Page 57 of The Billionaire's Destiny

I showed Rocco the text as we rode away from the square.

“Sorry, I have to work,” he began.

“It’s fine, and I had a wonderful time.” Even in its current state,The Last Supperreminded me that destiny didn’t stand on its own. There was faith. I chose faith in my family and in ourlove that we would heal. There was nothing that could be greater than that.

“And it’s not over. We’re going dancing tonight. So get a pretty party dress, and we can have…cake.”

“Cake?” I repeated and chuckled.

“Okay, no cake. I mean, we can do whatever you want to do to celebrate.”

“All right.” I was about to put my phone away but decided to check again to see if I had any information from Lily Crane and the publishing house. My insides rushed with excitement and panic at the preliminary schedule, which included more manuscripts for me to read, concepts to develop, and messages from the marketing and design teams with feedback and changes on some of my concept illustrations.

Rocco leaned over and looked at my phone. “So, it starts.”

“Yeah, it seems so. I don’t know. I feel like an imposter. I mean, I didn’t study design, and they are talking about work, and I feel silly having to ask questions about the basics.”

“Once you ask, you know, and that’s the end of it,” Rocco said matter-of-factly. “I prefer questions over assumptions.”

“Thanks, I needed that.” I touched my smile. “I want this so much, and I never thought it could be real, but…”

“But you did believe it was possible. That’s why you tried, and I’m proud of you.”

“You sent out my work,” I pointed out. If Rocco hadn’t shared my cover art with Lily, this would never have happened.

“So? If they weren’t good, they would have ignored it. Trust me. It’s happened plenty of times.”Ding.Rocco took out his phone and stared at it. “Oh, wow.”

“What is it?

“Gotham Award nominations have been announced.”

It was last year they created the category for the new award specifically to honor sci-fi and fantasy films.

“Oh,” I said, holding my breath, and he played the video.

“Best Feature,The Age of Sin, director Morgan Steele, producer Rocco Marini, MGT Studios, Media Mode…”

I screamed. “Woo-hoo!”

Rocco leaned over, and I threw my hands around his neck and hugged him, and he placed our foreheads together. “I’m so happy I get to share this moment with you.”

“So am I, Rocco. I’m so proud of you. It was an outstanding production. You deserve it.”

He held my neck. “Damn. It feels new. This production was me. I took a big risk.”

“And it paid off.”

“That’s what I want you to remember. That’s what life is. You must take your chances.”

Even though he’d won awards before, this movie was his baby. He had done the majority of the production and funding and built his team. “I had to know if I could do everything if I were going to open a studio. And here I am.”

“And this will be your season. I can see this movie getting Oscars.”

“You ready to go to an Oscars party?”

I bristled. “No, thanks. I can stay out of Hollywood.”

“But you can’t,” he said. “That’s the work.”