Powerful (The Driven World) - Kathleen Kelly Page 0,60
for moral support.”
The woman nods, raises her eyebrows, and looks at Athena. “Smart.”
She winks, then leaves the room.
“Boyfriend?”
“Should I have said lover? Consort? Fuck buddy?” I tease.
“Boyfriend sounds so…” she looks around the room, “… high school?”
I chuckle. “Fine, I’ll introduce myself as the guy who’s loved you your entire life. The guy who’d wither away and die without you. The guy who’s totally and utterly in love with you.”
Athena walks closer to me with every word I speak. When I’m finished, she has her body pressed to mine, and I have her beautiful face cupped in my hands.
“I like the sound of that,” she whispers.
“Well, I am an actor, I make everything sound good.”
“Say it again.”
“I. Love. You.”
Athena kisses me hard, walks me backward until my back hits the wall and doesn’t stop.
The door to the office opens, and someone clears their throat.
“Um… Athena?”
Athena turns around, and I wrap an arm around her waist.
“Hello, Raquel, good to see you.”
“Do you want the room?” asks Raquel with a knowing smile.
Athena pulls me forward. “Raquel, this is…” Athena looks at me. “This is my Kris.” She smiles and looks back at Raquel. “This is Kris Livingston.”
“Oh my God. Are you interested in the book, too?” Raquel shakes my hand and gestures for us to sit. “You’d be perfect for the lead.”
“No, Raquel. Kris is here for me, not for the book.”
Raquel gives Athena a sideways look and nods. “Sure. I get it. You’re playing hard to get. Okay, okay. Well, Gerald is in the boardroom. So, let’s get you two in there.” Raquel stands and winks at me. “Follow me.”
Slowing Athena down, so we are further behind Raquel, I whisper, “What book are you pitching?”
“Lost.”
I stop dead in my tracks, stopping Athena mid-stride. “Lost?” I repeat.
“Yes.”
“You’re making our story into a movie?”
Athena’s eyes bulge. “You’ve read it?”
“Yes, I’ve read it,” I reply indignantly as I place a hand to the back of my neck. “To be fair, Todd may have lent me his copy.”
Pursing her lips together, she smiles at me. “So, you’ve only just read it.”
“It was good, but it’s our story, isn’t it? Except you gave them a happy ending.”
Touching my chest and grabbing my other hand, Athena looks up at me. “We’re getting our happy ending. Right here, right now.”
“Um… Athena?”
We both stare at Raquel. “Are you coming?”
Athena smiles and drags me forward. Sitting in the room is a man who’s doing his best to look bored. I’ve met his type many times before—the producers, the directors, the fellow actors who treat you like you’re nothing. I don’t get treated like this anymore. Recognition goes across his face, and the boredom disappears replaced with excitement at having me in the room.
“Kris Livingston?”
He holds out his hand, and I grasp it in mine. “Yes, and you are?”
“Gerald Anderson, Multi-Media.”
I let go of his hand and look at Athena. “This is the woman of the moment, Athena Goddess. New York Times, USA Today best-selling author and keeper of my heart.”
Gerald shakes her hand and looks at Raquel. “Well, aren’t you a keeper of secrets.”
“Oh, this is all Athena, and has nothing to do with me,” replies Raquel.
“Okay, Athena, tell me about your book.”
I stand and kiss Athena on the top of her head. “I’ll be right back.” Then I point at Gerald. “And whatever he offers you, it’s worth twice that much.”
Raquel bursts out laughing. “That’s my job.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I wink at Athena and walk out into the hallway shutting the door behind me. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my cell phone and dial Andy Westin.
“Hello, Kris.”
“Hey, Andy, do you have a minute?”
“Of course.”
“I’m in a meeting with Multi-Media about a book called Lost. It’s written by Athena Goddess. It made all the lists.”
“Hang on, I’m putting you on speaker.” There’s a noise, then he comes back on the line. “What’s the book called?”
“Lost by Athena Goddess.”
“I’ve read that, Andy. Hello Kris,” chimes in Dottie.
“Hey, Dottie, did you like it?”
“Hmm, yes. Better than Sparks.”
“Why are you telling me this, Kris?”
I begin to pace up and down the hallway. “Multi-Media is looking at it. I think it could be an incredible movie, and I want the lead but only if you direct it.”
“Ballsy. Let me read it. Dottie, do you have a copy?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Okay, I’ll read it, and if I think it’s worth my time, I’ll call you back.”
Laughing, I say, “I look forward to your call.”
“Ballsy.” Andy hangs up, and I walk out to the front to the