Prologue

Bailey

Three years ago

The limo pulled to a stop in front of the theater, and I smoothed my hands down the front of my skintight gown. It was a one-of-a-kind Alexa Humboldt design in a light color that matched my skin tone. If not for the lack of nipples and body hair, I almost appeared nude at a quick glance.

Alexa had designed it specifically for me, at my request, for the shock value.

My fiancé, Dirk Lane, hated it from the moment I put it on.

But that was too bad.

I wasn’t about to let a guy tell me what to wear on the red carpet or anywhere else.

“You ready, Ms. Walker?” My driver called out as he slowed to a stop.

The paparazzi was out in full force, surrounding the area around the red carpet where the attendees of tonight’s award ceremony would be entering the building.

My recent engagement had been big news the last month, so I was sure they were waiting to bombard us with questions even though this was only the entrance to the building. The official red-carpet event, where interviews and photographs happened, would be in a different area inside the complex.

“I’m ready, Hans.” I nodded in the direction of the chauffeur, who was my regular driver. I preferred to have him with me when I went to big events like this because he was experienced, the safest driver I knew, and I trusted him to be discreet about anything he might see or hear in the limo. He’d also become my friend after working together for the last few years.

Dirk and I had been arguing since I’d put the dress on, so I was already stressed and not looking forward to spending the evening with him. The last thing I needed was word to leak that we were on the outs. Even though we were.

I’d heard stories about how guys changed once you got married, but I’d never heard them about it happening the moment you got engaged. It was like someone had flipped a switch. He suddenly had something to say about everything in my life. What movie projects I took on, how much time I spent playing video games, or what I wore to an awards ceremony.

It wasn’t like this was new.

I’d been a gamer for as long as we’d known each other.

Wearing provocative clothes out in public was part of my persona.

And the roles I accepted were none of his fucking business.

I was already considering ending the engagement, but I planned to talk to him first.

The limo slowed to a stop, and I saw the paparazzi move closer expectantly. They didn’t know who was inside each vehicle, but they knew everyone showing up tonight was Hollywood royalty.

“Are you going to let me get out first?” Dirk asked wryly.

I managed not to roll my eyes.

The last time we’d done an event like this, he’d been drunk and hadn’t wanted to get out at all, so I’d exited the limo without him. Then, when he’d stumbled out after me, it had been a whole thing in the media about how ungentlemanly he’d behaved.

That had been the night I’d started to question our relationship.

“Go ahead,” I said politely, not wanting to fight with him.

He stepped out when Hans opened the door, taking a moment to wave to the crowd.

Of course, he was more interested in his ten seconds of solo attention than offering a hand to me.

I really needed to rethink all my life choices.

Finally, Dirk turned, proffering a hand, and I took it, slowly sliding out of the limo.

And of course, the press started firing questions at me faster than I could have answered, even if I’d wanted to.

“Bailey, have you set a date yet?”

“Bailey, are you getting married in L.A.?”

“Who designed your gown, Bailey?”

“Bailey, are you taking the Scorsese project?”

Scorsese project? There was no offer on the table from the legendary producer. At least, as far as I knew. I’d have my agent doublecheck, but I would have known if Martin Scorsese had reached out to my team.

I smiled and waved, letting Dirk hold my hand as we walked toward the entrance of the building.

“Scorsese?” he hissed in my ear. “You didn’t tell me about a Scorsese script!”

“Because there isn’t one!” I snapped back. “Jesus, don’t you know fishing when you hear it?”

“You don’t have to get snippy!” he muttered.

I ignored him, heading for the entrance as I pasted on my most professional smile and answered questions about my dress, hedged on questions about the wedding, and finally made my way into the ballroom.

“Bailey!” My best friend and fellow actress, Sage Reynolds, waved as she came over to say hello.

We hugged and air kissed, since we didn’t want to mess up our makeup, and she grinned at me.

“You look fantastic. Alexa Humboldt breaks the red carpet once again.”

Alexa and I had a habit of coming up with designs that had everyone talking. Conversation about the dress would keep me in the headlines for weeks, and since I was currently between projects, that was a good thing. Even if they hated the dress. But I didn’t think that was the case this time.

“Hey, beautiful!” Manny Collette, my co-star in the last movie I’d done, blew me a kiss as he walked by with his wife, and a few other actors I knew waved or said hello.

“Why didn’t you talk to Manny?” Dirk demanded in my ear. “Find out what he’s working on.”

“Because he’s with his wife and busy with other friends,” I retorted.

Was it too much to ask to simply want to have a good time tonight?

I didn’t need to network twenty-four-seven.

Maybe the break-up talk needed to happen now.

Tonight.

I turned to tell him we needed to talk but he’d already moved off with a director I recognized.

Well, the break-up would have to wait, but it was happening tonight.

