Page 9 of Nathan
“I could stay and help pack up if you need me to,” I offered.
Marie waved a hand. “No, thanks. You did your part, and we’ve got this, but thanks anyway.”
It was morning in the US, and checking my phone, I saw four missed calls from my agent. The moment I entered my suite, I called up Denise.
“If it isn’t my favorite client.” Denise smiled through the screen of my phone. “How is Stockholm treating you?”
“Dublin. We’re in Dublin now. Stockholm isn’t until Wednesday, I think.” I picked up the list on my table. “Yes, tomorrow and Monday, we’ll be in London, Tuesday Berlin, and then comes the Scandinavian countries.”
“How do you feel?”
“Exhausted. After thirty interviews, I need a drink.”
“Have one on me. You deserve it.”
“Thanks.” I pushed off my high heels and plunked down on my bed. “Did you talk to Storm’s agent?”
“Yes, I did.” Denise was a black woman in her fifties, and when she spoke, she made sound effects to underline her message. This time her answer was tight, which meant I wouldn’t like what she had to say.
“Denise, come on… it’s been going on for nine months now, and Storm is spinning more stories instead of cooling things down like we agreed.”
“Look, honey, I understand your frustration, but you know how these things work, and we’re less than three months from the release day. It’s unfortunate that the movie got pushed back, but these things happen in Hollywood. It’s politics, hon… you know that. I need you to hold it together just a little bit longer.”
“That’s easy for you to say. It was supposed to be a few months. I would have never agreed to this charade if I’d know it would last a year.” I spun the ring on my finger again. “Do you know how many questions I had to dodge about Storm today?”
“Well, for what it’s worth, Storm isn’t stressed about it. His agent asked me which city you’d be in on the eleventh.”
“Why?”
“Because Storm has a break in his filming, and he wants to come and see you.”
I groaned. “Is this for another of those photo shoots where we pretend to be crazy about each other?”
“Yes.”
“If we’re breaking up in a few months because it’s too hard to coordinate our schedules, then surely it’s better that he stays away.”
“Don’t be difficult. To get the best parts, you need to be in the media, and that’s exactly what I’m helping you achieve. The public loves the love story between you and Storm, and what’s the harm? It’s not like you have someone you see, is it?”
“No. What man would approach me when I’m officially engaged to Storm Johnson?”
Denise laughed. “Only you can say those words like it pains you. Every woman in this world envies you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I envy me too. Who wouldn’t want to be as happy and in love as I am on the covers of the magazines?”
“Good. Then spend a few hours with Storm on the eleventh and get some amazing pictures that can make every woman in the world sigh and every director in Hollywood call me to secure you for his next movie.”
“Fine.” I pouted and ran my finger down the list. “We’ll be in Oslo on the eleventh. I’ll have Marie send you the details.”
“Thank you. Now get yourself a large drink and celebrate that you’re living your dream.”
I swallowed a snort. “Talk to you later, Denise.”
After I ended the call, I lay on my bed with my eyes closed. Denise’s words had cut me, and in the silence of the room, a single tear fell from the edge of my eye, down my temple, tickling my ear.
“I’m living my dream.”
“I’m living my dream.”
