Page 6 of Obsession

Teddy looked up from his poolside table at a smiling Tessa Tweed Bacchetti. “I’d be insulted if you didn’t.”

She took the chair next to his, then nodded at the script in his hand. “Memorizing your lines? Shouldn’t you know them by now?”

“This isn’tStorm’s Eye. It’s a draft of Peter’s next picture.”

Her expression brightened in genuine interest. Like Mark Weldon, Tessa was an Academy Award–winning actor and they had appeared in several pictures together. She was playing Tyler Storm’s niece inStorm’s Eye.

“Don’t worry,” Teddy said. “There’s a part for you.”

She scrunched up her mouth. “I wasn’t even thinking about that.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You weren’t?”

“Well, maybe a little.” She shot a look at the script. “Is it a good part?”

He moved it to his other side, out of her reach. “Now, now. You know Peter wouldn’t want me to say anything.”

“You can at least tell me if the script is good.”

“When have you read one of Peter’s scripts that wasn’t?”

“True.”

A pool attendant approached their table. “May I get you anything, Ms. Tweed?”

“A sparkling water, thank you.” When the man left, she turned back to Teddy. “Can you at least tell me the title?”

“It’s not final.”

“This is Hollywood. Nothing is ever final until a picture is in the theaters.”

“Okay, fine.” He set the script on the table.

Tessa leaned forward and read the title page aloud. “The Zurich Affair.” She looked at Teddy, excited. “We’re going to shoot in Europe?”

“Unless Billy Barnett can talk him out of it.”

“He’d better not. And you can tell him I said that.” Tessa was also a member of the exclusive club in on Teddy’s secrets.

“I’m sure he’s well aware of your feelings.”

“There’s being well aware of my feelings, and then there’s agreeing with me.” She paused in thought. “Maybe I should discuss it with Ben. I’m sure he would support me and can outvote Billy.” Ben Bacchetti was not only her husband and the head of Centurion Studios, but also Billy Barnett’s boss.

“I was wondering how long until you played that card.”

She gasped dramatically and put a hand to her chest. “Whatever do you mean?”

The attendant showed up with Tessa’s drink and set it on the table.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Ms. Tweed. If you need anything else, let me know.”

After they were alone again, Teddy leaned back in his chair and opened the script to the page where he’d left off. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to find out what happens to the heroine.”

“Heroine?”

Teddy mimed zipping his lips closed.

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