I didn’t win the award for Best Actress that I’d been nominated for, but that was okay. I’d lost to a legendary actress named Judith Winslow, and she deserved it. I’d always looked up to her, so I didn’t feel bad losing to her. Besides, I’d won the award for best supporting actress last year, and I was only twenty-four, so I had plenty of time to win the big ones.

“That was bullshit,” Dirk said as we filed out at the end of the ceremony. “You deserved that award more than that old hag, Judy Winslow.”

I scowled at him. “She’s a legend,” I said quietly. “And keep your voice down.”

“I don’t give a fuck who hears me!”

“Well, I do. Judy is a friend.”

“I’m your fiancé.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him he wouldn’t be after tonight, but I refrained. I’d wait until we were back in the limo heading home. I wasn’t heading to any after parties because I wanted to get this over with.

We made our way out to the loading area where the limos were waiting, and I tapped my foot impatiently.

I suddenly couldn’t wait to give him back his ring.

“Hey, girl!” Sage waved as she breezed past me. “Stay strong,” she breathed against my ear. “And call me tomorrow!”

We’d talked earlier in the evening, so she knew what the plan was.

I waved at her before getting into the limo.

Did I want to wait until we got home or should I do it in the car?

He’d just moved into my house in Manhattan Beach, so we had a long drive, and I didn’t want to have to think about it the whole time.

“I think we need to take a break,” I said quietly, biting the bullet.

“A break?” He looked up from whatever he was doing on his phone in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m not sure I’m ready to get married,” I said. “And we’ve been fighting a lot since you moved in. Maybe we rushed things.” We’d only been together nine months.

“Rushed things?” He stared at me. “I gave up my apartment to move in with you!”

“And you don’t pay any bills,” I said quietly. “You should have been able to save up.”

“Save up? What the fuck, Bailey?” His expressive dark eyes turned almost black. “This isn’t funny.”

“I’m not laughing.” I glanced down at the ring on my finger, itching to remove it.

“What did I do?” he demanded, his voice softening as if he’d just now realized I was serious. “Are you still mad about the Madalina thing?”

Madalina was my housekeeper and he’d yelled at her the other morning for folding his socks incorrectly. He’d raised his voice and berated her to the point he’d made her cry, and I’d been furious. I’d warned him not to ever speak to her that way again, and he’d apologized, but I’d been terrified she would quit.

“That was one of many red flags in the last couple of months,” I admitted. “There have just been some things that make me uncomfortable.”

“I’m sorry.” He scooted closer to me on the seat, reaching for me. “I’ll do better. What if we go away to Coronado for the weekend and?—”

“Dirk. Stop.” I slid a little way away from him. “I want to give us a little time apart so we can think. Like I said, a break.”

“I don’t have anywhere to go,” he said, his jaw working in obvious irritation. “You know I’m out of work right now so I can’t even get a new apartment.”

“You can go to your mom’s,” I pointed out.

His face tightened. “You want me to move in with my mom like I’m some kind of kid? Are you serious right now?”

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” I said quietly. “I’ll be happy to give you enough money for the security deposit or whatever you’ll need to get an apartment, but you’re going to have to figure out the rest. You promised you were going to get a regular job if none of those auditions last month panned out, yet you’ve been dragging your feet. Even if we weren’t taking a break, you need to work, Dirk.”

“You selfish little bitch.” He glared at me. “Who put this shit in your head? Was it Sage? Or that cunt of an agent of yours? Huh? Who was it?” He snaked out a hand, gripping me by the throat.

“Dirk!” I squealed in surprise. “Stop it!”

“You can’t just toss me away like yesterday’s trash!” he yelled.

He had my throat in a death grip, and I couldn’t breathe.

He’d never laid a hand on me before, so this caught me by surprise, but I’d been in Hollywood for seven years at this point, and I’d learned a trick or two. Besides, Hans was up front. All I had to do was get his attention.

“Dirk!” I gasped out his name, wiggling to try and get away from him. “Please!”

When he refused to let go and squeezed even harder, I knew I had limited time. I reached down and grabbed one of the Manolo Blahnik stilettos off my feet. I threw it toward the privacy screen, nearly crying in relief as it thudded against it.

“Ms. Walker?” Hans lowered the screen and looked back at us. “Hey! You need to let her go!”

“Cunt!” Dirk growled, shoving me away from him.

The back of my head bounced off the glass of one of the windows, making everything in my field of vision blur.

“Ms. Walker!” Hans was calling my name worriedly.

“Shut up and drive, you fat fuck!” Dirk picked up a water bottle and hurled it in his direction.

I tried to talk but nothing came out, my throat burning from the assault.

The car swerved as Dirk yelled insults and continued throwing things.

“Fuck!” I thought I heard Hans yell but then the car jolted violently, throwing me across the back and slamming me into another window.

There was the sound of breaking glass and someone screamed.

It might have been me.

Then there was nothing.