Page 84 of Love on the Byline

“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “Granted, that was an uglysituation. Sam’s ex was...well, to put it nicely, unstable and highlydangerous. The public was all for him getting out of that situation. And yet,Val was vilified by certain factions.”

“I see.” She needed to read up on this whole thing, andfast.

“Young, Black actress, older, white, married man.I’m sure you can imagine the comments.”

“And now people think she’s stepping out with Bran?”

He shrugged. “Honestly, this is the first I’ve heard of anyrumor like that. After we spoke, I did a casual search of some of the morewell-known blogs and found nothing about any alleged affair.”

“So, where is this coming from?”

“Us, as far as I can tell,” he replied. “And it bugs thehell out of me.” His face had scrunched up like he’d taken a bite out of alemon.

“Bran mentioned something about the Gazette being out to gethim,” she said. “I didn’t think anything of it, but if this affair story originatedwith us and no one else has wind of it?”

“And we’re sitting on it for this exclusive.”

“Plus, the hack? Gid, something weird is going on here.”

He was nodding, deep in thought. “Okay, look. I maintainthat this feature will do wonders for you. Stay the course, write what you seeand learn, and don’t worry about any of this.”

“Uh, that’s kind of impossible. If I’m being used as a pawnin someone’s game—

“I’ll deal with it,” he stated firmly. “I’m yourfirewall. Nothing gets to you but through me. Okay? Trust me. I’ve got yourback.”

She nodded. “Thanks.”

“It’s my job. Now, you mentioned something about apremiere?”

“Oh, yeah. Tonight. I’m invited.”

He smiled. “Baby’s first premiere, I’m so proud.”

“Ha ha, funny. I’m only going because I think it’ll be goodto see him in that environment. See how he’s perceived by others.”

“You plan on interviewing people there?” His brow lifted.

“No, not exactly. I’ll chat with people. Observe.”

“Alright, good. I don’t want to get a call from so-and-so’spublicist chewing me out because you took something their client said out ofcontext.

“Strictly information gathering on my subject,” she promised.

“Though, if you happen across any juicy tidbits...”

“I’ll be sure to text you so that you can get someone elseon it.”

He grinned. “There’s my team player.”

That afternoon, Blake was back in South Pasadena, trying onoutfits for the party.

The current dress was entirely too tight, too short and leftlittle to the imagination, but she could admit, to herself at least, that redwas definitely her color. She’d been so overwhelmed by the idea of a red-carpetevent that she’d accepted before remembering she had nothing to wear.

Enid’s best friend, Lucy, worked in the wardrobe departmentof a studio in Toluca Lake and often brought over discarded or unused clothingfor them to try on.

“How much did this cost?” The garment itself wasoff-the-rack but still exorbitantly expensive, easily worth as much as half ofher combined wardrobe.

Lucy waved her off. “You never ask a lady a question likethat. Didn’t your mama teach you any manners at all?”

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