Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (56 page)

“One of them is going to end up with this up their ass.” He took a couple of practice swings. “No one treats the woman I’m going to marry like that.”

Though every fiber in her being wanted to ask how they went from discussing getting married to being engaged without him asking her, she refrained. Golfing, business and life decisions didn’t mix.

Once again, everyone made their shots. All the men congregated and she lifted the bag, swearing she was going to have to go to a chiropractor after all this.

“So, when do you think the wedding will be?” Albert seemed to ask the question a bit louder than necessary.

“As I said before, nothing is official yet.” She treated every question as a shot at her and prepared herself accordingly.

“It’s an exciting time,” Albert said. “I remember when Melinda and I got married, she was caught up for months with wedding plans and then the wedding, and of course we got pregnant right away.” Albert strolled along.

His seemingly sweet and innocent remark was laced with corporate politics. A quick glance over at Ryder told her she wasn’t off the mark. He caught her eye and gave her a slight shake of his head.

The fire within her raged. “Well, you must not be the best at multitasking then.” She practically dragged the bag to catch up to him.

Brows furrowed, Albert looked over at her. “There’s a line between multitasking and doing too much.”

“Do you know where that line is?” She took on a purposely innocent tone.

Without speaking, Albert continued to stare at her.

“Oh, then you must have never overworked yourself.” Wishing she could high-five someone, she chose to drag her bag along. When she almost tripped, she handed the bag to Ryder.

“Caddies carry the bags.” Dane’s tone teased her.

“Yes Dane, caddies carry the bags, but CEOs know when to get a team to help them with their work.” She held up her hand and, as she predicted, all the men turned to her. “I’m not afraid to carry the bag, but there are ways to distribute the load. For instance, after a quick search of your past golf records, I now know you usually have a golf cart carry the weight for you. Gotta love technology.”

With a nod and a bit of a grin, George went to his ball.

Dane gave her an extended look and did the same.

“There is something to be said for earning your spot.” Albert walked away.

“I couldn’t agree more.” For a moment she watched Albert. If this were her call, who would she choose? The sure thing, the rock, the man who had the experience? Or the renegade who did things her own way, down to bringing her superstar man to a business function?

“So when are we doing this?” Ryder chose a club and bent down to line up his shot.

“What?” She stood by his side. All she saw was a lot of green with a little flag way off in the distance. The goal.

“Getting hitched.” He stood and got in position.

“Nothing is official.” Right now, her whole life seemed to be centered on little flags that were way off in the distance and too hard to reach.

HOLLYWOOD STARDOM

FADE IN:

INT. LOS ANGELES – GRIFFITH PARK OBSERVATORY - NIGHT

CHARLES and ROXY walk through the observatory.

CHARLES stops in front of the huge model of the solar system.

CHARLES

And over here we have the solar system.  Did anyone ever tell you it takes almost thirty earth years for Saturn to orbit the sun?

ROXY

(leans into him)

I have been told that once or twice from a very wise astronomer.

CHARLES

Perhaps we should take a closer look at our favorite ringed planet.

ROXY lets go of him and looks up at the model.

ROXY

(Points up to the model)

There’s something hanging from the rings.

CHARLES

Really? Let me take a look.

(Comes and stands by her side)

CHARLES climbs up on the railings and pulls down a little string with a diamond ring at the end of it.

CHARLES

Whoever knew the ringed planet made rings?

(He holds the ring out to her.)

ROXY puts her hand over her mouth.  CHARLES gets on one knee and holds the ring out to her.

CHARLES

Marry me.

ROXY

All right.

(Stares down at the ring.)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

ONLY BECAUSE RYDER called and didn’t text did Cora stop in the lobby of her building and answer the phone.

Since the day of the golf game, she had to admit she was in her own self-imposed purgatory. Her whole life was nothing but one big wait. Waiting for news on the CEO position. Waiting for the movie to wrap. Waiting for Ryder to—

She stopped dead in her tracks, causing Rodger to collide with her. Still, she managed to catch herself on the huge table with the gigantic flower arrangement and answer the phone. “This is Cora.”

“This is Ryder.” He chuckled through her phone.

Everything about the man was adorable, but she was still irritated. He couldn’t say they were engaged and then not mention it again like the words weren’t out there. While she wanted to say something, she couldn’t bring herself to act. Part of being a good business person was knowing when to hold back.

Unfortunately, her heart didn’t understand business all too well.

Her heart needed to go take a class and learn to toughen up. “So my caller ID said.” There it was, her tough as nails attitude. “What do you need?”

“You.” He answered fast.

Do not smile. She shifted her foot from one leg to the other. “Anything else?”

“Will you be at the office for a while?” His voice was a little too cheery.

“Yes, we discussed that this morning. I’ll be at the set later.” She took to tapping her foot. At this point, she would take a formal proposal over the phone. “Why?” There she opened the door up for him, left it wide open. Hell, she would even step aside so he had a smooth entrance.

“I’m trying to plan my day.”

No doubt, she detected a teasing tone. “Well, then there you have it. Is there anything else?”

“Got it. Love you.” He hung up.

“Cora.”

Rodger’s voice interrupted her staring at the screen waiting for anything to happen with Ryder.

“You know, I didn’t even want to get married.” She spun around and faced her secretary. “I am probably the only woman in the world who didn’t enter into a relationship with Ryder Scott with wedding bells in my eyes, in fact, he was the one who brought it up.”

The man nodded.

“You know, you can’t just dangle the marriage carrot down to telling people you are my fiancé and then not finish.” Frustration getting the best of her, she stomped her foot. “Now I’m a time bomb, do you hear me? A time bomb. Anytime he looks at me I think he’s going to get down on one knee and propose, but no, instead all he’s done is ask a series of dumb questions. Yesterday he asked me if I wanted a drink of water!”

“The cad.” Rodger pursed his lips.

She frowned. “I never even thought about marrying him.”

“Well, according to every website, including your own, you have not only thought about it, but accepted his proposal, with everything from a ten-carat diamond he dug out of a mine for you, to something he got out of a gum machine.” He lifted his tablet to her.

The story of Ryder’s proposal was strewn across the page. Sick, heated nausea coursed through her. “What happened to the sex shots?” She gasped for air. “I can’t breathe.”

“You can or you wouldn’t be able to talk.” Rodger put a hand on her shoulder. “Lean forward and take deep breaths.”

“I think I’m dying.” She stared at the marble floor, the lines seemed to move with her. “I think I’m dying, or I’m going to kill Ryder.”

“Keep breathing.” Rodger patted her back.

In an effort to not pass out, she listened to him, braced herself on her knees and inhaled. Out of the corner of her eye, she swore she something move. A person dressed in all black with blonde hair. “Rodger!” She shot up and pointed in the direction where she saw the intruder. “Someone’s there.”

Without hesitation, Rodger ran in the direction of the intruder.

Heart racing, knees week, with trembling hands she lifted her phone to call 911.

“It’s all right.” Putting his gun away, Rodger came around the corner with the security guard behind him.