Page 88 of A Simple Love

“Yes,” I replied wearily. “What’s happening with Flynn?”

“Sheri is meeting him tonight. She has her script, and she’ll stick to it. It’s being filmed. His paper will have it, plus a copy of the lawsuit we’ll launch unless they agree to fire him and kill the article with their deepest apologies.” She waved her hand in the air. “They’ll spin it. Say he lied to them, falsified documents, statements. They are horrified, yada yada yada.”

“And that’s it?”

“Oh no. Hush money can go to whatever charity you want.”

“Hmph. Feels like they’re getting off lightly.”

She smiled one of her scariest smiles in my direction. “I have other plans.”

“Ah.” I didn’t need to know what they were. Pissed-off Annie was the most terrifying of them all. Well, that, and out-of-vaping-supplies Annie.

“It will be over by tomorrow. Yesterday’s news by the next day. Forgotten next week.”

“Good,” I grunted, sipping the water Kassie had given me. “So I’ll…”

“…Finish the film. With your full salary.” She glared at me. “You never work for free. Not when I’m getting my cut.”

I chuckled. “I would have paid you anyway, Annie.”

“Damn right you would have.” She paused. “Davis was very impressed with you.”

I wasn’t sure what to say, so I nodded.

“I’m going to stick around for a couple of days. Make sure she stays in line.”

I grinned and leaned forward. “Aw, Annie. You care.”

She snorted. “Not likely, kid. Protecting my investment, is all.” But she winked and looked past me when the gate squeaked. “I want to get to know your girl a bit.”

I turned and saw Kassie coming, carrying a tray. “Not mine for long,” I muttered. “Filming will wrap soon.”

Annie blew out a long plume and grinned. “And you can walk away?”

“I have to. She has no interest in my life in LA.”

She lifted her eyebrows. “I thought you were a smart man.”

“What are you talking about?”

“There’s more to life than LA.”

Then she turned and greeted Kassie, leaving me wondering what she meant.

The next morning, I was up early. Annie hadn’t stayed long, refusing dinner, saying she was meeting Davis. I told Kassie everything that had happened, and she looked relieved.

“So no one will be coming around?” she questioned.

“No. Your identity is safe, and your life is still private. His article didn’t get the attention he hoped for, maybe because no one cares, and neither did the paper that carried it. Or maybe because it happened so far away, it doesn’t matter.” I shrugged, unsure. “But after tomorrow, it will be history.” I finished the slice of pizza I was eating, wiping my fingers. “I didn’t think we could contain this so quickly. I’m glad.”

She reached over and squeezed my hand. “Thank you.”

“I’m sorry my presence caused you worry.”

“Stop,” she chided me. “It wasn’t your fault, and I’m not upset. You told me to trust you, and I did. You didn’t let me down.”

Those words felt huge to me. Kassie trusted me.