever find anything online about her that could be embarrassing.
This is worse.Somuch worse. Like her life is being put on a billboard with spotlights shining on it for the entire city—the entireworld—to see.
“Can you contact her and set up a call for the three of us tomorrow?” Karina asks. “That way, I don’t have to go over everything twice.”
I’ll have to track down Mallory’s phone number, but that shouldn’t be hard considering I know her full name now. “Aye aye, captain.”
“And try to stay in your rental until this blows over.”
“Affirmative.”
“You can’t see it, but I’m rolling my eyes.”
“You’d better go catch them.”
Karina lets out a long breath. “You don’t pay me enough for this.”
“I’ll have Granny make you her famous buttermilk pie once she’s back on her feet and overnight it to you.”
“Now you’re talking.” Her voice sounds softer, more concerned, as she says, “I know you’re still getting used to the spotlight, Griffin. But just remember that the paparazzi won’t stop until they get what they want. So be careful, and call that girl before this blows up even more.”
With that, the line clicks. Karina never signs off phone calls. Usually, I don’t mind it. But this time, it feels ominous, like the current predicament I’m in.
Looks like I need to find Mallory…
