He passed Ally Kate’s resignation letter so she could pass it on to me. “Under the circumstances, I think it’s for the best.” He leaned forward in his chair and rested his elbows on the table. “This is a huge mess you’ve got us in. I’ve been so swamped with calls all morning that I haven’t even been able to work. I’ve got a film to make, remember?”
“Did you ban her too?” I was so pissed she had been mistreated in all of this that I wanted to strangle someone, and Ben seemed like a good place to start. “You should have called me!”
Ally spoke up. “I had her escorted off the lot quietly before there was a scene.”
She hadn’t seen anything yet. “The only person who is going to make a scene around here is me. Why would you do that? She’s not a threat to anyone.”
Ben threw his hands up in the air. “And yet, she’s destroyed my featured article for the movie.”
I couldn’t believe he was letting her take the fall for his incompetence. “Come on, Ben. You knew that Arthur Scott was poison when you let him come and talk to us. You should have known better after what he did to Tess last year. And besides, someone here must have brought it to Arthur’s attention.” I glared at Ally. “Didn’t you handle his accommodations?” She had been acting strangely lately, and I wouldn’t put it past her to run her mouth.
“I wouldn’t do anything to hurt the film. If I did that, I’d hurt myself. And besides, it’s not my style, but I did notice the two of you together, and I had my suspicions that you might cause a scandal.”
“Then, who?”
“I’m not inclined to say, but rest assured, that person has been let go.” She shrugged, looking me dead in the eyes as if I was to leave it dead and buried.
“So you know?”
“Yes, I know.”
“Tell me,” I said. “Or I’m done.”
Ben looked at Ally then at me. “It was Roxie, Jake.”
“Roxie?” I sank a little inside as Ally nodded.
“She claims she saw you countless times together. The day of the photo, she followed you and then sold it to Arthur, along with a hot story. She had seen you coming and going from your tent and noticed you spending a lot of time together at dinner.”
Roxie had always been cool to me, so that made it even worse.
“Look, Jake, you’re my star, which is why I am willing to give you a pass, but even I noticed you two getting cozy on the set. I didn’t want to say anything because I had hoped you’d used discretion, but I had a few complaints about the noises coming from your tent, and others who saw you out by the water acting like lovesick school kids. You think that no one was going to find out about your little romp?”
“It wasn’t a romp, Ben. I’ve known Kate for most of my life. We went to prom together, for fuck’s sake.”
“That’s what she meant,” Ally mumbled, seeming a bit surprised.
“You know this whole thing has been pumped up to sell Arthur’s magazine, and I can’t believe that either of you fell into his hands. I mean, sure, we were all lulled into thinking he really wanted to talk about the movie, but me and Kate are not some tawdry scandal. I love her.”
Ben’s eyes widened. “You what?”
“I love her.”
Ally sat up in her seat. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. We have a past. She knows me better than anyone, and seeing her again on this shoot has been the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time.”
“Oh, silly me,” Ben said. “I thought my film was. I need your head in the game, my friend. I didn’t hire you as my lead so you could spend the entire making of the film thinking about your dick.”
“If you think this is going to gain you a stellar performance, then you’re out of your fucking mind. And if you don’t get Kate back and fix this, I’m going to fucking quit this picture, and you can find yourself another star.”
“Jake,” Ally interjected. “Calm down. You can’t just leave. You’re under contract, and I’m sure there is a way to spin this for the good of the picture.” I could tell by her change of tone that she was in salvage mode.
“Then I suggest you find a way. As for the contract? I’ll break it.” I didn’t care what happened. I’d suffer the consequences, career and all.
“And I’ll sue you.” Ben shrugged like it wouldn’t bother him one bit. “As will several others. I’d think about this.”
“Do it. I’ll win. You let my private life become a mockery when there is nothing scandalous about it. Get Kate back, or I’m serious, Ben. I’ll walk.”