Page 119 of Out of the Gold

Melody

My dad’s wordsrush over me. Charles is going to playhimin the movie.

Charles.

My Charles.

Chase.

He was using me this whole time.

Summoning all my strength, I add, my tone clipped, “You never told me you were going for that part.”

“Goldie—”

“Don’t! Don’t use that name for me.”

He flinches as if my words struck him. Good. I hope they did. “All right,” he begins again. “I auditioned for the role before our movie started filming.”

This enflames me more. “So that makes it okay? You didn’t audition when we knew each other?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“And you didn’t think to mention this ‘little fact’ to me? Not once. Not once since we—” I break off mid-sentence, aware of noises around me.

My mother walks behind me. “Melody, honey, why don’t you stop for a moment and listen. I’m sure Charles has a reasonable explanation for all of this.”

I move away from her. “No. I won’t stop. This, this,movie star—”

Chase winces. “Listen, Melody, you told me you didn’t want to be a part of the Hunte movie. You said—”

I throw my arms in the air. “Since when did you ever listen to what I said? You auditioned to play my dad.” I stop. Within me, hurt and betrayal war with the fact I was used. Again. “I thought you were different!” I advance on the object of my wrath.

My dad steps between us. “Now, now, Princess. Charles said you told him you weren’t interested in the movie, like you told me. It’s not fair for you to be mad at him now.”

I whirl on my dad. “Not fair? That’s rich. Can’t you see him for what he is? He’s a scheming, connivingmovie starwho used me to get this part.”

Chase erupts. “I did no such thing.”

I give him a derisive laugh. “Yeah, right. You can’t deny you auditioned for the part?”

“Well, no.”

A chain-link fence forms around my heart. “You also can’t deny you never told me.”

“No, but—”

I hold up my hand, imagining a piece of black silk, like what I used to make Doctor Manipul8’s gloves, lands on top of the fence. Silk is strong. Impenetrable. Nothing can get through it.

My mother whispers, “Let’s give them some privacy.”

I ignore the four people shuffling out of the dining room and continue, “You saw the opportunity to get close to Braxton Hunte’s daughter and you took it. You knew I was talking with my parents, and that I told them about us. You knew, didn’t you, they would be predisposed to like you. Was this your idea, or did Sam put you up to it?”

Chase strides next to me. “No, dammit. You have it all wrong.”

“Really? ’Cause it looks really right to me.”

His arm comes toward me, and I step out of his reach. “Melody, you have to stop and listen to me.”

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