Page 15 of Fake Notes

“Even if you produced a prospect like that, if it’s simply a ruse like I think you’re suggesting, and she actually falls for you, when you break her heart, everyone will hate you.”

“That’s why she’ll break mine.”

He sighed. “I’m not following.”

“I find a girl to agree to date me, the right girl. We have this epic romance in front of the world, and I’ll be getting so much attention that the buzz around my movie will be huge. The studio will kiss the ground I walk on. They’ll never drop me if I’m bringingThe Soldiers Within Usso much attention. Then, she dumps me, breaking my heart and garnering me a world of sympathy and attention all over again because poor Thorne Roberts is a mess without her. She betrayed me. Broke me. And I wind up with a box office hit and a whole new group of fans that love me.”

“It’s a fabulous idea. If you can keep her from falling for you. And even if you can, where in Hades are we going to find a girl to agree to be a villain in front of the worldandone that will sign an NDA and not rat us out? That would take a special woman. One with a spine of steel.”

I smiled. A spine of steel was exactly how I’d describe the hot little spitfire from the bakery. “Call it a hunch, but I think I might have someone.”

“Everybody wants something from you, Thorne, just remember that.”

Like I needed the reminder. It’s why I had zero genuine friendships and relationships, the reason I trusted no one. Because any time I did, I got burned.

“Which is why I’ll use that to my advantage,” I said. I was done being an idiot. Done trusting the wrong people. Never again. “I’ll find out what she needs and exploit it. If she helps us, I’ll give it to her. Tit for tat. She scratches my back, I scratch hers,” I said.

I had to admit, the thought of Scarlett’s petite frame sent a shiver down my spine.

“You can’t make her a star, Thorne.”

“Maybe not entirely, but if fame is what she wants, I have plenty of it. I can at least give her a hand up. The rest will be up to her.”

Even while the words left my mouth, they felt all wrong. I may not know much about Bakery Girl, but something told me she had zero desire for her own time in front of a camera.

“And if it’s money she wants,” I said. “She can have it. I’ll give her half my check forThe Soldiers Within Us.”

Trainer spluttered. “You’ve gone mad. Certainly, you’re not serious.”

I shrugged, even though he couldn’t see me, staring out at the skyline. “If I get cut from the film, how much will I have? How much willyouhave, Trainer?”

“Point taken,” he ground out. The line went silent for a minute before he exhaled into the phone and said, “If you can pull this off, it’ll work. But if it blows up in your face, don’t say I didn’t warn you. So choose wisely. You have one chance to get this right. I’ll have the NDA and a contract drawn up.”

“You do that. And Trainer, try to relax, will ya?” I hung up, and my thoughts drifted to my date.

Now I just needed her to show up.

SCARLETT

I paced back and forth in front of Batter and Bake. Inside the shop, everything was dark and quiet, in complete opposition to my racing heart.

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.” I spun around to face Penelope, who was currently wrapped up inside Topher’s arms like a burrito.

“You should thank me. Years from now, you can tell your children you once had a date with Thorne Roberts and they’ll think you’re a legend.”

I snorted. “Like he’ll still be relevant.”

“Hey, he has a long career ahead of him,” she said. “US Weekly saysThe Soldiers Within Uswill completely change the trajectory of his career.”

“Well, if US Weekly says so . . . “ I rolled my eyes, then stared up at the stars, wishing I could be anywhere but here.

“You’re just cranky because your mom made you bend the rules and take his order.”

Okay, so maybe I was a little bitter about it. She had me there.

I sighed and glanced at my watch. Ten ‘till seven. “You know he could be a complete psycho, right? What if he tells me he’s taking me to dinner, but instead takes me to some dark alley and chops my body up into a million tiny pieces?”

“Or he whisks you into a dark alley and does something else.” Penelope winked.

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