3. The Stepfather

Five Years Ago

It all started with a proposal—frommy stepdad, Mr. Cal Tomms, a rather imposing stocky figure, with tanned leathery skin and white hair. A man who, for a long time, was the man in Hollywood for casting and movie production.

Lately, though, Dream Waves Studios struggled, although we’d had decent hits with recent romantic comedy adventure films, thanks primarily to me for turning things around.

Times changed fast in L.A., and if you didn’t keep up with trends, then you were left behind. I kept my fingers on the pulse of tinsel town at all times, unlike Cal, who’d aged out of this industry.

Fresh blood should take over the company—mine—a conversation we’d had a few times before. But he’d become a stubborn old goat, taking his damn time naming me as his successor.

Didn’t matter. His health wasn’t the best either, and, as his only child, even though I was his step-daughter, he’d inferred often that someday all of this would be mine. I was almost assured that meant he intended to leave everything to me in his will.

“Ah, there she is. The light of my life.” He greeted me and beamed as I approached his table on the patio at the Polo Lounge. The golden-age glamour of this famed restaurant always suited his style. He loved being seen and being fawned over by actors and actresses and industry professionals out in public.

His assistant, Delta, nodded and smiled at me, sitting to his left, always taking copious notes of every meeting. She’d share them with me later thanks to an arrangement we had. Someday, when Dream Waves Studios was mine, she’d be my right-hand, just as had been to my mother.

Cal pointed across the table. “Honey, you remember Edward.”

I stopped short when I realized the man with his back to me was none other than the man I despised most.

Edward Kingsman thought he owned Hollywood. But that’s the difference between Cal and him. My step-father actually earned his reputation through years of blood, sweat, and tears in this industry. Edward merely existed as an entitled brat, son of the owner of King Studios.

I ignored him and his despicable fake grin, instead lavishing Cal with smooches on both cheeks. “Hi, Dad. Don’t you look robust today?”

“You flatter me. I’m older than dirt, and you know it. Then again, maybe it’s these new green smoothies my chef has been making me drink.” His belly laugh roared out past our corner of the patio. I made a note to talk to his chef about reducing the amount of healthy drinks in his diet. Not that I wanted him dead exactly, but I didn’t see the need to prolong the inevitable.

My mother was driven to an early grave by him; why should Cal get the satisfaction of living a longer life? And I didn’t mean that vindictively—okay, yes, I did.

I rode a double edge with Cal. On the one hand, he raised me, gave me everything I had, taught me everything about the movie industry when mother couldn’t even get out of bed.

On the other hand, he could be cruel and ruthless, like the way he cast out women from his life like they were trash—like my mother and my stepmother.

It’s a wonder I survived all these years with him, but then I’d learned to play the game well. I was a step-daddy’s girl through and through, taking advantage of the fact that he had no other offspring. Someday soon, my big payoff—and my revenge on behalf of my mother—would arrive.

Edward jumped up from the table, offering me his chair. “Darling, take my seat. I need to dash anyway. Mustn’t keep my tennis coach at the club waiting.”

“I’m not your darling,” I hissed at him under my breath as I sat. Everything about him disgusted me, from his dark hair plastered with some kind of spray not letting a hair out of place, to the holier than thou designer scent he doused himself in. Neither enough to win me over.

With his dark looks, every pair of female eyes on the patio swooned over him and this tiny, gentlemanly act. If only they knew what I knew—and what happened when he got me behind closed doors one time at an industry conference, a place I refused to find myself again. The mere presence of him within inches of me now made me sick.

“Edward, we’ll be in touch soon.” Cal sent him a loaded glance. Thankfully, the air around the patio changed the instant Edward left our sight.

“Consorting with the competition?” I asked, making light of it, and passed on the coffee offered by the server.

“Depending on how certain things play out, King Studios may become more like family,” Cal announced, with a wink I didn’t care for.

“What, like a collaboration on a film?” I continued to pry.

“A collaboration…of sorts.”

I chortled, deepening my worry. “Don’t keep me in the dark, Dad. Why on earth would we ever do something with King Studios? Besides, I thought you hated Mr. King?” And I hated Edward.

“Hate is a strong word. Tom and I go way back. We may compete in the industry, but we’re compadres just the same.” He regarded me through a long sigh, his eyes squinting. “I’m not getting any younger, Honey. This studio is my legacy and I need to plan now for the eventuality when I won’t be around any longer.”

