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ChapterOne
“So,let me make sure I’m understanding you correctly. You left one of the biggest awards shows in our industry because you assaulted some strange woman you didn’t know, stormed off back to your hotel before the show even began, and made our agent hire a private investigator to find the girl you banged for one week years ago?”
I grit my teeth in annoyance at the sarcasm in my best friend’s voice and how crazy he makes me sound. I knew he wouldn’t understand, and I was dreading this conversation. “I didn’t assault the woman, I just surprised her by grabbing her arm and turning her around to face me.”
Sean stares at me in silence, blinks a couple of times before laughing uncontrollably. I growl out in frustration and go back to doing my workout, willing myself to ignore his mockery. After Philip got me in touch with his private investigator, I flew back home to London, which is where I live in between filming. I’m eager to hear back from the P.I., but he warned me that it might take him a week or two before he can get started since he was already in the middle of another job and was doing this as a favor for Phillip. I’ve been trying to keep myself distracted with reading scripts, working out, and spending time with my family and friends. I hadn’t talked to Sean since my appearance on the red carpet, so I invited him to workout with me today.
What a stupid idea that was.
Sean Lindsey is one of my best mates from boarding school and also a Hollywood actor. Our families have gone on holidays with one another and we’ve now made multiple movies together. Sean has found his fame with romantic comedies whereas I prefer roles that have more drama and suspense. Calling him my best friend is an understatement.
He's more like the brother I never had.
He met Jenna when we were in Las Vegas because we were working on the same movie together. He knew I was trying to pursue something deeper with her after she had left and was there to get me drunk numerous times when I was down about her cutting me out of her life. I was expecting his support in my pursuit of finding her—not him making me feel like a damn fool.
His laughter starts to subside, and I take a peek at him while mentally counting my reps of chest presses. He stares at me with a smile and shakes his head.
“Mate, I love you like a brother, but this shit is crazy talk. Every time you’re in between movies, you wonder about that lass. You know what I think?”
I really don’t want to, but he’s going to indulge me anyway.
“You need to fuck her out of your system and what better way than to get inside someone else?”
I glare at him while putting my bar back in its holder. I ignore his comment and stand up to go to the punching bag. Maybe picturing the bag as his head will make me feel better.
He follows me to the bag, determination set in his eyes. “When was the last time you had a taste of some succulent cherry pie, eh?” He looks around quickly to see if anyone heard him and then winks at me.
"Shut up," I growl in disgust, trying to stay focused on my boxing and not on the direction this conversation is going.
"I'm serious, Cal. This broody asshole you play on screen might be killing it at the box office and creaming women's panties all over the world, but it’s getting tiresome amongst your friends and family.”
I stop the bag and hold it with my hands before raising an eyebrow at him in question. “Really? I didn't realize you had become the new press secretary for the Harrington Clan." I resume punching the bag, forcing Sean to take a step back. "And as far as my friends go, you're the only person I consider to be a friend. Anyone else claiming they are can go piss off.”
“What about Cora? You used to consider her a friend.” His expression turns serious as it does most of the time when talking about Cora. “She’s worried about you too.”
“I bet she is,” I sarcastically respond, refusing to say more. Sean gets the hint and turns around to go run on the treadmill.
Sean and I met Cora Gregory when we all were at boarding school together. Cora came from a rough homelife, so we always felt the need to protect her from the bullies at school. All three of us got discovered at the same time by an agent while we were on a holiday break. Having all of us start this journey together at the same time made it easier and reassured us that we had someone we could trust going through the same process. I always viewed Cora like a sister but as the years moved on, she started developing feelings for me. Cora turned into a stunning woman, but I never felt the same way for her as she did for me. Not to mention, I saw the way Sean looked at her from the moment he met her at school. I knew he was in love with her, and I did my best to never lead her on. I tried to make it clear—I didn’t want more than just a friendship with her.
But Cora never took the hint and even managed to get me to kiss her one night while I was absolutely blitzed out of my mind. All three of us were at a friend’s party and I had just broken up with a girl I was dating because I had lost interest in her, sizing her up to the memory of Jenna. I thought getting drunk would be the temporary amnesia of Jenna I needed, and Cora was game in feeding into that. She was by my side the whole night, helping me get drunk and when she saw I was past the point of oblivion, she took me to a bathroom and locked us in. I was in no condition to fight off her advances and the alcohol convinced my mind that Cora was actually Jenna. Thinking I was with Jenna, I accepted and participated in Cora’s advances and if it wasn’t for Sean banging on the door and discovering us, I shudder to think how far it would’ve gone.
Since that night, I’ve tried to keep my distance from Cora. I felt like an asshole for betraying Sean and his feelings for her. Even though he knew I wasn’t myself, he was hurt by my actions. I apologized to him and vowed I would never let myself be alone with Cora again. I saw a different side to her that evening—a side that was calculated and manipulative.
A side that felt evil.
She knows exactly how Sean feels about her. He’s made it perfectly clear that he wants to be with her, but she continues to dangle him on a rope, using him when it’s only convenient for herself. I wish he would move on and realize he deserves better, but for some reason, he just can’t shake off her toxic claws.
My cell phone ringing breaks me out of my memories and back to the present. I sprint over to my gym bag to retrieve it. Thomas Matthews, the name of the private investigator, flashes across my screen and I immediately answer it.
“I’ve got some news on Jenna Pruitt, Mr. Harrington,” Thomas tells me after we exchange pleasantries. “She’s still living in Chicago and continues to run her event planning business. In fact, she seems to be one of the most sought-after event planners in Chicago. Even has a TV segment on one of the local news channels.”
My pulse races in excitement at the news that she’s still in Chicago and is thriving with her career. But he still hasn’t answered the most important question. “Has she remarried?” I cut him off impatiently, needing to know the answer.
“No, sir, she has not remarried but she is currently in a relationship with Mr. Jax Morrow, a defensive forward for the local professional hockey team.” My mood immediately blackens, and I didn’t realize I'd growled until I felt Sean’s grip on my bicep. I look up to see him watching me with concern.
“How long?” I demand, squashing my disappointment that she’s taken and praying that it’s not serious.
“According to my calculations of the earliest report of them seen together, it’s been almost a year. Hard to say because he spent his summer back in Canada where he’s from to be with his daughter from a previous marriage. He did fly to Chicago three times to see Ms. Pruitt during that time frame.”
