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Walton has a point. By some miracle, I’ve managed to convince half of the film’s investors not to pull out after Hartley’s dramatic exit, covering the money lost from my own pocket. Yes, I was able to shell out the millions of dollars needed to ensure my film wouldn’t be a lost cause, but that’s still several million burning a massive hole in my bank account. IfJuliet After Romeodoesn’t make its money back at the box office, it’ll spell nothing but trouble.
My first instinct is to lose it. It feels like the whole world is out to get me. I’ve lost so much in so little time, it’s a miracle I haven’t gone insane. My reputation, my money, my passion project…
My woman.
I refuse to let this man take the last shreds of my dignity.
“I will never make a deal with you, Walton. Not now, not in a million years.”
“You say that now, but I’m sure that’ll change. I’ll give you a call in another month.”
“Do you need to get your hearing checked, old man? I will never make a deal with you. I’d rather end up homeless and starving than accept whatever crap you have to offer.”
Much to my surprise, Walton chuckles. “Are you sure about that?”
“Positive.”
“What if I told you I could give you the name of your stalker?”
My scowl deepens. “How do you know about that?”
“Like I said, I have my sources.”
“Then I’d say you’re full of shit.”
“Fine. If that isn’t enough to interest you, maybe information about the baby will.”
I frown deeply. “The fuck are you talking about?”
“You didn’t know?” I can practically hear his ugly smile over the phone. “Your girl Eden. She’s pregnant.”
For a moment, the whole world stops on its axis. My heart is pounding so loudly in my ears that for a moment, it’s all I hear. I stop breathing. There’s no way he’s telling the truth. Walton has been, and always will be, an untrustworthy son of a bitch. Every other word out of his mouth is a lie, so why would I start believing him now?
“What are you talking about?” I ask, my throat so tight I feel like I’m suffocating.
Walton clicks his tongue. “No, no. That’s all you’re getting out of me for now.”
I bite my tongue so hard I can taste blood. He has to be lying. He has to be. For all I know, I could be getting in bed with the Devil, and all for mere gossip. If Eden really is pregnant, she’d tell me.
Wouldn’t she?
“Go fuck yourself,” I say and promptly hang up.
Chapter 41
Tip #41: Judge not lest ye be judged.
EDEN
“Holy shit!” Taylor gasps, rushing to me the second she’s out of the car. “Are you okay?”
It’s not her old clunker parked next to my rental, but a sleek black Porsche Cayenne. The driver hasn’t gotten out of the car, his head down as he looks at his phone, though the more I stare, the more I think he’s familiar. I suppose it doesn’t matter now that everything’s gone up in flames.
The lake house is gone. Burnt to a crisp.
Taylor hugs me tight. “How are you feeling? My God, you’re freezing.”
“I’m fine. I’m sorry you had to come all the way up in the middle of the night.”