I shifted uneasily in my seat and humored him. “But I thought I’d take it over from you? Besides, you’re going to live to be a hundred, so having this conversation seems premature.”

How badly I wanted to take this studio over. My mother started it on the back of a string of hit beach movies she’d starred in. The small studio and production company was to be her way of finding better projects for her and her female friends in the industry. But in a male-dominated field back then, it wasn’t easy. When she met Cal, her struggles ended for a time.

It still wouldn’t be easy for me now, even though women in Hollywood have come a long way. But I’d die trying.

“Honey, if only that were true.” He coughed, the same nagging cough that’d been lingering since the cold he’d had this winter. The hacking gained steam for a good minute as he held the linen napkin to his mouth. I quickly poured a glass of water from the crystal decanter for him.

“You should go see the doctor. Delta—make the appointment for him.” I demanded, but she didn’t scribble any note about it.

He waved me off with an angry huff. “I’ve already been, and they’ve poked and prodded me enough—Look, I need the company left in good hands. An arrangement with Edward would ensure you’re provided for. You can go on working in casting and production without having to worry about running anything.”

“Arrangement?”

“I’ve simply suggested that I’d entertain some offers for the studio—and for your hand in marriage.”

I blinked and jerked my head back. He couldn’t be serious. I knew he was old school, but this was too much.

“What? But you can’t do that.” My shocked exclamation carried around the room, and Delta shushed me with a glare reminding me ears were always listening for industry gossip at a place like this.

“I can and I will.”

“But-but this is my mother’s studio. I’ll take it over and run it. That’s what you always said. You taught me everything so I could do that one day. And I certainly don’t need a man by my side to do that.”

“This industry isn’t easy for women. You know it. But if you were married to Edward, and had the backing of Kings, a bigger company behind you, I’d worry less about you when I’m gone.”

My eyes doubled in size. What the hell? Was my step-father actually arranging a marriage, trading me away like I was his property?

“Listen, you let me worry about all of this.” His hand placated me with a pat. “You’re doing a fine job with the casting and producing. Focus on what you do best and leave the rest to me.”

That sounded too close to just be a happy little woman and stay in your space; let the men handle the rest.

Short of getting on my knees, I begged. “Please, Cal, you know I’ve been practically running things already. And the tide is changing, with more women assuming powerful positions in the industry. Why can’t you trust me? I’ve only ever wanted to run this company and do my mother—and you—proud.”

“And you will, Honey. But I’d die happier knowing you had a man by your side so you won’t have to struggle.”

“But… I do have a man in my life.” Oh God, I was reduced to lying to keep Cal from making a horrendous mistake. “I, um, just have been waiting to tell you about him until we got more serious.”

“Hm.” With an arch of his eyebrow and a mischievous-looking twinkle in his eye, he patted my hand, like he knew me too well. “Then you should bring him around some time to meet me.”

“Well, it’s sort of been a long distance relationship. He’s not in town often.”

“Then you can easily break it off. Edward will make a fine spouse and help you usher in a new era for Dream Waves Studios.”

“No, please. Edward and I don’t get along.” There’d been many times I wanted to tell him what Edward did to me, but Cal wasn’t a fan of the Me Too movement.

“This isn’t a fairy tale, Honey. Marriages in Hollywood are all about power, not love. You’ll marry Edward before the year is over and that’s that. I should have forced the issue back when you were dating him.” He stood to leave, but I made one more plea.

“If you want me married off, at least have the decency to let me choose my husband, for Christ’s sake.”

After a protracted sigh, he nodded. “Fine. But if a marriage doesn’t materialize soon, then I’ll finalize the deal with Edward and the Kings. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” With that, he made a quick exit, leaving me to gape after him.

“So… Who’s the man?” Delta could hardly keep her amusement contained. “And how come this is the first I’ve heard of him?”

“I’m glad you’re getting a chuckle from this. The old man must be going senile to think he can just marry me off like that.”

“Relax, Honey. You and I both know that Cal isn’t long for this world. The way I see it, you just need to hold him off as long as possible.”

“And how do I do that? Hide under a rock?”

“You’re awesome at casting people in your films. Why not hire an actor to play the role of your doting fiancé? Someone who looks like they have money and who can pretend to adore you.”

A ruse like that would take time to plan, and how long would this fake relationship need to last? No, there had to be a way to convince Cal that I could run the studio and I wouldn’t need his ridiculous proposal to marry me off.