Hollywood Wedding (Landon's Legacy 3)

“I’m sorry we got off to such a poor start this morning, Mr. Landon.”

Zach’s brows lifted. “Was that what it was, Miss Palmer?” His tone was smooth as silk. “I wasn’t quite sure how to describe it.”

To his immense satisfaction, color stained her high cheekbones.

“Mr. Landon——”

“Please.” Zach smiled. “I hardly think there’s any reason for us to stand on formality, do you? Considering the intimacy of our relationship, I mean.”

Eve’s eyes narrowed. “Look, I’m willing to forget what happened, but if you insist on bringing it up——”

“I was referring to our business status, Eve,” he said pleasantly “After all, you’re Triad’s CEO and I’m its new owner.”

Her eyes flew to his. “Of course. I thought…” She cleared her throat. “You’re right, Zach. I, ah, I hoped you’d see it that way.”

His smile was open and easy “What way?”

“Well, there’s no sense in us being enemies, is there? I mean, we both have Triad’s best interests at heart. So if we put aside what happened earlier——”

“Sorry, Eve, I’m not sure I’m following you.”

His expression was innocent, but that didn’t fool her for a minute. He was up to something, she knew it. But what?

She tried to smile. “I’m talking about the—the incident on the set.”

His shoulder brushed hers as he strolled past her. He moved slowly around the office, pausing now and then to look at the old black and white still photos hanging on the walls.

“Your collection?” he asked, gazing at a shot of an intense Humphrey Bogart and a languid Ingrid Bergman.

Eve nodded. “Yes. I’ve always been a fan of old movies.” She waited for him to say something but he didn’t. She cleared her throat. “What about you?”

He looked at her and smiled, but she could see that the smile was false, touching his lips but not his eyes.

A knot of anger formed in her belly. Did he think this was easy for her? What she’d told him was the truth, they had gotten off to a bad start, and even though ninety-nine percent of the fault was his, she was willing to shoulder half the blame—but she’d be damned if she was going to crawl.

“Old movies seem so unrealistic.”

She blinked and looked at him. He was walking slowly toward her, that phony half-smile curling across his handsome face. Her breath caught. Surely, he wasn’t going to try to kiss her again. If he did…If he did, she’d slap him so hard both his ears would be on the same side of his head.

“Unrealistic?” she repeated with an uneasy smile. Why didn’t he stand still? And what did he care what kind of movies she liked?

He smiled, reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair from her cheek so quickly that the only proof he’d done it was the jolt of electricity his fingers left behind.

“Yes. I always find myself watching the actors and thinking that they’re overdoing it. You follow?”

“No,” Eve said. Her voice sounded thready and she frowned and spoke again. “No,” she said, more strongly, “I’m afraid I…” She went silent as he strolled behind her desk and ran his hand over the back of her chair. “I’m afraid I don’t.”

“Sure you do. There’s even a phrase for it. Chewing up the scenery, isn’t that it?” Zach smiled as he sat down behind the desk. “You know what I mean, Eve.”

Eve stared at him. He tilted back the chair, looped his hands behind his head and put his feet up on the desk. Her desk, she thought, gritting her teeth. Her desk, her chair, her office…

“I’m much more impressed by the current crop of actors.”

Her eyes flew to his face. “Mr. Landon,” she said with a stiff smile, “Zach, if you don’t mind——”

“They’ve got these nice, natural techniques. You watch somebody like, I don’t know, Jack Nicholson, you think there’s a guy you could deal with. When he’s playing a part, you never think that he is. He makes it seem real.”

“This is fascinating, Zach, but——”

“But?”

“But we both know that you came here to see Triad’s books.” She reached for the phone. “I’ll tell Emma to——”

Zach’s hand closed on her wrist. “I suppose I did get carried away with all this talk about acting.” He let go of her and smiled tightly as he rose to his feet.

“Yes. Well, as I said, I’m sure your views on the subject are fascinating, but——”

“Come on, Eve. You don’t think that at all.”

Their eyes met, and what she saw in the sea-green depths of his made it difficult to swallow.

“I know you won’t believe this,” she said carefully, “but I’m trying my best to be polite.”

