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“I had no idea I’d be surprising them. Or you. I would have never…”
In the face of Martin’s clear chagrin and regret, Lauren’s indignation cooled an iota. He was obviously mortified, and while he was known to be a tough interviewer, he didn’t have the reputation of being an ambush artist.
“Then what grade-A genius came up with this?” Lauren asked. Before Martin could respond, she came up with the answer herself. “Goddamn it. It was Roberta, wasn’t it?”
“She told me and my producer that everyone was aware, but you wanted to have it look like a surprise,” Martin said. “I am beyond embarrassed this happened, and just as livid as you—” The way he wrung his hands reminded Lauren of a little old lady.
“—Ihighlydoubt that.” Frustrated, Lauren ran her hands through her hair.
“I thought since she was your rep… I shouldn’t have assumed. I should have verified with you. This is not how I run my show, Lauren. I apologize—”
“Fine.” Lauren offered a single word response to Martin’s apology before she stormed through the studio shouting Roberta’s name. Martin and three security guards followed hot on her heels. It didn’t take long to spot Roberta off to the side of the stage. She was waving her arms as if she was hurrying someone along.
“What kind of stunt was that, Roberta?” Lauren asked as she got closer. “You ambushed me, you ambushed Martin—and you certainly ambushed the Padovanos!” Lauren didn’t care that she was shouting or that several people stopped and stared.
Roberta made a dismissivepishnoise. “You’re overreacting. The press will eat this up with a spoon. Now, say hello to—”
“Donotchange the subject! I’ve warned you before about stunts like this.” Lauren wasn’t having any part of Roberta’s bullshit, and she didn’t even look at whoever it was she was about to be introduced to. Right now, she didn’t really care.
“This was anopportunity, Lauren.” Roberta’s voice took on a scolding tone that did nothing but enrage Lauren further. “I’m your publicist and that means getting you in front of the press. Remember, there is no such thing—”
“Don’t finish that sentence! Just. Don’t.” Lauren held up her palm. “Thereissuch a thing as bad publicity, and when you waylay an unsuspecting family like it was my idea? That makesmelook like an ass.”
“Lauren, really. You’re being a bit of a diva.”
Lauren’s eyes doubled in size. “Excuse me?”
Roberta’s demeanor was bored tolerance as she started to turn away, as if she was ignoring a demanding toddler. It was the last straw for Lauren.
“A diva?Are you fucking kidding me?That’s it, Roberta—you’re fired!”
The word “fired” got Roberta’s attention, and her face contorted in shocked disbelief.
“What?”
“I said you’refired. Now getout! And enjoy explaining to Tony why he’s lost one of his biggest clients.” Lauren pointed imperiously toward the exit sign even though she really didn’t have the authority to throw Roberta out.
For a moment, the publicist glared and stood her ground. Then a security guard stepped forward. Lauren was the guest—and the star—and Martin was gesticulating wildly that the guard should do whatever Lauren wanted. He squared his shoulders and gestured to Roberta.
“Ma’am. If you’ll come with me?”
“Don’t you ‘ma’am’ me!” Roberta’s shrill voice grated.
The guard put his hands on his hips. Roberta blustered, her face scarlet, and stomped to the door. Lauren stared daggers at her back until she vanished from sight. After, a sigh escaped her and she looked down, shaking her head. This interview had turned into a complete disaster—and she was sure it, and the incident just now, would be all over the media in short order.
In her peripheral vision, Lauren noticed a group of people. She’d been so focused on dealing with Roberta, she hadn’t really noticed them. It must have been who Roberta was about to introduce before. A flush of embarrassment crawled up her neck. She took one more deep breath to calm herself and turned towards them. Then everything stopped, her words of apology melting into nothing, as she found herself looking right at Danny.
Lauren froze. A knot of people surrounded him, but they faded into the background—his face was the only face she saw.
“Danny…”
“Hi, Lauren.”
“I’m so sorry about all this—I had no idea you were here tonight,” she said. “Or that Roberta was planning that stunt. I would have never—never—agreed to it if I’d known.”
“S’okay. I had a feeling you were as surprised as we were. Your eyes were the size of baseballs.”
At the sound of his voice, Lauren’s face softened, and her eyes grew shiny. After all these years, he was right in front of her. He looked great. There were more laugh lines around his eyes, and the barest hint of silver was scattered through his dark hair. But there was no mistaking that it was her Danny, with his broad shoulders and that wide, easy smile she remembered so well.
