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I blink. “Cleanup duty. What does that mean, exactly?”
“It’s simple. If I don’t fire you, we’re not getting renewed. The public perceives this as your fault.” He shrugs, leaning back. “Either you or Maddox has to go so the show doesn’t get canceled.”
“And Maddox is the big star.” I finish his statement.
“Pretty much.”
“I just can’t believe this,” I say, even though I absolutely can believe this. “Everything I did was because you had me do it.”
“I feel terrible.” His pained expression actually looks genuine, and it might be the first time I’ve ever seen any empathy on it. He continues, “But what am I supposed to do? It’s either you or the show, which means the entire cast and crew. What would you do?”
I hesitate, trying to get my brain to form words other than,Screw off, Smith. I bring myself to say, “If I were you, I guess I’d let me go, too. I wouldn’t want to see the rest of the cast and crew out of a job.”
“If there was any other way, I want you to know I’d do it.”
I glare at him. “You can cut the bullshit. I know you were already going to put Jemma in my role before we confessed everything.”
He shakes his finger. “That was just going to be for a two-show trial run. Once the ratings tanked, you’d be back.”
“Oh.” I shake my head. For a beat, I regret my decision to come clean, but it passes. I’m glad it all happened this way because I couldn’t live like that. Then I chuckle to myself, almost in a hysterical way. “I guess easy come, easy go, right?”
“That’s especially true in this business. But you have the talent. And now, you have the exposure to go on and do big things.”
“Speaking of big things, what about theLord of Lairemovie?“ I ask, already knowing the answer.
“That has to go on hold.”
“Of course it does.” I blink back the tears in my eyes. There are no guarantees in show business; everyone knows this. Even the biggest stars disappear overnight. But I lift my chin when I say, “So how is Agent Bryce gonna go? An offer at another precinct she can’t refuse?”
He lets out a long exhale. “I’m not supposed to tell you this, but I think you deserve to know, given everything. In the season opener, viewers will find out Agent Bryce died honorably risking her life for Agent Sullivan in a shootout.”
“Seriously?” For some reason,thisis the thing that infuriates me. “You can’t even leave it open for me to come back? And I have to die in a complete cliché?”
“Sorry, Rook. We have to show we’re taking this seriously. It’s the brakes of the biz.”
“You’re all just so damn disappointing.” I stand and walk out of the room.
I’ve been doing that a lot lately.
Everyone helps me get my things organized, then we hire a moving company to pack and transfer most of my stuff into storage. After that, Skye, Eva, and West helped me clean the place. I know I’m kicked out, but I still need to leave the apartment in good condition because there’s a chance I’ll get my deposit back. And without a job now, I could use the funds. Plus, I wouldn’t leave it in bad shape, anyway. Not my style.
I answered one of Maddox’s fifty-plus texts, letting him know it’s official. I’m off the show. Then I wished him well and blocked his number because it hurts every time I see his name.
Now that everything’s all done, I board my flight to Scotland. It’s very different from my first one on Billy’s private plane. I just have my regular seat in coach, and I’m fine with that.
When I see a voicemail from my parent’s landline, I go ahead and listen to it, since I figure it’s my dad, and I want to tell him what’s going on and wish him goodbye.
When I push play, it’s my mom. She says, “Riley. I’m just so upset by everything, and it’s why I was so worried about you going into acting. It’s a given that something like this would happen. Your father told me you’re in pieces about what people are saying, and that’s why I tried to warn you. You don’t handle criticism well, and that’s part of show business. You knew taking on this job meant taking that on, and I don’t know why you’re surprised by any of it. Anyway, I want to be here for you, but I just don’t know how to support you when you make these kinds of decisions.” The line disconnects, and it’s just one big message of my mom basically saying, “I told you so.”
Thanks, Mom.
26
The Hideaway
It’s been three days, and I haven’t left this castle room. If I was going to hole myself up somewhere, this was the place to pick. With a fireplace going, a balcony with a view, and room service, I never have to leave again.
Maddox has called and left several messages and texts from a different number, but I haven’t responded. I can’t speak to him right now. Or ever.
