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I think about telling Amanda about the rejected loan, but I immediately decide against it. I’m a private person. I’m not one to unload my problems onto others.
I even think of telling her about the mother and the baby and how that’d be my dream, but I quickly rule that out as well.
Amanda doesn’t seem to care about my apology or about the tears running down my cheeks. Instead, a big smile crosses her face.
“You won’t believe it,” she says in an excited, hurried whisper. “But there’s a movie star here at The Oak.”
Wait...
“What are you talking about, Amanda?”
“There’s a famous actor here. Outside the front door. It’s actually him.”
Here?
“Who is it?”
She takes in a deep, enthusiastic breath, clearly thrilled at whatever the hell is going on.
“It’s none other than Victor Penmayne.”
2
JOSIE
“No way,” I say at my manager’s completely out-of-left-field name-drop of the celebrity.
“Yes, Josie,” she replies enthusiastically. “He’s here.”
“Are you sure? One of the Penmaynes?” I ask. “The actor?”
“The same one.”
Everyone’s heard of Victor Penmayne. Even me. I mean, you’d have to be living under a rock to have not heard of the famous movie star and the even-more-famous billionaire secretive family he hails from. They’re all actually from Crystal River - their fancy mansion sits on the edge of town imposingly separate from the rest of us plebeians. But ever since Victor left home for the shining lights of Hollywood, he’s barely been back to Crystal River. He never graces his hometown with his presence anymore - not that anyone really saw him before his sudden shoot to fame.
He’s been in some of the biggest blockbusters over the last few years. He’s a star on the rise and rise and rise. Look, the thing is I don’t watch that many movies, but even I know who the hell Victor Penmayne is.
And I also know he wouldn’t come to The Oak in a million years.
We’re just not that kind of place.
“And he’s here?” I ask my manager.
“Follow me,” Amanda says excitedly, gesturing me back inside the coffee shop.
She has no reason to lie.
Once back amongst the smell of coffee, we press our faces against the windows that look out onto the park.
Holy crap, there he is.
Victor Penmayne.
And he’s totally surrounded by people trying to talk to him or get a selfie. The famous movie star is being mobbed by an entire crowd just yards away from the front door of The Oak.
Victor Penmayne looks like an actor - he’s gorgeous and striking in a way that only otherworldly movie stars can be. He’s towering over six feet tall, with black crewcut hair and thick eyebrows to match. His jaw is square, and his cheekbones are sharp. He’s wearing some designer shirt with jeans, but even then, he looks classy as hell. I bet he has entire wardrobes full of casual rich-people attire. You can tell his body is broad and well-toned, even through the loose-fitting shirt.
Wow.
