She sounded like she was trying to console me. Maybe I looked like I felt devastated. Was I supposed to feel devastated?
I just felt numb.
"I mean, I guess if they're happy," I said, shaking my head. "Why would he make that stupid song apologizing to me? Ugh. I mean, I know why. That's typical Viper, to capitalize on something like that, the media frenzy and shit."
"Are you upset?" June asked.
I shrugged. "They deserve each other," I said. "Viper can have her. If that's what they want to do, it's fine with me."
But I still felt dizzy, lightheaded. I reached for the back of the chair, numb, and collapsed heavy into it, still staring at the screen.
"You want a cup of tea?" June asked.
I nodded. "That would be nice. Thank you."
I clicked around on her laptop, looking at a few more pages that outlined the "exclusive details!" of the relationship between Viper and Brenna. They were saying it had been going on for a year.
A f**king year.
Can't believe what you f**king read in the tabloids, I reminded myself.
June set a cup of tea down on the table. "You doing okay?"
I nodded. "I don't give a shit about Viper getting engaged," I said. "Just...my sister, you know?"
What a f**king traitor.
Both of them.
And my mother...she and my sister were close. She would have known.
"Elias seems like a good guy," she said.
I only half-listened, my mind preoccupied with thoughts about my mother. She knew, I was sure about it. After everything else she'd done, all the shit she'd put me through, it was the final straw.
Let my sister support her ass.
"I need to make a call," I said, preoccupied with what I needed to do.
June had a funny look on her face, but I didn't want to think about what it meant. "Sure," she said. "Let me know if you need anything, okay?"
After she left, I did a quick search, and then dialed my accountant's number. This was the line in the sand. I was cutting my mother off.
The knock on the door startled me. I had just pressed "end call" on the phone.
When I peered through the curtain covering the window, I sighed.
"Really?" I flung the door open, and my manager pushed her way inside.
"This little stunt of yours couldn't have been better publicity for Small Town Love," she said. "I mean, the town is f**king perfection, isn't it? The goddamned movie could have been shot here."
I hadn't met the man in the suit who stood beside her, holding a briefcase, but I knew immediately he was from the studio. He grunted something in response, his expression pinched as he looked around the room in obvious disgust.
He was important enough to not be bothered with introductions.
"My point is, River," she said. "You've made your dramatic exit to the countryside. We've spun the story - you weren't running away. The studio's official position is that you were retreating to research your role as a small town girl for the film."
"During filming?" I asked, shaking my head. "It's unbelievable."
"Yes," she said. "It is. It's un-fucking-believable that someone of your caliber would do something as ridiculous as this. I mean, you expect it from some two-bit actress who doesn't know any better. But you're River Andrews. You've been around the block. You understand the ropes. You. Don't. Fucking. Leave. In. The. Middle. Of. A. Shoot." She punctuated each word of the last sentence, rapid-fire like a machine gun.
"I'm not going with you," I said, annoyed with the fact that she'd tracked me down here, flew all the way out here to strong-arm me into returning. I wasn't completely irresponsible. I'd never done anything like this before. I knew the consequences of running away during the middle of the shoot.
I already knew I had to go back. I just...wanted to play pretend with him a little while longer.
"River," she said. "You're not delusional enough to think that you're going to stay here." She studied my face for a moment. "Christ, really? That's it? The guy you're shacking up with, the cripple? His c**k is that magical that your brains have suddenly leaked out your ears?"
I felt the blood pump loudly in my ears. "He's a vet," I said, suddenly angry. I knew I had to go back, but she was reminding me exactly why I didn't want to return to Hollywood. "Fuck you."
She laughed. "Just to refresh your memory," she said. "You have a contract with the studio, which Mr. Ellis here is more than happy to refresh your knowledge about."
As if on cue, the man in the suit reached into his briefcase and withdrew a sheaf of paper. "The day after tomorrow," he said. "If you fail to show, you'll be in breach and the studio will not hesitate to enforce our contract. The studio's position is that you were sent here to do more in-depth research for your role. You did not flee the film set."
I crossed my arms over my chest. "Screw you both."
"Unfortunately, River," my manager said, "You're the one who's going to be screwed if you don't show up for filming. Don't forget, I'm well aware you don't have the financial resources to afford a huge lawsuit."