Money doesn’t buy the one thing your heart craves.
Beside me on the porch table, my cell flashes—Nina.
“Scarlett, where the hell are you?”
“I’ll be down in a minute,” I answer quietly, unconcerned by the desperation in her voice.
“Make that a fast minute because you’re the star and without you, this night is nothing.”
The call ends abruptly, nothing out of the ordinary coming from the most ruthless publicist in Hollywood.
My steps are deliberately small, careful not to tear the sheer fabric lacing the short train, which drags against the marble flooring. I stop at the top of the wide staircase, taking in the view. Crowds of people are beneath me dressed in costumes while nursing their choice of beverages. A cloud of smoke escapes the area from the artificial fog machine which sits behind the extravagant decorations.
Cobwebs adorn every corner of the room, and above me, against the intricate ceiling design, a bolt of thunder zaps above us adding to the night’s festivities.
All eyes are on me as I carefully take my steps down the staircase. A round of applause erupts, a few whistles, and by the time I reach the bottom step, a spotlight is aimed directly at me. My smile is forced, accompanied by a small wave.
A photographer demands I pose, taking a few shots before Nina rips me aside. “Took you long enough,” she seethes through her teeth, faking a friendly expression to people walking past.
I ignore her callous comment, grabbing a glass of champagne from the passing waiter.
“I’m here, aren’t I? Now, will you get off my back? I’m going to do the rounds.”
Nina retracts, turning her back to me and heading in the opposite direction.
People have busied themselves again, a few pulling me aside to comment on the dress and my new movie. The rule with these parties is to mingle. To spend no more than five minutes, and upon each interaction market your ass off.
“Scarlett.” My name is called by a familiar voice.
I turn and notice Charlie Edwards. Charlie’s almost like family, since she’s Noah’s first cousin. She’s one of the few I have trust and respect for in this industry, even though her focus is law, and she isn’t exactly in show business. But she is a part of my legal team. I don’t get involved much, though, leaving most of that for Morgan to handle.
“Hey, Charlie.” I lean in, kissing her cheek and following with her husband, Lex.
Lex Edwards is a mogul, owns the largest production studio here in Los Angeles, and is one of America’s youngest billionaires. The man is the epitome of stunning, and women everywhere want to be with him. All that is according to Charlie, though, I won’t disagree. If it weren’t for her loyalty, I would have tried to get into his bed years ago.
He’s never said much, and on most occasions keeps to his wife and close friends, coming off a lot like an arrogant prick. But that’s the whole appeal about him—money, handsome, and a dominant personality. Your typical storybook alpha billionaire.
Charlie is dressed as a devil in a short, beaded red dress which hugs her perfect physique. With pitchfork in hand, she purses her ruby red lips, lacing her arm around Lex as he stands beside her, wearing a cape with a pressed suit beneath it and fangs extending from his mouth. He makes the ideal vampire, which only adds to his already oozing sex appeal.
They’re the perfect couple and do it all while raising three girls. There’s tabloid talk of another on the way, though she squashed that rumor by downing a glass of champagne in a heartbeat.
Lex excuses himself as his sister, Adriana, and her husband, Julian, arrive.
Charlie pulls me aside and into a less-crowded area away from the music being careful so no one can hear us. “Noah’s here. He’s in the car on the phone to someone. Please tell me Morgan has decided not to come. I spent two hours calming him down earlier when he received custody papers, which by the way, I had no clue she had drawn up,” she rushes out in a panicked state. “You know I love Morgan, but she’s hired Don Matthews, and he’s ruthless when it comes to custody battles. This is going to get real ugly, and fast.”
I can hear the desperation in her voice. Much like me, she’s caught in the middle. The only difference is that she’s not in love with Noah like I am. She has no clue the turmoil I face, assuming I’m simply a worried sister.
Taking a deep breath, I beg silently for more champagne to numb the nerves creeping up beneath my hyper-aware but controlled exterior.
“She said she was coming. She needed a night away from the kids. And not that I would ever repeat this to Noah, but she just wants to be single and forget about everything.”
“Uh-oh,” Charlie mouths. “That’s code for she wants to get laid.”
“Morgan is not like that—”
“Yes, but she also had a husband who cheated on her.”
“He didn’t technically cheat. She called it off, sent divorce papers, and they we