“And youhavemillions,” Chloe pointed out.
“You said it yourself, it’s a huge risk.”
“No one’s given him a chance. If they read it, they’d snap it up because it’s that good. You know how great it is! Two minutes ago, you were ready to sign up.”
“That’s because I didn’t know it wasn’t funded. Now I know differently. Why would you get me excited like that?” He slapped the script on the desk.
“Because I hoped you’d be smart enough to take it. What’ve you got to lose?”
“A shitload of money,” he answered.
“Even if you did, which I’m sure you won’t. So what?”
He sprang from the chair. “So what?It would mean I’d lose everything. I’ve had nothing once, you and me both know it sucked. I’m never going back there again.” It wasn’t only the struggles of having no money he’d face, but the darkness that clouded his mind and set like concrete in his soul that came with it. He didn’t know if he could pull himself out of the depression again.
Getting off the sofa, Chloe stood in front of Ethan and held onto both his hands. “You won’t go back there again.”
“You don’t know that.” She held on tight as he tried pulling free. She was pretty strong for someone who only reached his shoulders.
“I do. Because even if this movie flopped, you’d still have loads of money to live on. And there’re other movies you’d profit from again.”
“It won’t be enough for everyone,” he said. “Look at Aiden. He’s fucking up at work. It won’t be long before they fire him if he doesn’t clean himself up.”
She sighed. “In case you haven’t noticed, we’re all doing fine—more than fine on our own. Even if Aiden loses his job. He has enough money to live on for many years. We are not your responsibility anymore. You need to stop thinking you have to support the family. You got us out of that hole and we’ll always be grateful. We’re okay now.”
Deep down he wanted to trust what Chloe said, but the fear weighing on his shoulders wouldn’t let him believe. Aiden wasn’t doing so great, who knows what will happen with his career if he keeps going down the road of destruction. His mother was getting older. She couldn’t work forever, and in Chloe’s industry, an agent could be dropped in a heartbeat.
“So, will you, do it?” Anticipation shined from his sister’s eyes.
“No. Get someone else.”
She sighed deeply and her hands fell by her sides. “Any chance you’ll change your mind?”
He shook his head. He couldn’t.
“You’re going to take the other offer?”
Even though it might hurt Holly? Chloe didn’t say the words out loud, but he knew she was thinking it. Dammit,hewas thinking it.
“Yes.” He kissed her on the cheek and let himself out of the house.
Chapter 27
The next day, after Holly’s shift at the café, she raced home to get ready for dinner with Ethan at his house. She showered and dressed in her usual jeans and t-shirt ensemble. For a moment, she’d considered dressing up, comfort won over style—they were only staying in for the night.
When Ethan picked her up, he was quiet during the drive. Holly put it down to a long, tiring day. She knew he’d started shooting early and only recently finished. She wondered how Nancy was doing in makeup without her. Obviously great, now Jacinta was back but she didn’t ask Ethan in case he brought up getting her job back again.
Holly didn’t want to ruin their evening by bringing up Oliver’s visit. If she didn’t do it now, it would play on her mind all night and she wanted to get it over with and enjoy her time with Ethan.
“Oliver came to see me yesterday.”
He swung his eyes off the road for a beat. “How the hell did he find you… or did you tell him?”
“No, I didn’t tell him.” How could he think that? “My sister Ruth gave him my address.”
“What’d he want?”
A cold tightness clutched at her chest. Had her relationship with Oliver been all about money and career from the beginning? How had she not seen through his greed?
