Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (64 page)

(She grabs Roxy’s hand.)

ROXY

Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected places.

(She smiles at the woman.)

The camera pans back as ROXY walks to STEVEN, WILLIAM and CHARLES.

ROXY gives WILLIAM and his wife a hug and kiss. She then turns to STEVEN, kisses his cheek and hugs his wife, and lastly she goes to CHARLES.

CHARLES pulls her in and places his hand on her pregnant stomach and kisses her.  The camera scans down to find the ring CHARLES gave her on her finger.

ROXY closes her eyes and rests her head on CHARLES’ shoulder.

FADE TO BLACK.

ROLL CREDITS.

Chapter Thirty-Three

“ARE YOU READY, future Mrs. Scott?” Done up in her hair and makeup for film, Cora gave Ryder her hand, and he led her out of the trailer. For the first time he got to be with his fiancée without a horrible cloud of secrets and anxiety hovering over him.

Upon their appearance, everyone began to clap.

While he bowed, Cora hid her face in his shoulder, but this time there was no doubt her shy demeanor was authentic. They had the rest of their lives for her to be the strong business mogul, but today she was his wife-to-be and fledgling actress. With everyone’s spouses in the movie, he and Logan decided if, in fact, she accepted his proposal, she would appear in the final scene along with the rest of them.

They all gathered around the famed Hollywood Stardust façade and after everyone admired Cora’s ring, Madeline rushed forward.

“Roxy is going to deliver her last line and then join everyone at the theatre and come hold the hand of the man she ended up with.” Madeline handed out the final page of the script.

“Steven and his wife.” Ivy leaned into Logan.

“William and his wife.” Cora stared up at him.

“Roxy and Charles.” Erin dropped the paper and hugged Drew.

“Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected places and that is where Roxy found hers.” Madeline bowed and backed away.

Ryder pulled Cora into his arms. “Looks like we all got our happily ever after.”

THE END

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Typecast

What’s Your Fantasy?

Twenty years ago, the movie
Hollywood Stardust
defined a generation of teens and changed the four actors’ lives forever.

Typecast as the villain both in front and behind the silver screen, Logan Alexander has purposely allowed his star to fade. Now with the 20th Anniversary of the movie on the horizon, he is the only one fit to step into the spotlight, deal with the unwanted publicity, and make sure that things meant to be left on the cutting room floor remain there.

Ivy Vermont has always longed to be a leading lady, yet her paralyzing stage fright has relegated her to stay behind the scenes as a fact checker for Chargge.com’s entertainment webcasts. However, when her one-time poster-boy crush walks in to the studio demanding only she be in charge of his story, she knows she must take advantage of her big break.

Now, Logan tightropes between old loyalties and new love, while Ivy struggles to stay in reality with her ultimate fantasy.

An Excerpt

“There is absolutely no way I am going out there and interviewing some B-list has-been bad boy.” Julia Davis, the lead entertainment reporter for Chargge.com crossed her arms. “Your little fact finder screwed up again. Seriously, Craig, how can I be expected to work this way?”

Heat encompassed Ivy Vermont, but she met Julia’s crossed arms with a set of her own and glanced between Craig Stockton, her boss, and Julia. “Technically, Logan Alexander is not a B-lister. He doesn’t even act anymore.”

“Your ridiculous details mean nothing.” Julia’s nostrils flared.

“Ivy, what happened to getting Ryder Scott or Erin Holland from
Hollywood Stardust
?” Shaking his head, Craig approached. “It’s a little hard to do a story on the twentieth anniversary of the movie without one of the stars. You told me everything was set.”

With facts, rather than stature on her side, Ivy stood up straighter and lifted her chin. “Logan Alexander was as much a star in the movie as the other two of them, well three.”

“Last week, rather than getting that little boy in the hot dog commercial with the catchy line, you brought me the dog.” Julia stared her down. “How can I interview a dog?”

“The trainer was there. Some say dogs have the mentality of a two-year-old, and it did tricks.” No one ever saw the potential. If she could talk as eloquently in front of the camera as behind, she would be the reporter. Actually, she would have been an actress and the interviewee. Even the camera on her phone terrified her, not a flattering trait coming from a family of actors. “A few fetches and atta boys would have been perfect for your report.”

“I am not doing this interview.” The click of Julia’s heels on the wood floor of the conference room grew louder as she approached. “What? Are you scared to face me?”

Though she tried not to look directly at her, Ivy gave in, swallowing back any mention of the tiny mascara smear above her left eye. Julia should meet Mr. Alexander with such an imperfection. “The agent promised me Ryder or Erin. Only, two hours ago, he called to say Logan would be here instead.”

