Page 93 of Mister Mom

“What?” My wine glass slips a bit in my hold, but I secure it again.

“You heard me. He doesn’t care about my money, if you’re not the actress he won’t be selling the script and it’s such a great script. You’ve read it, I assume?”

“You assume right. I agree, it’s a great script. But Vance and I have had our differences.”

She laughs. “A lovers’ quarrel, right?”

“Well… yes.”

I don’t really want this lady in my business. I should be no concern to her, but she really wanted me to have that part and who is to say she wouldn’t do the same for another script down the road?

“I got a divorce last year,” she says.

Great. This woman thinks I’m Dear Abby.

“Don’t worry, this story won’t be long. He was a cheating bastard and then he and his prick of a lawyer tried to bankrupt me. Total asshole. Men make stupid decisions. They think with their dick the majority of the time and they think they’re always right. They want to be the boss. Am I right?”

I laugh. “You are.”

“But one thing that men never do is give up money or a chance to propel their career into the stratosphere for love. It’s in their genes, what they’re born to do. Be the breadwinner, make the most money. So, the fact that Vance is on national television telling everyone how much he loves you and that he won’t make the movie unless you agree to take the role should make it clear how much he loves you.”

“Excuse me, what? He’s where?” I fumble to find the remote. Damn, it’s in the blanket.

“Layla, I told Vance I love your work and you’re perfect for this part. At the dinner, he couldn’t stop praising you. Give the guy a second chance. Turn the channel to Late Night.”

Click. The line goes dead.

A second later I manage to locate the remote in the blanket and switch the channel and there’s Vance.

My heart skips a beat, and I suddenly feel a little dizzy. “Holy shit.”

“Many of you don’t know me. My name is Vance Rose. I was the executive producer for Abandoned for eight years. They fired me last year.”

The crowd boos and even Kimmel puts his thumbs down.

Vance chuckles a bit and holds his hand up like it’s okay. “They had good reason to fire me. I obviously couldn’t spot talent. Long story short, I screwed Layla Andrews out of a part.”

The crowd boos again.

“Okay, maybe I have to agree with your employer,” Kimmel says and the crowd’s boos morph into laughs.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Big mistake. That’s not even the cherry on top of the disaster I created with her. We made a deal. She needed a nanny and I needed a lead actress for the script I wrote. I didn’t think she needed to know my true identity, so I omitted information.”

“You mean lied?” Kimmel says and the drums from the house band hit like the punch line of a joke. Vance looks back over at him. “Just trying to keep people interested, man.” He laughs.

Vance turns back to look at the television. “Somewhere in the middle of caring for her son and daughter, I fell in love with her. Not her looks, I always knew she was beautiful. I became head over heels in love with her from watching her with her children. The way she juggles the impossible job of fame and motherhood. Her quirky side that makes me laugh. Children, plug your ears.”

“This is a PG show, Mr. Rose,” the host interjects.

“She’s sexy as hell. From earlier than I’d care to admit, she took a chunk out of me. Layla, I really hope you’re watching. I’m not doing the film without you. Even if you don’t want anything to do with me, take the part. I wrote it for you without realizing. I’m ashamed of what I did, but please know I’m not doing this because I love you and want you back. Well, I do want that. I’m doing this because you’re Melanie.” Vance turns to Kimmel. “Thanks for having me.”

Then like the true introvert he is, he walks off the stage.

Ring.

I jolt and grab my phone, looking at the caller ID screen, but it’s not the man I want it to be.

Jagger.

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