“I spotted you with him yesterday, but you guys disappeared before I could get some shots. What’s the story there? Are you guys an item?”
Instead of getting angry, Rory broke into a chuckle. It also gave her immense satisfaction to know that they had successfully managed to throw off the paparazzi by heading into Martha’s bakery yesterday.
“If you want to buy a book then it’s fine, otherwise I suggest that you leave,” she replied. The man didn’t budge.
“All right. I see you want to play hardball.” He smirked. “How much do you want for the information? I pay better if you have any personal pictures or videos.”
Out of curiosity, Rory wanted to ask how much he would pay, but there was no way she was going to rat out Arsen. She remained silent.
“There is good money in this and let’s face it, even if you are his new plaything, it won’t last long. Wouldn’t you rather get something out of it? Something more than just the achievement of having a fling with a rockstar? They’re all scumbags anyway.” His distaste for Arsen was apparent. Rory wasn’t sure if that was because of jealousy or plain hatred.
“I think you should leave,” she said flatly.
“You think he’s a good guy and that he will be the love of your life? Naive girl. Nothing like that will ever happen, so cherish it while you can before he pumps and dumps you.”
That greasy smile on his face was driving her up the wall, and his words weren’t helping either. Rory wanted to smack him.
“If you change your mind, contact me here.” He threw a business card on the counter. “I am Hector, by the way. There is money to be made here, and who knows, if you give me a sex tape, we could make you famous.” Hector threw a cigarette in his mouth and started walking out.
Rory would’ve surely hit him had he not been out of reach. The guy was a scumbag through and through, and it didn’t take a special power of insight for her to see that.
Poor Arsen. This is what he has to deal with on a daily basis in LA. No wonder he hates this scene and wants to get away from it all and rent my house. Should I? There was a small part of her that wanted to help Arsen, but the trouble that would come with it would be far more than she could handle.
There was no telling what his band members would do to her house. The story of them driving the limousine into the hotel pool came back into her head. There was no way in hell she was letting them mess up her grandmother’s beloved home. Besides, it would also mean paparazzi parked outside her house all the time. She wasn’t prepared for that kind of attention. As bad as she felt for Arsen, Rory knew she couldn’t take that on.
11
“Why don’t we have Mickey’s biography in here?” Lizzy asked absentmindedly.
“Mickey has a biography?” Rory laughed out loud.
“Yes. I checked online and we don’t have it in stock. What kind of bookstore are we?” Lizzy was miffed.
“The kind that does not stock garbage books,” Rory joked.
“That’s not funny. It is a shame that we do not stock the biography of the best singer the world has ever seen.”
“Best singer, Lizzy? Well, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, and Michael Jackson would like to chat. Not to mention Freddie Mercury.” Rory was cracking up now.
“Well Frank is dead but Mickey is not.” Lizzy was irritated, something she wasn’t very often.
“Lizzy—you don’t even read books.”
“Which makes it even more important, don’t you think? I need to know more about Mickey and I need to read this book.”
“Why? The man is shallow as a puddle. His biography is probably nothing but a story of sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll.”
“No, Rory, that is what you don’t understand. Mickey is a complex man who has never been loved and that is why he turns to all those… things. To fill the empty void within him. I read about this phenomenon in Cosmo once.”
“Okay, so now you’re a psychiatrist, Lizzy?”
“Don’t make fun of me, Rory, I’m serious. A talented, good-looking man like that needs true love in his life to turn it around.”
“And you think you are that true love?” Rory raised a brow.
“Why not? What’s wrong with me?” Lizzy asked angrily.
“Nothing. Nothing at all.” Rory smiled, warmly now. “But there are a lot of things wrong with that guy.”