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How was it possible she’d been in the dark? She’d researched Rick again online after her conversation with Mia, and nothing had come up. He was good at covering his tracks. Except she was on his trail, thanks to his sister.
She sauntered into the muted light of the living room ahead of Rick. He was dressed in slacks and an open-collar navy shirt. A five o’clock shadow made him look even sexier.
Chiara smoothed her hands down the front of her pants. Then, taking a deep breath, she pinned Rick with a steady gaze. “You didn’t tell me you’re the producer of Pegasus Pride as well as doing its stunt work.”
When he didn’t react, she didn’t know whether to stamp her foot or applaud his acting skills.
“Surprise.”
“Now is not the time for humor, Serenghetti.”
“When is?” He continued to look relaxed.
She placed her hands on her hips. “You misled me.”
“You didn’t ask. Anyway, does it matter?”
“I never date the boss,” she huffed. “I don’t want the reputation of being the actress who slept her way to the top.”
On the long list of what he’d done wrong, it was one of the lesser of his transgressions, but she was nearly speechless and didn’t even know where to begin.
Rick, though, had the poor grace to smile. “Does it help to know I’m only the behind-the-scenes guy? I’m an investor in Blooming Star Productions.”
“Why don’t you get your mother a cameo in a movie then? She could play herself. A cook with a local television show trying to make it big.”
“God help us.”
Chiara narrowed her eyes. “And where did you get the money to be
the financial backer for a film production company?”
She’d heard it from Mia—and hadn’t quite believed it—so she wanted confirmation from the source himself.
He shrugged. “I worked on Wall Street after Boston College and created a hedge fund.”
She felt light-headed when he told her this, just as she had at the television studio. How much money were they talking about? Millions? Billions?
As if reading her mind, he said, “I’ve made a few best-of lists, but I left New York before joining the billionaires’ club.”
She figured he had serious bank dwarfing that of a run-of-the-mill actress. “It’s unheard of to be both a producer and a stuntman!”
“They’re not as different as you think. Both involve calculated risks. One with money, the other physically.”
His words echoed Mia’s earlier. What was this, a Serenghetti press release? Or did Rick and his siblings just think alike?
She should have been able to read the signs and put them together. They were all there. The expensive car. The apartments on two coasts.
He shrugged again. “I’m a maverick.”
“You said you lived in a rental in West Hollywood!”
“Until the house is finished. It’s under construction.”
“And where is this house?” she asked suspiciously.
“Beverly Hills.”
But of course. “Brentwood must seem...quaint to you.”
