Page 7 of Stuart Woods' Golden Hour

“You’re going to Berlin?” Ben said.

“Made sure there was a hole in my schedule so I could attend. Say, when’s Peter going to put me in one of his movies?”

The interviewer’s eyes lit up. “I think we all want to know that!”

Billy jumped in. “That’s an interesting idea. Perhaps we should set up a meeting for when we’re all back in town.”

Tom swung his arm out from behind Ben and pointed at Billy, his smile even broader than before. “You’re on!”

“A potential Tom Norman–Peter Barrington pairing?” the reporter said. “Remember, you heard it here first!”

There were a few more questions about Tom’s movie, then the Centurion group moved on so that Tom could have the spotlight to himself.

After they were in the theater lobby, Ben said to Billy, “You really want to meet with Tom Norman?”

“He would be a huge get for the studio,” Billy said.

“We don’t do big-budget action films.”

“Which is likely why he wants to work with us.”

“You think he’s entering his action-star-doing-something-artsy phase?”

“Itisa thing.”

Ben sighed. “I know. I’m just thinking about the circus we’d have to deal with if we did cast him in something.”

“I don’t know,” Tessa said. “It could be fun.”

“Peter’s interested,” Hattie said.

They all turned to her.

She held up her phone. “I texted him.”

Ben glanced at Billy. “The meeting was your idea. So, you’re in charge.”

“Oh, no,” Billy said. “Any discussion with a megastar like Tom is definitely head-of-the-studio-level stuff.”

“How about I appointyoutemporary head for the meeting?”

“Nice try, but I do not believe the corporate bylaws allow that.”

“I’ll double-check just to be sure.”

They reached the theater door and an usher said, “Allow me to show you to your seats.”

As they walked down the aisle, Ben whispered to Billy, “This conversation is not over.”

“It is as far as I’m concerned,” Billy said.

“Perhaps you two should flip a coin,” Tessa suggested.

“Even better,” Hattie said, “arm wrestle!”

Tessa grinned. “I’d pay to see that.”

“A lot of people would.”

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