“Believe it or not, I’m trying my best to be polite, too.” A muscle knotted high in his jaw. “Hell, if I wasn’t, I’d already have told you that you’re wasting your talents on the production end of things.” Zach came slowly toward her. “That’s what made me think about acting, and how some people make it seem so real.”

Eve swallowed hard. She didn’t want to step back; she knew instinctively that giving ground would be a mistake, but he was too close, so close that she could see the little laugh lines around his eyes.

Not that he was laughing now. On the contrary She had never seen a man’s face look so hard.

“Perhaps you’d like to tell me what it is you’re talking about, Zach.”

He laughed softly. “I’m talking about acting, Evie. I told you that. I’m talking about you, in particular.”

“Me?” She took that step she hadn’t wanted to take, but it was an error. She knew that as soon as her shoulders hit the wall.

“You, Evie. Why, you’re the best actress I’ve ever seen.”

“I don’t find any of this amusing, Zach. I thought you wanted to talk about Triad.”

“I do.” He smiled. “I am. I’m assessing your award-winning performance. The ease with which you switch from role to role amazes me. Spitfire one minute, seductress the next, coolheaded executive when the need arises…”

“Goodbye, Mr. Landon,” Eve said coldly. “If and when you decide to discuss business, telephone my secretary and we’ll set up an appointment.”

Zach’s hands shot out as she started to step forward. His palms hit the wall on either side of her, caging her between his outstretched arms.

“I’m talking it right now.” His words were clipped, and all the smiling pretence was gone. “What’s the problem? Did you expect me to buy into the efficient lady-exec act the same way I bought into the others?”

“So much for civility,” Eve said, her voice shaking a little. “And so much for your father’s assessment of you.”

“My father talked to you about me?”

“He said you were a human calculator, but he was wrong. What you are is a fat, swollen ego.”

Zach’s lips drew back from his teeth. “Is that right?”

“You’re angry about what happened this morning and you’re taking it out on me.”

“Dear, sweet Evie. You’re a woman of many talents, but as a shrink you’re an absolute failure.”

Eve glared at him. “My name isn’t Evie. And who do you think you are, talking to me like this? King of the universe?”

Zach grinned. “That’s not a bad analogy, Evie. I am king—king of your world, anyway. I’m the boss and you’re the peon. Or hadn’t you noticed?”

“I am head of this company.”

“You were, until two minutes ago.”

He could see that his words had taken her by surprise. It showed in her sudden pallor, in the way her breath hitched, but he had to give her credit. She kept looking straight at him, and there wasn’t even a hint of the weeping routine she’d pulled earlier.

“I see,” she said. “Just like that.”

Zach’s hands fell to his sides. He shrugged. “What did you expect? A formal letter of dismissal? You’re out, Eve. Just like that.”

/> She didn’t want to beg. God, no, she wouldn’t do that. But he owed her an explanation, he owed her more than this…

“If you’d just give me a chance to try and make you understand why we’ve been losing money…”

“No.”

“Because there are reasons, you see. Your father——”

“My father was a fool,” Zach said sharply. “Unfortunately for you, it’s not a trait that runs in the family.”

“Look, I know you had a—a bad morning, but it isn’t fair to blame it on me. And that’s what you’re doing, I know you are——”

“Trust me, Eve. I planned on dumping you from the second I landed in L.A. What happened after that didn’t change a thing.”

“I embarrassed you in front of those people, and——”

“By slapping me, you mean?” Zach gave a little laugh. “Maybe you’ve forgotten that by the time you got around to hitting me, that bunch of weirdos had already seen you melt like butter in my arms.”

“That’s absurd. I didn’t melt. And they’re not weirdos, they’re technicians and actors.” Eve stabbed her hands onto her hips. “But you wouldn’t know about that. You don’t know much about anything except numbers.”

He could see the fury raging in her now. Her cheeks were crimson with color, and her eyes snapped like the darkest, bluest sapphires. Zach felt a swift rush of pleasure at the sight. She hadn’t embarrassed him out on that hillside, but she sure as hell had made him feel like a damned fool, and it was a delight to turn the tables now and watch her squirm.