“He was one of the major stars.” Craig wiped his brow.

“Stop defending your personal pet.” Julia turned her back to him.

Ivy held out the note cards she made for the wicked reporter. “Logan Alexander is an excellent person to interview. The villain is always the most interesting. Even after all the scandals,
Hollywood Stardust
is one of the most beloved teen movies ever made, and changed the genre forever.”

“I don’t need your details. Did you spend your life studying this movie?” Julia grabbed the cards out of her hand and tossed them to the floor. “He was arrested and personally responsible for getting the sequel canceled. He is as bad in real life as he was in the movie.”

“Don’t forget that I ran off innocent Drew Fulton and no one has ever heard from him again.”

At the unexpected male voice, Ivy turned. Her breath caught as her ultimate teen fantasy stood before her.

The heat in the room intensified, but she froze. Mr. Logan Alexander leaned in the doorway—more like filled up the doorway. He lifted a cigarette, twirled it between his fingers, and placed it in his mouth.

Unlike someone who lived the hard-knock life of a disgraced actor, time had kissed him, leaving him looking much like his teen dream self, only a little more rugged. While his other two male costars from the movie possessed more of the good and wholesome image, Logan Alexander personified the conniving character. He was the one who lured people with looks that could only be described as remarkable.

As if this whole thing were nothing but a bother, he pushed away from doorjamb and entered the room, glanced at Julia, turned his back to Craig, and faced Ivy. “So, you think the villain is the most interesting?” The cigarette bounced between his lips.

Interesting? Interesting as in the way he pulled his dark blond hair into a ponytail that hit the nape of his neck leaving one long strand to hang down the side of his face? Maybe interesting in the way his light blue eyes seemed almost translucent, half-closed, and definitely naughty? Of course, also interesting in how the slight bit of stubble highlighted the angles of his face, and the way he managed to keep his cigarette balanced. Then the answer was yes, he, or the villain, was the most interesting.

“The villain always needs to go under the most transformation.” She managed to squeak out the words and pointed to his cigarette, unsure if she needed to tell him about the no smoking rule. Did fantasies follow rules?

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to light it.” His gaze scanned down to her shoes and back up to her face.

Interesting. She licked her lips. The man was more glorious in person than on the silver screen.

“What if the villain hasn’t undergone a transformation?” Julia tapped her foot.

Ivy ground her teeth together. If anyone needed to change, it was Julia.

“I suppose I’ll get more hard-hitting questions than asking a dog trainer if Rover, the hot dog hunter, is potty trained. You sure know how to dig deep.” Though he answered Julia, he continued to look at Ivy. “I liked the dog, a much better choice than the obnoxious little boy.”

Transfixed, she continued to stare at him.

“Just because the villain can change, doesn’t mean they will.” Julia moved over as if trying to get his attention.

He exhaled, but the cigarette stayed in place. “How can I do an interview with you when I know you are team Ryder all the way?”

“
Hollywood Stardust
was the typical love triangle.” Julia raised her chin. “Today’s teen movies are better developed than movies decades ago.”

“Oh, that reference to my age really does pain me.” He pressed his hand to his chest. “Tell me, did the villains of your era wear pompadours and leather jackets, or perhaps suits of armor?”

In an effort to stifle a laugh, Ivy bit the side of her mouth. There was something to be said for the villain getting their comeuppance, and she didn’t mean Mr. Alexander.

Julia narrowed her eyes and spun toward Craig. “I am not playing her game of bait and switch. If Miss Details loves villains so much, Miss Details can do the interview. Call me when you get a real star.” She stormed out.

“Well, that is one thing your runaway hostess and I agree on.” Mr. Alexander’s smile revealed a perfect set of Hollywood teeth.

“What would that be?” Craig wiped his brow.

“Miss Details should do the interview.” In a swoon-worthy move, Mr. Alexander bowed to her.

The spotlight shined down on her and the same stage fright she battled every second of her life took a strong hold over her body, made worse by being presented with her teen idol in the flesh. “Craig.” How she managed to utter even one word was beyond her, but she took it as a good sign.

“Oh, no. No, that won’t do at all.” Craig shook his head. The first and only time she was on camera at Chargge.com, she ended up running off set and throwing up in a trash can. “I am sure Julia will be right back.”

“Don’t bring her back on my account. I’m Team Details all the way.” Logan raised his fist as if he were about to begin cheering and, with a wink, lifted his chin in her direction. “She is clearly an expert on the movie and knows story structure.”

His gesture, though probably insignificant to him, served to ignite her courage as well as her body. She chose to ignore them both. All she needed was to throw up on one of the
Hollywood Stardust
stars.