Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (63 page)

The set goes dark.

CHARLES walks off set.  ROXY catches his arm.

CHARLES stops and stares at her.

ROXY

I was right on the side, waiting for you like I said I would be.

CHARLES

What about all the other days?

(He shrugs her away and leaves.)

ROXY watches him go and closes her eyes.

Chapter Thirty-Two

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE you would be on set today.

Cora reread Logan’s text as another one came in.

Hi Cora, you’ll be here later right?
Erin texted her.

Once more, her phone vibrated. Cora narrowed her eyes and read the simultaneous texts from Drew and Ivy both asking the same thing. Thus far, all her little hatchlings had checked in. All but one.

She supposed she should be grateful they wanted her there. Since that infamous break-up, she had video conferenced into the filming, but unable to watch it, she had Viktor or Rodger monitor the goings on in the land of make believe.

Rather than answer, she turned toward her desk and her three monitors. Systematically, she turned each one off, sat back in her chair and hit the intercom. “Viktor, Rodger, may I see you?”

After another two nights of no sleep, she was either delirious or she was about to save her sanity. All she knew was once she saw
Hollywood Stardom
wrap, she needed to end that part of her life as well.

Maybe her time with Ryder had ended in disaster, but it taught her a lot, a lot about herself, about being human, about love and passion, and maybe even going after a dream no matter what the cost.

Rodger entered first. “What does my CEO command?”

“I have the final report on how Albert not only terrorized you, but Franklin as well.” Viktor took his throne. “How do you want to handle this?”

Once she discovered who was behind the stalking, she and Viktor traced Albert down as the perpetrator using exactly what Albert hated–technology. While he was smart enough to hide his tracks, once they had a starting point, it took only a few hours to unearth the DNA they needed.

“I want the information brought personally to George along with this.” She opened her desk drawer and pulled out an envelope on her own personal stationary.

“What’s this?” Viktor took the document.

“A long time ago I started Chargge because I loved musicals and movies and the industry. It’s magic.” With a deep breath, she sat back and looked at the men. “Somehow, by going public and being bought out, I lost the magic. When I was with Ryder…” She shrugged.

After a moment to collect herself she continued. “Anyway, I may not have everything, but I can have some magic. I don’t want to be CEO of Ultracom. I want a life.” What she wanted was her last name to be Scott with no hyphen and talk about babies and wear a key around her neck, but that was gone.

Viktor shook his head.

Before allowing him to react, she held up her hand. “I have decided that I’ll stay with Chargge as a figurehead only, if that is what you want.” She stared into his eyes.

Viktor stood. “Why are you asking me?”

“Because I’m going to recommend to the board they make you the CEO of Chargge. You deserve it and it’s your turn.” With the words out, the weight on her chest lightened a little.

“What are you going to do?” The man she called her big brother crossed his arms.

“I love production. I’m going to produce. Hopefully, you’ll hire me for Chargge.” No, she wouldn’t be producing with Ryder, but she found something she loved to do, and right now that’s what she needed. “I’m starting a new business, one that will never be for sale, and one that Rodger will help me helm.” She glanced over at the incredible man.

“Of course.” Her secretary dipped his head down.

She took a shallow breath. In time, she figured the breaths would deepen and she wouldn’t constantly feel like something was missing. “Now, if you two amazing men wouldn’t mind accompanying me and Spike to the final day of shooting on
Hollywood Stardom
, I would be honored.”

“Are you sure this is what you want?” Viktor helped her out of her chair.

“It’s as close as I’m going to get.” After collecting her things, she headed toward the door, stopping short as the realization she was going to see Ryder for the first time since the incident hit her.

Rodger collided with her. “Are you all right?”

“I’m really thirsty.” Her voice came out scratchy.

Out of his bag of tricks, Rodger pulled out an ice cold bottle of water. “Here.”

How he kept it ice cold, or why he had water on him at the most convenient time kept her attention until they got in the car and she studied the bottle. “You gave me alkaline water.”

“That’s what I had.” Rodger started the car.

“If you’re so incredible that I am taking you with me to start my new company and you seem to always have everything on you, I demand I have something other than alkaline water.” Her throat still parched, she thrust the bottle back at him.

He took the bottle, stared her down and then opened up his briefcase where he produced, of all things on this planet, some fresh lemon slices. Keeping his eyes on her, he twisted the lid off the bottle, squeezed the lemon inside, gave the bottle a shake and gave it back to her. “Well, if it was alkaline before, with the addition of the lemon it should be neutral now.”

Fully irritated, she sat back. “Do you think you can learn to braid hair?”

“Not for you.” Rodger drove to the studio.

