Page 41 of Just Curious

He glowered at her. “Wait just a minute. These are things you might have read on some film trivia site. They aren’t exactly secrets.”

“Don’t you have people in your PR department who post things like that to drum up interest in the movie? I didn’t see anything of the sort, although I looked for information about the movie online. Can you tell me who posted those particular details and where?”

Shaking with anger, he retorted, “Now look, young lady, I’m not in charge of every last piddly little detail of the marketing and promotion of our movies.”

“I understand, sir. What if I told you that the priest who married them in the end was named Father Flanagan, not Father O’Connor like in the movie. Who would even care about something like that enough to put it in a blog or on some trivia website? It’s boring!”

“Well, we figured the name Father Flanagan was too recognizable…”

“I agree,” she said softly. “And I probably would have changed it myself before the book was published. Unfortunately, it wasstolen from me before I had the chance!”

“You keep claiming it wasstolenfrom you.” Bernie’s face had turned a terrible scarlet color at that point, and he blustered at them pointing his finger in Willa’s face, “You listen to me! I don’t make appointments with many people who aren’t respected for their contributions to this industry. I made an exception because of the known quality of your books, and the considerable monetary backing you brought with you. But if you think you can come intomyoffice under false pretenses and accuseusof stealing your book to make a movie, I will ask you all to leave immediately. I’ll call security to escort you out if I have to, and I seriously hope you have no crazy ideas about suing the studio for plagiarizing a book youclaimthat you wrote. I’d like to see some proof of that!”

Skewering him with a death glare, Willa explained, “We did not come here with that intention at all, Mr. Baxter. It was our understanding that you were interested in making a movie fromLost and Found. I never in a million years thought you would suggest that I need to work in any capacity with Deb Abbey or, as she introduced herself to me over five years ago, Deborah Abrams. She told me she was a literary agent and then disappeared with my book. Honestly, I had put the whole thing behind me and moved on with my life. It was only when I watched the Academy Awards that I became aware of the extent of her subterfuge.” He started to interrupt her when she glared at him and put up her hand. “And just this morning I became aware that she has stolen asecondbook from me—probably by hacking into my computer. Did you know that today she released a new book thatI just wrote? I can show you proof of that. My version is currently being edited, but hers is an editorial massacre that was never polished. When I get going with my ideas, I’m not always the most careful, so I’m sure the book is full of typos. She wanted, apparently, to capitalize on her recent success at the Oscars, and she knew the quickest way to get a book out would be to steal one and rush it to the bookstores. Again, I can prove this clearly. But why don’t you talk to her and see what bullshit she has to say about it, huh?”

Throughout this exchange, Jackson and Casey’s attention went back and forth between the two squabblers. The men’s expressions went from anger to admiration laced with humor as they enjoyed watching Willa stand up for herself against a self-important Hollywood mogul.

Before Bernie had a chance to reply, Casey’s phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and saw that it was Cyril getting back to him after he’d left a message. “Excuse me, everyone. I need to take this. It’s from our other backer, and he’s calling from Dubai.” Casey actually had no idea where in the world Cyril was, but it sounded good at the moment. He stood and walked toward the door, cheerfully greeting his friend, “Cyril! I’m stoked to hear from you. We have lots to talk about investment-wise. Hang on a sec so I can go somewhere private, though.”

Willa looked at Bernie Baxter and saw that his eyes were squinting at Casey’s retreating back in a calculating way. He finally snapped to attention and addressed Jackson. “He’s not talking to Cyril Mayfair, is he?”

“I’m certain he is, yes,” answered Jackson. “Why?”

“Whoareyou people? Mayfair’s one of the richest men on earth! Your friend knows him?”

Willa, who was still steamed at the jerk, snapped at him, “We all know Cyril. We were just guests on his new yacht until a couple of days ago. He’sa lovely man.” She made it clear with her emphasis that not everyone was so lovely, and by that she meant Bernie. She swore she could see dollar signs in his beady eyes.

“Well,” Bernie began in an oily, placating tone as he plastered on an overly whitened and very fake smile. “Maybe I acted a little out of order, and perhaps you do have a claim that’s legitimate regarding your book, Willa.”

In a voice that could chip ice, Willa said, “It’sMs. Camden.”

“Uh, yes, right. Ms. Camden, I’d like to hope we can somehow put this behind us and work together making a wonderful movie.” Clearly the idea of having anything to do with Cyril Mayfair and his considerable fortune was giving Bernie a riches-induced boner. Just the name-dropping alone would keep him happy for years.

“No. Thank you for your time.” Willa turned to Jackson and said, “Let’s go find Casey and get out of here. If we’re ever going to make a movie, I’d prefer to do it elsewhere. This awful place reminds me too much of that bitch Deb Abbey.” She turned to Bernie then and flattened him with a glare. “I have no proof that you weren’t instrumental in the theft of either of my books, but rest assured that you’ll be hearing from our legal team. I don’t trust anyone who’s associated with that woman.”

She and Jackson stood to go as Bernie spluttered at them nonsensically, saying something about how they ought to not be so hasty leaving. His brother remained silent, but his face was a livid shade of purple and he seemed to be shaking in an odd way.

Bernie stammered, “I’m sure we can work something out. It’s probably all a silly misunderstanding.” When they headed to the door, his voice took on a desperate tone as he implored, “You’ll need our expertise! Don’t you want to make this movie?” Neither Willa nor Jackson answered him with so much as a pitying look, but they flinched when they heard Bernie bellow at his brother, “Conrad,stop that!It’s probably your fault they left!”

As they entered the elevator, she said, “I hope you’re not mad. I really appreciate all of the effort you exerted to get a meeting with them, but those guys make my skin crawl. The one guy who said nothing at all looked like he was trying to be sneaky about rubbing one out behind the desk while he ogled my boobs, and Bernie was just plain horrible.”

Choking back a snort, Jackson answered, “It’s fine, really. I completely understand. I should have realized they were the people who’d produced the movie with Deb, so I’m sorry I subjected you to them. Anyway, there are other studios. They were just the first one to get back to me. We’ll have to look harder for a good fit.” Giving her a hug, he said, “You were magnificent in there.”

They stopped speaking as soon as the doors opened. Harried-looking people bustled on and off the elevator as it descended in fits and spurts to the ground floor.

They found Casey talking cheerfully to Cyril out in front of the massive building. He looked up at them with his beaming smile. “Cyril, apparently they’ve just cut their meeting short. I think we all need to have this conversation on speakerphone, so let us get into the car where we can all talk, yeah?”

As they made their way to the car, Casey explained, “Cyril loves the idea of investing in a movie made from Willa’s book.”

“Well, that’s some good news finally,” she muttered and tried to look happier.

Soon they were all seated comfortably in the spacious limo with Cyril on speaker.

Willa spoke up first, saying, “Cyril, we can’t thank you enough for the experience we had on your yacht.” She chuckled, “It really was a Dream Come True.”

“I’m so glad you all availed yourselves of the considerable entertainment aboard. Now that the crew’s been broken in, my wife and I plan to spend a month or so cruising around the Greek Isles.” It was easy to hear the smile in Cyril’s voice. “And speaking of my lovely wife, she was a little put out with me that I let you all get away before she met her favorite author. She is appeased now, however, thinking that there might be a movie forthcoming.”

A woman’s voice piped up from the background and said, “Let me say hello to her too, Cyril.” He put his phone on speaker as well, and she said more clearly, “Willa? I want you to know I’m an avid fan of your work. I’ve absolutely devoured every last one of your books.”

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