Chapter 3

3

“Tessa! Tessa! Over here!”

Tessa paused and waved at the gathered press as they took pictures.

“Tessa! This way!”

A red-carpet pro, Tessa swiveled smoothly from side to side so everyone could get a perfect shot of her in her Veronica De Piante dress.

“Over here! Hey, Tessa!”

“We may be here a while,” Billy whispered to Ben and Hattie.

They were standing several feet away to give Tessa the spotlight. While they, too, were award-winning celebrities in their own right, the press would take a superstar actress over a composer, a producer, and a studio head any day of the week.

After a few more shots, one of the publicists working the line ushered the trio over to Tessa for a few group pics.

Another PR person then guided them farther down the carpet to a reporter from Glitter Entertainment, who was just finishing up interviewing one of the costars of Not on My Watch , the movie they were here to see. Behind the reporter was a roped-off area filled with excited fans.

“Thanks, everyone, for your support!” the actor said.

He waved and the fans cheered, then the Centurion group took his place at the mic.

“The Glimmer live stream continues with Oscar winners Tessa Tweed and her husband, Ben Bacchetti, head of Centurion Pictures,” the reporter said. “And with them are producer Billy Barnett and composer Hattie Barrington. What? No Peter Barrington or Mark Weldon tonight?”

“Peter’s putting the finishing touches on his next film,” Ben said. “And Mark is out of town and couldn’t make it back in time.”

“Would that next film be the highly anticipated Storm’s Eye ?”

“You are well informed.”

“Tessa, there are rumblings that your performance will have you in line for another Oscar.”

“I don’t know about that,” Tessa said. “But we’re not here to talk about Storm’s Eye . Tonight is all about Tom Norman and Not on My Watch , which we are all very excited to see.”

“Of course, but could you give us a little taste of what—”

There was a disturbance behind Billy and the others, then Tom Norman—the reigning action-movie box-office champion—popped up between Tessa and Ben. “Did someone mention my name?”

“Ladies and gentlemen, Tom Norman!” the reporter said.

The crowd roared with excitement.

Tom waved and smiled his megastar smile. “Thanks for coming, everyone! I expect you all to see Not on My Watch when it opens on Friday!”

More cheers and excited shouts followed.

Tom put arms around Tessa’s and Ben’s shoulders. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you coming tonight.”

“We wouldn’t have missed it,” Tessa said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Storm’s Eye at the World Thriller Film Festival.”

“You’re going to Berlin?” Ben said.

“Made sure there was a hole in my schedule so I could attend. Say, when’s Peter going to put me in one of his movies?”

The interviewer’s eyes lit up. “I think we all want to know that!”

Billy jumped in. “That’s an interesting idea. Perhaps we should set up a meeting for when we’re all back in town.”

Tom swung his arm out from behind Ben and pointed at Billy, his smile even broader than before. “You’re on!”

“A potential Tom Norman–Peter Barrington pairing?” the reporter said. “Remember, you heard it here first!”

There were a few more questions about Tom’s movie, then the Centurion group moved on so that Tom could have the spotlight to himself.

After they were in the theater lobby, Ben said to Billy, “You really want to meet with Tom Norman?”

“He would be a huge get for the studio,” Billy said.

“We don’t do big-budget action films.”

“Which is likely why he wants to work with us.”

“You think he’s entering his action-star-doing-something-artsy phase?”

“It is a thing.”

Ben sighed. “I know. I’m just thinking about the circus we’d have to deal with if we did cast him in something.”

“I don’t know,” Tessa said. “It could be fun.”

“Peter’s interested,” Hattie said.

They all turned to her.

She held up her phone. “I texted him.”

Ben glanced at Billy. “The meeting was your idea. So, you’re in charge.”

“Oh, no,” Billy said. “Any discussion with a megastar like Tom is definitely head-of-the-studio-level stuff.”

“How about I appoint you temporary head for the meeting?”

“Nice try, but I do not believe the corporate bylaws allow that.”

“I’ll double-check just to be sure.”

They reached the theater door and an usher said, “Allow me to show you to your seats.”

As they walked down the aisle, Ben whispered to Billy, “This conversation is not over.”

“It is as far as I’m concerned,” Billy said.

“Perhaps you two should flip a coin,” Tessa suggested.

“Even better,” Hattie said, “arm wrestle!”

Tessa grinned. “I’d pay to see that.”

“A lot of people would.”

“They could do it as a fundraiser,” Tessa said.

“I love that idea.”

“Okay, okay,” Ben said. “I’ll do the meeting.”

“Thank you, ladies,” Billy said. “Your help is much appreciated.”

“Here we are,” the usher said.

The first four seats were empty. Standing up, from where he’d been sitting in the fifth, was Stone Barrington.

“Stone,” Billy said. “I didn’t realize you’d be here.”

Stone stepped out and hugged his daughter-in-law, then Tessa, before shaking Ben’s and Billy’s hands.

“Came into town at the last minute,” he said. “Peter’s assistant arranged for me to use his spot.”

“I’m so glad you could join us,” Hattie said.

“As am I.”

“We should probably sit,” Ben said, noticing another group being led down the aisle.

Billy went in first so that Stone would be next to Hattie.

“How was the latest screening of Storm’s Eye ?” Stone asked Billy once everyone was settled.

“I told Peter this already, but I think it’s my favorite of his yet.”

“And yet he’s still working on it.”

“Your son, the perfectionist.”

Stone chuckled.

It wasn’t long before the rest of the guests entered and took their seats.

The movie was two hours of sweat and explosions and death-defying stunt work. In other words, a typical Tom Norman film.

After it was over and Billy and Stone were rising from their chairs to leave, Stone said, “Are you free after this?”

“I need to drive your daughter-in-law home, but after that I will be.”

“Join me at the Arrington for a drink?”

“I can do that.”

“In the interest of full disclosure, someone else will be joining us, too.”

“Who?”

“Lance.”

“As in Cabot?”

“The very same. He would like to talk to you about something.”

“And that would be what?”

“Something that is not my place to say.”

“But you know what it is.”

Stone nodded. “I’ve been briefed.”

“So I’m the reason you’re in L.A.?”

“You are.”

“What if I say no to drinks?”

“Then you drop Hattie off, go home, and we never discuss this again.”

“And Lance would be okay with that?”

Stone grimaced. “I’ll make him understand. Though there is one thing that I can tell you that might help you decide.”

“I’m listening.”

“It concerns Operation Golden Hour.”

Billy was seldom caught off guard, but he was at that moment.

“Should I expect you?” Stone asked. “Or should I tell Lance you’re not coming.”

“I’ll be there.”