“Where have you been all day? Your PR team is freaking out that they haven’t been able to reach you since yesterday. They’re trying to confirm a magazine cover and interview for next month that you still haven’t signed off on.” I could hear the sound of her nails clicking on a keyboard, indicating that she was still working even though it was well past regular business hours. Truthfully, there was no such thing as normal in Hollywood, including work hours.
“I just messaged them back. I was caught up today. I’m sure you knew that since you’re the only one who left me alone today.” On average, she called me at least four to five times if we didn’t have an in-person meeting lined up. Mostly it was work-related, but sometimes it wasn’t. She knew I was reading and had left me alone for that purpose.
Lennon laughed and the clicking went quiet. “So, what did you think of the script? It was damn impressive, wasn’t it?”
She’d been in the industry long enough to know when something had legs or if it would never get off the ground. The fact she sounded so excited about this project was telling.
I made my way back out to the balcony on the back of my house and looked out at the dark sea. “Why didn’t you send any information on who wrote it?” I was still super suspicious since she was so cagey with the details.
“Because it’s their first script, and I didn’t want you to be influenced by their lack of experience. I wanted you to go in blind and make a judgment based on the story alone. It’s going to be a brilliant movie if they find the right cast. I cried when I read it, and you know I’m dead inside.” She laughed on the line and pressed, “You loved it, didn’t you?”
I blew out a breath and nodded slowly even though she couldn’t see me. “I did. I loved it so much. But I want to know who wrote it and who’s attached to it.”
Lennon hummed lightly. “I can set up a meeting with the writer and the production team if you want.”
I snorted. “I just want a name. I didn’t say I was willing to meet with anyone.”
“Either you meet the person responsible for the best script I’ve read in the past five years and make your decision then, or you pass on the project altogether. This scenario is all or nothing for you, Maren. There is no way in hell you can tell me you don’t want the female lead with everything inside of you. I won’t believe you.”
I twirled a piece of long, dark hair around my finger and kept my eyes on the dark expanse of water in front of me. The sound of the waves crashing was usually so soothing, but I still had a tingle of unease under my skin because Lennon was holding back. “I want to be involved regardless of whether I take the role or not. I’d be willing to invest if I had more information.”
Lennon made another sound. “Go to the meeting, and you’ll know everything you need to know. I really think this is more of a ‘show’ than a ‘tell’ kind of situation. I wish you would just trust me.”
“I want to.” But she was the one who tried to push me toward Salinger Dolan. She should’ve known better. There were lines we didn’t cross, and he was one of the biggest ones. “I don’t like how secretive you’re being.”
“I have nothing but your best interest at heart. Let me set up the meeting. Where would either of us be right now if we weren’t willing to take risks and venture into the unknown? You just have to take the first step.”
“Why do I feel like you’re taunting me?” We weren’t kids on the playground, and she knew how I felt about being bullied into doing something I didn’t want to do. I’d lived with Erik doing it for years, and I wasn’t about to let anyone else boss me around now that I was free.
“I’m not taunting. I’m gently nudging you in a direction you don’t want to go. At the end of the day, you know I’m here to support whatever business decisions you make, but it’s also my job to help you make the right ones. Even when you’re reluctant.” She sighed slightly, and the clicking of her