a bit of both?” Her eyelids flicker, her smile falling just enough to show me she’s disappointed that I didn’t indulge her taunt.
She sits back and runs a finger absently along the deep V-neck of her blouse. The waiter comes and she orders us wine before shooing him away with a wave of her hand.
“What were we talking about, again?” she asks, batting her eyes at me.
I smile, turning on the charm. “Business. Yours and mine. That’s why I’m here.”
“All work and no play makes Luka a dull boy,” she teases. “But you always did cut to the chase.” She uncrosses her legs and moves her chair closer, then crosses them again, slowly. Deliberately. “So. I’d like to sign with Danica Rose. Your father offered me a contract ages ago, back when I was new to the scene, but I had stars in my eyes and I wanted to go with a ‘Hollywood’ agency. Looking back, it was naïve. Elite hasn’t managed me as well as I’d like.”
She shrugs noncommittally and I tilt my head in interest, but don’t say anything. I can’t help thinking that I’ve been in this position before, sitting across from a stunning woman who had two irons in the fire. One in DRM, and one in Elite. I never for a moment suspected that honest, sweet Brooklyn would double-cross me, so all bets are off when it comes to Monica.
Truthfully, I’m torn. She’d be a great get for the agency, and it would certainly put another positive spotlight on us, but at the same time I don’t trust her.
Our wine comes and we order. I keep it light so I can eat quicker and end this meeting as soon as possible. I wonder if Brooklyn is home yet. Resisting the urge to check my phone to see if she’s texted, I sip my wine instead and wait for Monica’s next move.
“How about cheers to good friendship?” She leans in and raises her glass with a wink.
“Cheers.” I keep my gaze steadily on hers.
She takes a sip. “Well, what do you think? Does your agency’s offer still stand?”
“I think it would be mutually beneficial for you to sign with us, of course. But you have to really want it—and I’m not sure you do.”
She laughs as if she can’t believe it. “What makes you say that?”
“Because instead of calling DRM and asking us for an electronic contract, which we could have easily sent to you within forty-eight hours, you flew all the way from LA to Chicago and then reached out to ask if I’d meet up with you.”
She laughs again and swats at my hand playfully. “Oh, Luka. Can’t I check up on an old friend when I’m in town? Besides, I wanted to make sure we still click.”
“Sure,” I say, nodding.
When our food arrives, I waste no time digging in. Monica takes a bite of her salad. She’s slow to pull the fork from between her lips and bats her eyes as she makes a show of sliding it from her mouth. An appreciative little sound rumbles from her throat.
At one time, I would have found this irresistible. Monica is beautiful in the classic Scandinavian way. She has wide blue eyes, high cheekbones, and these full, pouty lips. Her fork is a lucky bastard for the pleasure of slipping between them again and again.
Yet all the things I appreciated about her before are escaping me now. I can appreciate her beauty. Objectively, I know she’s flawless. But…she just doesn’t do it for me anymore.
“So, how is married life, Luka?” she purrs. “You never seemed like the type to settle. Down, I mean.”
I take a couple more bites of my chilled salmon salad before I answer.
“What exactly would you like to know?” It’s obvious what she’s after. She wants the details on how things went after she exposed my wife’s betrayal to me while we were in Paris.
“I just worry about you, that’s all. You seem very happy, if the media is to be believed.”
“We do get a ton of press. Brooklyn draws a lot of attention. She’s got a good heart.”
Monica eyes me over her wine glass. Her expression flickers with venom and it solidifies for me that she isn’t just after a new contract—she’s after my wife. Maybe more.
Finally she sighs, trailing two fingers over my wrist. “All right, enough dancing around it. I’d like to officially sign with you. I already gave my notice with Elite, so I’d like to contract with