Page 55 of Some Kinda Romance

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SERENITY

Julie popped her head into my office, giving me an apologetic smile. “I need to run out to get a prescription, but when I get back, I’m all yours, okay?”

I nodded, inhaling deeply in an attempt not to lose it on her for just needing to go to the drug store. “Sure thing. Just hurry, okay? I’m in it up to my neck right now.”

“I know,” she said. “I won’t be long. I promise.”

As she left, I bit my lip and looked back down at all the checklists I’d laid out on my desk. It was all for Diana’s wedding and Julie had promised to help me get through it this morning. There was just no way I could do it all myself and I refused to ask Dash for help under the circumstances.

I had a few other events I needed to focus on as well, but I just wanted Diana’s wedding to be perfect. After all, if this one went badly, all the others might cancel.

This wedding was going to be a test run that would have the eyes of the entire city on it. Everyone would be watching to see if I could do what Ethan had done for so long. If I could do it better or even at all, especially after he’d planted that seed of doubt about me only being with Dash to benefit the company.

It was utter crap, of course, but now that it had been planted, the public would be watching this wedding so much more carefully—and they had already been watching. Curious to see if the judge had made a mistake by awarding such a prestigious events coordination business to a starlet with no experience.

Tears threatened to spring to my eyes, but I inhaled again, fighting them just as I had been all morning. As I finally managed to get back to work, my phone rang and I jumped, prepared to ignore it if it was yet another journalist calling for a comment, but it wasn’t. It was Worldly Production Studios and a lump grew in my throat.

Reluctantly taking the call, I tried to brace myself for the probability that they were about to retract the offer they’d made me. I still hadn’t accepted or declined a role in their new show, but they might not want to work with me at all anymore.

“Serenity, this is Janet again,” the woman said at the other end of the line when I picked up.

Surprisingly, she sounded even more excited today, not at all grim as if she was about to tell me they’d decided against working with me. “How are you holding up? We’ve seen you’ve been at the center of some attention today.”

Inwardly, I whimpered, but I kept my voice as even and as sure as I could. “It will pass. It always does. I’m alright. Thank you for asking. What can I do for you, Janet?”

She giggled. “It’s more a case of what I can do for you. I know we didn’t discuss figures the last time we spoke, but I thought I should let you know that we’re willing to offer you more now if you decide to take the role.”

“More?” I frowned. “Why?”

“Well, because there’s the potential for more drama, of course,” she said happily. “I know you’re not sure if you want to do it yet, but if you are willing to appear, would you be open to discussing the divorce and all the rumors about yourself and Dash St. Clair on the show? We’re really looking for this one to pack a punch and the producers are willing to ensure that you’re paid well for helping them do it.”

Heavens above. I know this is reality TV, but do these people have absolutely no shame whatsoever?

“Thanks for the call, Janet,” I said, making my decision on the spot. “I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to accept your offer. I’ve given it some consideration, but at the moment, I just really need to focus on my company. The timing couldn’t have been more wrong.”

A show like the one they clearly had in mind wasn’t something I was interested in right now and I definitely didn’t want to discuss all this on TV. “Maybe if it was a show about my life, we could talk, but outside of that, I’m afraid I simply can’t commit to anything right now.”

I’d said it offhandedly, trying to let her down easily, but it seemed she’d taken me seriously. “Let me get back to you on that. Bye, Serenity! Thank you.”

I blinked hard, frowning. I shook my head and set down the phone. Fortunately, I doubted her bosses would be interested in the Serenity Show, so I put it out of my mind and did my best to make some headway with the wedding.

Dash tried to reach out to me again throughout the course of the morning, but I ignored him. I was still too mad at him to even think about accepting the help he was offering. As it was, I’d been fielding calls about us all morning. The last thing I needed was to be seen with him right now and I knew that if I accepted his offer to help, he was going to ask me to meet up with him.

All I needed was to throw myself into work and lose track of time. Doing it was harder than I’d expected, but eventually, I was so deep in thought trying to get through it all that I startled when Julie suddenly came in.

“Time for lunch,” she said, smiling as she strode into my office. “Are you ready to go?”

“No,” I said emphatically, wondering if she was smoking something. “There’s no way I can just leave all this and go out right now. If you’re hungry, why don’t we order in instead?”

“Nope. We’re going out.” She crossed her arms and gave me a meaningful look. “I insist. You need a proper break and you’re not going to get it in here. Come on. We’re leaving.”

I sighed, my head shaking, and dug my heels in. “I really can’t, Jules. I’m sorry and I know you mean well, but I just can’t today.”

“Yes, you can,” she said, not giving an inch. “Don’t let Ethan turn you into a recluse all over again. I know all this has been traumatic and I realize it’s stirred up some old issues, but that’s even more reason to get out of here. I really think it’d be good for you.”

I rolled my lips into my mouth, contemplating what she’d said until I finally nodded. In many ways, she was right. I couldn’t hide from the press, but more than that, I didn’t want to. I didn’t want anyone to think I was embarrassed or ashamed.