like a sick hyena. “He ain’t got no career now.”
Monica’s brows rose. “What do you mean, Kenny?”
“Right in the middle of everything, he just lost it. Man, I’ve never seen anyone melt down like Rhett Corrigan. He was screaming obscenities and cryin’ and shakin’ his fist like a madman. And then he said he was fed up with Hollywood and quittin’ for good.”
“Quitting? Quitting show business? Are you sure that’s what he said, Kenny?”
Kenny nodded. “He said nobody really cared about people like him and Zak and he told everyone to go to hell. Anyway, he called everyone jackals and said he was walking away. For good.”
The camera zeroed in on a supposedly surprised Monica Martell. “Astounding news—and you heard it first on KPTB. Of course, our viewers will remember the very unusual situation between these two Hollywood titans less than ten days ago. Rhett Corrigan beat Zak Mercury to within an inch of his life at an after-party of Ken Cameron’s first feature film, supposedly over a confrontation involving ‘Ponytail Girl’ Cassie Carroll. This woman prompted the break-up between Rhett and top model Randal James and then she came between Rhett Corrigan and rising comic Zak Mercury.
“And now, it seems Rhett Corrigan is sacrificing his acting career, distraught over the suicide of his closest friend, Zak Mercury. Let’s hope Rhett isn’t suicidal himself—unless ‘Ponytail Girl’ drives him over the brink. This is Monica Martell reporting exclusively for KPTB entertainment news. Thanks to our special guest, Kenny Paulson, for sharing his wonderful insight. Back to you, Mark.”
Cassie numbly turned off the TV. Her legs began to shake, trembling so violently that she sank to the floor to keep from collapsing. Shep came and placed his head in her lap, whining softly.
She had just witnessed the destruction of Rhett’s career. This story would be picked up by every wire service, replayed on national TV over and over, dissected in entertainment magazines, and gossiped about in offices and chatrooms across the world. People would speculate on Rhett’s sanity, his sobriety, and whatever other dirty little insinuations they could make.
Her cell phone rang and she scrambled to answer. Her quivering fingers dropped it and she grabbed at it, willing Rhett not to hang up before she could answer.
“Rhett? Oh, God, I’ve been so worried—”
“Cassie, it’s Becky Bloss. What the hell is going on with Rhett? I come in from out of town and turn on the TV and see a train wreck happening. Has Rhett really had some kind of breakdown? I thought him beating the living daylights out of Zak and putting him in the hospital was bad enough. What—”
“Becky, shut up.” Cassie needed the constant barrage of the publicist’s words to cease.
“Well, excuse me. I’m simply trying to do my job. Rhett is a client but he’s also a friend.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m worried about Rhett.”
“And I’m not? What happened at Zak’s funeral? Rhett was drunk? I’ve never seen him—”
“You actually think Rhett would go drunk to a funeral and try to deliver a eulogy? Becky, you know Rhett. He would never do that. That creep lied through his teeth to get his fifteen minutes of fame.”
“Rhett’s not leaving the industry?”
Cassie didn’t know how to answer Becky’s question.
“He was very upset. The creep you saw on TV starting taking pictures to sell to the tabloids, right in the middle of Rhett’s eulogy. And yes, Rhett yelled at him. The security team confiscated Kenny’s phone and threw him out of the service. Rhett said he was fed up with everything being about getting a picture and he would rather walk away.”
“I can finesse this. He quit in a moment of rage, when he’s emotionally ragged. But he didn’t mean it, right?” Becky asked nervously.
She swallowed. “I don’t know. He walked out and I haven’t seen him since.”
“I’ll get on this right away,” Becky promised, her tone businesslike. “My phone’s already beeping. I’ll play it like this guy is a loser druggie and let it slip what he tried to do and how Rhett threw him out. Rhett is simply in seclusion now, recuperating from the death of his very dear friend. He will resume his career in the very near future.
“Don’t worry, Cassie. I can spin this the right way. That’s what Rhett pays me to do. Still, let me know when you hear from him, okay?”
“All right.”
“Gotta go and put the fires out.”
Cassie hung up, envying Becky’s control, only to have the phone ring immediately. She talked to Nadine,