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"Wouldn't play well in the press, you think?"
I sighed. Here we went again. This was my life. Worrying constantly about my image, about the media spin, about how my personal life could affect my shot at the next big role. It was bullshit. But it was real. "Perhaps not."
"I figure I could talk," he said, sitting and then leaning back, evidently gaining comfort in his environment now that he sensed he held the power. His blond hair flopped down over one eye and he reminded me suddenly of Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films—utterly unlikeable. "Those magazine folks should be back here soon. And that reporter—Alison? She seems like the type to jump at a juicy story like you fucking your bodyguard."
Why were some people so predictable? Chad was about to ask me for money. Maybe he and Zac had taken some kind of online Blackmail a Movie Star class together or something. If either of them knew what I'd given Jace, without him even asking or wanting my money ... I sighed and shook my head. Neither Zac nor Chad was anything like Jace. "What do you want, Chad?"
"I think five hundred thousand should do nicely. And I want the in-house spot when we get back."
"No." I didn't even give myself time to think, to strategize my answer. I didn't care about the money, not really. But I wanted Jace in the house. If I knew Chad was in the room down the hall, I'd never sleep again. In fact, I had plans to have him removed as soon as we were back in LA. “No to both.“
Chad shrugged and shook his head, like a school teacher disappointed at a student's behavior. "That's too bad."
I stood. I'd had enough of this. "You know what's too bad? The amount of shitty people in the world who look at other people solely as a means for their own advancement. You're worthless. And I don't want you working for me anymore. Pack your things."
"I don't work for you. I work for the firm."
"Not for long," I told him. "Stay away from my family."
"What time do the magazine folks come today?" He sneered it at me.
I ignored him and went upstairs. I'd had enough of people trying to manipulate me, use me for their own gains while they hurt everyone else. I didn't know exactly how, but I was going to take a stand.
After texting Jace, I laid back on my bed, staring at the familiar ceiling of my childhood. I'd felt safe in this room then, and nothing had changed about that. I might never have really felt at home, but I had always known I was safe and loved. As I thought about the life I'd built, about the walls that kept me penned inside of it, I realized that maybe I'd given up control. Maybe I'd done it willingly, or without even realizing that's what I was doing. And maybe, just maybe, I could take it back.
I needed to talk to Gran. Before the party.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Jace
Icalled Austin at noon as soon as I was done with my shift, my gut churning as I sat on the edge of the bed in my room. I’d already thought through what I’d tell my mom about being fired, some story about choosing a chance at love. I knew losing my job wouldn’t mean financial ruin or homelessness for me or my family—Juliet wouldn’t let that happen. But could I possibly live with myself if it came to that? There were no good outcomes here. Still, I did what I needed to do.
"Jace, good to hear from you." Austin's voice was confident, and every bit as warm as it had been the first time I'd called him, when he'd offered me the job. "How's school going, son? Just about done by my calculations."
School? My mind was definitely not on last exam I’d taken before leaving for Maryland, but if he wasn't going to fire me straight out, I could talk about school. "Just took my last test, actually. Online, you know. Think it went okay."
"Almost got that degree."
"Yes sir. I hope so." Austin had been a colonel in the Marine Corps. I'd never be able to call him anything besides "sir," even though we were both out now.
"Plans after that?" He sounded sincerely interested, and I felt a bit of tension wind its way out of my back. Maybe Austin wasn’t planning to fire me. Or maybe he just needed a chat?
"Teaching, maybe? High school?" it wouldn’t do much for my income, but might offer some security. And at least it’d be steady work and maybe I could make a difference to someone.
"You don't sound certain."
I chuckled, realizing that laughing just before your boss hands you your ass was probably not normal. "I guess I'm not certain about much right now," I confessed.
He paused, and I felt my heart trying to climb up my throat. I took a deep breath. "Son, listen. I spoke with Chad this morning."
"Yes sir." Here it came.
"That piece of shit has been a problem since day one."
Surprise made me sit up straight. I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly. Was Chad the “piece of shit” here or was I? "Sir?"
"This is the third time he's tried to get another staff member fired. Second time I've gotten the idea he might be thinking of manipulating a client for money." I heard my boss exhale a sharp breath. "I'm the idiot who keeps giving him another chance."