They drove though the studio gates and parked in their spot. On shaky legs she made her way near the set, coming up behind the back of the Hollywood Stardust façade. A flash of the day Ryder showed her the panel where the actors all wrote down their dreams went through her mind. The rock star, the director, the actress and the astronomer. All four came so close to what they wanted. If she were to add her name to that list today, she would have said producer and wife. Only one of those things was going to come true.

Her breath came in short gasps when she finally made her way around toward the director’s chairs. Instantly, among the crowd of people on the set, she spotted Logan, Ivy, Erin and Drew, but no Ryder. She swore she didn’t know what she would do if he spoke to her, but she wouldn’t deny herself knowing the fate of Roxy. Maybe somewhere, somehow, she would get some guidance.

Logan came jogging up to her. “I’m glad you’re here. We had a slight delay and have to reshoot a quick scene with Ryder, and then we’re going to do the end.”

“Should I come back?” In all honesty, she didn’t know if she could sit on set too long and watch Ryder without flinging herself toward him.

“No, we’re ready to roll.” Logan pushed her toward her director’s chair with her name.

Strange, they were never ready to roll anything. Always there was a delay where they had to set up for the next shot. They should have just invited her back tomorrow. Still, she sat down and took a sip of her neutral water. The beverage really was lacking.

Without time to protest, Logan dashed away, then yelled, “Okay, everyone on your mark? The boss lady is here and we want to get this in one take and make it last forever.”

That was weird. Logan never said all that fanfare before any other scene. Maybe they were all giddy from being so close to the end.

The guy with the clapperboard came out. “Ryder’s song, take one.”

Ryder? Did they mean William? They were only on take one? They could be here another week. What the hell was going on here? She handed Rodger her water and sat up, clutching the arms of her chair.

Out of nowhere, the music to the song Ryder sang in the movie boomed through the area.

Wait. He didn’t sing his song in front of the Hollywood Stardust façade.

Before she had time to think, Ryder, followed by no more than at least twenty people, came dancing out.

Yes, dancing.

Her breath caught at the sight of him, and she widened her eyes taking in everything about him. Handsome didn’t even come close to describing him. There would never be a more beautiful man in the world. He wasn’t in his William get up with that molded hair she didn’t care for. Rather, he was in a tuxedo. This wasn’t for any shoot.

He did his best to keep up with the steps, actually did a great job and, in coordinated steps, he and the rest of the dancers made their way closer to her.

Then Ryder came front and center and burst into song.

Since the day we met I knew it would be us two.

The love we have together is experienced by so few.

What started out as business, blossomed and it grew.

Then you became my person and everything was new.

The song started as like William’s but he changed the last two lines.

I wanted it easy, I wanted it fun, I wanted to have it all.

What I didn’t expect was how in love with you I’d fall.

The day you said you loved me too, I knew I had a gift.

If I could only turn back the clock and get rid of this rift.

Because…

Fine, the tears started. Still, she watched him dance, sing and basically give her a musical.

You’re my person, you’re my person, you’re the one I can’t live without.

You’re my person, you’re my person, from every rooftop I will shout.

As he sang his way into the chorus, the dancers disappeared, the set cleared, and he came closer.

You’re my person, you’re my person, I’m sorry for everything.

In front of her, he dropped down to one knee.

You’re my person, you’re my person, will you wear my ring?

With the last line out, the music stopped, he put the microphone down and pulled a red leather box out of his tuxedo jacket.

Panting from his exertion, with a shaking hand, he opened the box revealing a not only a gorgeous round diamond fit for any Hollywood wife, but her key on her chain.

“Ryder.” Her voice cracked.

“I love you. There is no one else for me on this earth. I’m on my knees begging you to forgive me. You’re not in danger, I made sure of it. I gave them the movie, and if you’ll have me, maybe we can produce something together, just us?” He held the box up to her.

“The movie is gone?” She shook her head. That was his ultimate sacrifice, a true test of his love. She knew what that meant to him.

“I’ll talk to anyone I need to about what happened, and I’ll make sure it doesn’t affect getting your job.” He reached forward and moved a curl away from her face.

“I got my job.” Beyond her control, the tears flowed.

He looked up into her eyes.

“I got the job, and turned it down, and quit Chargge to open up a production company,” she reached for her key, “with you.”

“Marry me.” He pulled the ring out of the box, stood, and took her into his arms. “Please.”

“Yes.” She put the chain around her neck and held her hand out.

He slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her. Their bodies and minds as one, they would conquer the world together. She pulled back and took his face into her hands. “I love you, Ryder.”

“I love you.” He gave her another light peck. He picked her up and headed toward his trailer. “Now it’s time for you to be in the movie. We have one more happily ever after to get through.”

She held on to the man who would be her person forever.

HOLLYWOOD STARDOM

FADE IN:

EXT. HOLLYWOOD, CA – OUTSIDE HOLLYWOOD STARDUST THEATRE - DAY

ROXY

I have to go.

WOMAN

Just tell me.