Page 39 of Broken Rules

“I’m just nervous.I don’t know where he’s taking me.I don’t know whether it’s safe for us to even be seen together.”

Groaning, she turned her head my way.“And you think he hasn’t considered that?”

“That’s the thing.I don’t know what goes on in his head half the time.”I still hadn’t figured it out in the four days since he sent that cryptic, bossy text telling me to be ready at eight tonight.For once, he hadn’t asked for more than I was ready to give.

The only time we’d spent together the rest of the week was in brief meetings or crossing paths at the studio.He had given me no answers about tonight.

“Maybe you shouldn’t go,” she suggested with a shrug.“If you think it’s dangerous, you need to take care of yourself.”

She had a point.On the other hand…“It might be fun.Lord knows I could use some before everything gets nuts in these final weeks.”

Just the thought made me feel shaky and uneasy.It was almost time for the world to judge my work.It was one thing for me to know everybody at Cannes had watched our movie, but my name wasn’t on it.If they had hated it, I could’ve sat back and pretended to have nothing to do with it.It wouldn’t be my reputation on the line.

This time, there was no such luck.I had to believe they’d love it, and not only because I had put so much of myself into it, but because if it didn’t work out, I would also be really and truly screwed.

“Do what you think is right,” Claudia concluded, returning to her phone.“If you don’t mind, I’m engaging in a little self-care because my boss has been running me ragged.”

“Your boss loves you,” I reminded her.

“Which is why I’m still here,” she fired back, and it looked like she was almost smiling under her sheet mask.

In the end, I was ready for Lex’s driver at exactly eight.This time, instead of picking me up at a seedy motel, he carried my bag through the courtyard of the apartment complex, where a handful of my temporary neighbors stopped and watched.Maybe they were wondering who I was and why I was so important.The idea had me biting back a smile by the time we reached the sidewalk, and he opened the back door for me.

“What is your name?”I asked as I slid in.

“Carl,” he replied, closing the door and looking surprised I would ask.

“Thank you, Carl.”I always told myself if I were ever in a situation like this, I would acknowledge and thank the people helping me by their first name to make sure they knew they were seen and appreciated.

Once he was in the driver’s seat, I asked, “I guess you wouldn’t be able to tell me where we’re going, huh?”

“Mr.Landry only gave me the address.I’m sure if he didn’t tell you, he wants it to remain a surprise.”

I settled in and tried my best not to let nerves get the better of me.It would be fine.He knew what he was doing and wouldn’t take risks.Still, this was the first time we’d be anywhere that didn’t involve the studio or his house.Where could we go where nobody would know we were there?

My question was sort of answered as Carl pulled into the parking garage underneath what looked like a hotel high-rise.An empty garage, I realized, as we rolled through.It was sort of eerie, the rows and rows of empty spaces.Why were we here?

He pulled to a stop in front of a pair of elevator doors and got out to open my door.“Is this place closed?”I whispered, and even that echoed in the empty concrete space.

“Mr.Landry asked me to give you this.”He handed me an envelope, grinning.“And to wait until you get on the elevator.Then, I’m allowed to leave.”

“This is all very confusing,” I admitted as I opened the envelope, pulling out the note card inside.A brief message was scrawled on it.

Press P.

“That’s it?”I stared down at the handwriting.“P?I don’t get it.”

“Maybe P for Penthouse?”He nodded toward the elevator.“Go ahead.”

Well, the poor guy probably wanted to go home.I had to trust Lex wasn’t leading me into some weird, twisted game as I stepped onto the elevator.Sure enough, there was a button marked P.With my overnight bag in one hand, I pressed the button, then waved to Carl as the doors slid shut with a soft whoosh.

This was crazy.I was riding an elevator in what looked like an abandoned building, all because Lex told me to.The absurdity made me laugh, which was a small miracle considering how nervous I was.It helped ease some of the tension, so I felt more comfortable by the time the doors opened onto a spacious suite.

The top floor was definitely not abandoned the way the empty garage made it look.It was stunning, warmly lit, and lavishly furnished, with windows directly across from where I stood overlooking downtown Los Angeles.The Hollywood sign glowed in the distance like a beacon, drawing me closerandpulling me through the living room until I stood in front of the glass.

“Hello.”

I spun on my heel, gasping in surprise.I was too busy drooling over the view to hear Lex come in.The sight of him in a white linen suit took my breath away.It made his tanned skin gleam, while the open buttons at the top of his blue shirt hinted at the broad chest underneath.I was glad I had gone all out on a new black dress, silver sandals, and the lacy thong I was wearing underneath.

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