Page 34 of We Own Tonight
“I did.” I pause, thinking about what led me there. “I had an interesting night and neededMom.”
“Interesting how?” The curiosity seeps through herwords.
I sigh, lie back on the bed with her, and tell my sister about my night with EliWalsh.
Chapter Ten
Eli
“There’sno need to fight us on this, Eli. We feel this is a generous offer,” Paulasays.
If it were so generous, I wouldn’t have had to fly here to make sure my agent wasn’t letting the studio try to give it to me up the ass. I could be in Tampa, working on getting Heather to stop fightingme.
I don’t know what the hell it is about her. She’s frustrating as all hell, but I like thechallenge.
I’m not some young musician anymore. I’m older, wiser, and I know there’s something with Heather that I shouldn’t walk away from. I want to know her. I need to see her and touch her, which has to meansomething.
“I’m not signing that, and you knowwhy.”
It isn’t an ego thing. It’s a value thing. If they don’t pay me what I’m worth, then there’s no reason they’ll fight for the show. I’m not stupid. If they get this new contract to pay me less, there’s no incentive for them to keep pushingit.
I don’t work on dead ends. That’s my only motto in this industry. Since landing the job onA Thin Blue Line, I’ve done a few movies. They were small parts, but I felt passionate about them. While I love my character and the storyline, I’m not working for less than what they’ve paid me the last fiveyears.
“The show is lucrative, but they want to bring on some new blood,” Paula tries to explain. I can see how frustrated she is, but that isn’t my damn problem. “They need to free up money somewhere, and you’re by far the highest paid actor on theshow.”
“Don’t care.” I lean back in the chair and scratch the back of my head. “It’s not myproblem.”
Paula crosses her arms and goes silent. This is the thing about my agent I love. She’s a shark. She smells blood in the water and circles until it’s the right time to make her move. I see her predatory gaze as she studies me. She’s on my team, but I’m also the only way she makesmoney.
Agents are awesome when you’re making them money. When you’re not . . . you’re chum. I’m not about to be her afternoonsnack.
“You know I heard they want a new love interest for your character. I heard that Penelope Ashcroft is back in town and looking for work. Isn’t she a friend ofyours?”
There’s nothing friendly between us. Paula is definitely throwing out thebait.
I don’t take it, though. The last fucking person I want to think about isher. I go years without a mention of her name and now twice in a week? “Another thing I don’t care about.” Which is total bullshit, but if I let Paula think this is a scab to pick at, she won’thesitate.
“She’s auditioning for a few shows.” Paula picks at her nails, letting the silence stretch. I know this game, so I stay quiet right along with her. “I didn’t think much of it until Michael mentioned the casting director has herfile.”
“Michael? As in my director,Michael?”
So much for keeping mycool.
She shrugs. “It was just inpassing.”
Nothing this woman says is in passing. I have no doubt that Michael, if he did mention it, said it to push me. He knew I’d be reluctant to sign. I was lucky twenty years ago, I had a mentor. He told me that our careers start dying the day we sign our deals, and that if we want to make it in this world, we need to make as much money as we can, as fast as we can. I’m not about to take shit pay with them because they threw out that bitch’sname.
I stand, place my hands on the desk, and stare in her eyes. “I’m not signing that contract until you get me the money I want. The way I see it, they—and you—need me. I’m not some small part on that show, and if you don’t get ink on that paper, you don’t get a check from me. So, push them harder. If they want to even entertain Penelope on the show, I’mdone.”
“What did that girl do to you?” Paula asks as if I didn’t just say more than the part abouther.
“She’s a gold-digging, lying, slut. When I needed her most, she broke my fucking heart. I won’t allow that bitch anywhere near me, gotit?”
There are non-negotiables in life—this isone.
Paula gets to her feet and I straighten. “I’ll do what I can, Eli. But I hope you’re prepared to walk away from the show that you love so much. I don’t know that I can get them to go muchhigher.”
“AndPenelope?”
