Page 6 of Violet

Okay, okay, how bad could this be?“It’ll blow over.”

“This is up there, Stephan, and stuff like that doesn’t blow over. Your past will be dug all the way up. Full exhumation.” She goes to the bar and adds gin to her seltzer. “They’ll talk to the family, to enemies, so-called friends.”

“This is Emporia.”

“They like scandal just as much as they do on Sabine. You know that.”

I shrug.

“Pretending this is nothing might work on someone who doesn’t know you, but…” She comes right up to me. “I know you.”

“It’s a sad fucking story, at the heart.” I grip my glass. “And it’s ancient history. I’ll survive and get roles.”

A film of filth sticks to me at that.

“Stephan, I’ll be real. Others out there don’t know who you are, not really. Just a really pretty face from Sabine who can act. The Monarch won’t be happy.”

No, she’ll be pissed.

In fact, this very much is something that could kill my career dead in the water and no second coming to be seen, courtesy of one old woman.

“You know how powerful she is. Sabine may be enough to distract her during the Season, at least, but since you’ve been on her shit-list before, you’ll be smack dab in the line of fire if you cause a stir again.She’sthe one who’ll bring you down.”

I take a swallow. “Only if this gets out,” I clarify, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. “Can we trust Felicity?”

“I’ve got ironclad NDAs ready,” Clea says. “I’ve got lawyers and some sharp-clawed Alphas ready to have words with our starlet. She hasn’t breathed a word of her so-called relationship or break-up yet. She wants what you do, meatier roles, and sympathy for her going through an emotional wringer will make women empathize and men want to pick up the pieces.”

Her words sink in.

“She’ll use you to get there.” Clea’s serious gaze cuts into me. “So we should control how. She’ll only talk if you don’t play ball and let her say all the carefully crafted things I’ll coach her on. Got it?”

Oh, yeah. Got it. “Shit. So if I don’t go?”

“Say goodbye to any chance of expanding your reach as an actor. Hell, say goodbye to your career altogether.”

I stare at her some more. Looks like I don’t fucking have a choice here. “Fine, I’ll pack my bags.”

It’s night, late, when my helicopter touches down in the countryside at the family estate.

Fucking Sabine. The last place I want to be.

Too many memories. Too much everything.

But at some point, carefully crafted shit will hit the fan. I should have let the career go. Gone into producing, directing, something like that. The screenplay in my bag is the meaty something else I want to do.

I’ve got other scripts, but that one…it’s my baby.

I get in the car waiting for me, and when we reach my aunt’s place, I let myself in. She’ll never forgive me if she’s not my first port of call. I’ll go to my townhouse after.

Of course Penrith’s up and waiting for me.

“Stephan!” The smile on her face is one of love and devotion, the one I remember from childhood and miss. She may be up there in age, walking with a cane, but none of it seems to be slowing her down.

I sweep her up, hug her tight. “Pen,” I say. “Are you happy I finally came back to this god-forsaken place?”

“Like you had a choice?” She laughs, pats my cheek, and it makes me wonder if she means that as a joke or if she knows more than she’s letting on. Pen’s known for seeing things others don’t usually see. “How long are you here for, darling?”

“Only the summer.” Then I look at her. “How’s the battle-ax?”

---