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“Guys,” I said. “This place is killer.”
“Thanks, man.” Will clapped me on the shoulder and led me in, Sam on my other side. “Felt like we were never gonna finish building it.”
“You mean you felt like the crew was never going to finish building it.” Sam grinned.
“Yeah, yeah.” Will winked.
Teasing, smiling, winking. It was almost like they were in love or something. Honestly, I was stoked for them.
We stepped into the main room of the open floorplan, and the glint of something gold out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. I didn’t even need to look to know what it was.
“Sorry guys,” I said, “but I gotta ogle a very handsome man.”
The pair laughed, knowing what I meant.
I broke away from them, moving over to the shelf that displayed the rows after rows of awards the pair had won for their recent indie film smash, The Bakersfield Bride. And right in the center, given pride of position, was the Oscar they’d managed to snag for best new screenplay, their names etched into the pedestal.
“There’s a couple of gorgeous uh, orbs here, too,” said Sam as they moved to my sides. “If that’s more your thing.”
She was referring to the Golden Globes—Sam for Best Director and Will for Best Actor.
“Orbs are nice,” I said. “But I like the one with both of your names on it. And if you ask me, you both got robbed.”
“Stiff competition,” said Will. “Good people to lose to.”
“And where’s the fun in getting to the top right away?” asked Sam. “Gives us something to work towards.”
“There you go,” I said. “Something to motivate you guys for the next project.”
Without me even thinking about it, my eyes flicked over their shoulders.
“Looking for someone?” asked Sam, a knowing glint in her eyes.
“Just, um, taking in the crowd.”
But we all knew what was up—I was trying to catch sight of Shania. My quick glance didn’t turn her up, though. Maybe she hadn’t come?
Before either of them could bust my balls about what was going down, however, a brash, deep voice seemed to cut the air between us.
“All politics, you know?”
The three of us turned to see a tall, trim man with close-cropped red hair, sharp, handsome features, and a baby-smooth face. He was dressed in the typical tech mogul uniform of simple, almost college-guy clothes, but obviously really expensive versions of them. Clean white sneakers and a sharp silver watch completed the look.
It took me a second, but I realized who it was. James Silver, CEO of SilverRush, one of the biggest app development companies in Silicon Valley. Astoundingly rich, extremely powerful, and, most relevant to me, a member of my graduating class at UCLA. Or, what would’ve been my graduating class, if I had graduated. What he was doing at Will and Sam’s, however, I had no freaking idea.
He stepped into our little circle, not looking like he cared if he was welcome as a part of it. But I let it slide—I’d dealt with enough of the super, super rich to know this was kind of how they rolled.
“Believe me,” he said. “I know what I’m talking about. The guy who won for best director? He’d been up for years but kept getting passed over because some producer with a lot of pull in the voting was butthurt over the guy screwing his daughter at some party. Well, guess which one ended up being the year he finally got over it? Of course, the ‘getting over it’ involved giving the director who shall not be named exclusive rights for his movies going to our producer friend’s streaming service.” He placed his hand on his chest. “Of course,” he said “This is all very confidential information. Really, I might have to kill you all now for revealing it.”
The three of us clearly had the same vibe over the sudden interruption and turn the conversation had taken.
Sam broke the silence. “So nice to meet you!”
“James Silver, right?” Will stuck out his hand. “Wasn’t expecting someone like you here tonight.”
“You see that fine little lady over there?” he asked, pointing to a willowy blonde in a tight green dress. “She was nice enough to make me her plus one for the wedding.”
“Oh, how nice!” said Sam, craning her neck to get a glimpse of the woman.
They quickly made their introductions, then James turned his attention to me, a smile spreading across his foxlike features.
“This good-looking cat,” he said. “Needs no introduction.”
Sam and Will both turned their attention to me, expressions of mild confusion on their faces.
“That right?” asked Will.
James didn’t respond to Will. Instead, he threw open his arms and pulled me into a bear hug, his long limbs feeling like they were going to wrap around me a few times over.
“Good to see you, bud.” He let me go after I gave him a hesitant pat on the back.
