You've Got Fail(12)

Linda scooted Scarlet over to the table. “Let’s get to work. I have appointments, darlings. A day full of them.” She poured herself a glass of what looked like Scotch at a little side table. “Would either of you like a refresher?”

“No thanks.” Scarlet folded her hands in her lap.

I checked my watch. “It’s ten in the morning.”

“Some of us get started earlier than others.” Linda sipped her drink and took the seat to my right. “Now, I have prepared a list”—he fumbled around in the stack of papers in front of her—“Beverly!”

Scarlet plucked at some invisible lint along the top of her dress, drawing my eyes to the swells of her breasts. God, her skin looked so smooth it rivalled porcelain, but I bet it was softer than silk. She cleared her throat, and our gazes tangled. Her tongue darted out and wet her bottom lip. An image of her bent over the table burst in my brain with an effervescent pop.

Linda slammed her palm onto the table, breaking our staring match. “Beverly!”

Her secretary appeared in the door. “Sorry. Sorry, it was just that Jason—”

“I’m well aware of your crush on him. That’s not the issue.” Linda gave a long-suffering sigh. “Where’s that list?”

“What list?”

“You know the list.” Linda took another drink. “The one I made.”

Beverly maintained an even tone despite the pained look on her face. “Did you mean the um, events roster?”

“Obviously.” Linda rolled her eyes and settled into her chair as Beverly scurried off.

“What events?” I closed my laptop and caught Scarlet’s smug stare, her slight smirk getting under my skin.

“This weekend is a Cosmo affair. I can’t tell if it’s going to be trashy or nice this year. They’re a bit hit or miss with this event. Next weekend is Vogue. Make sure you arrive with the prerequisite stick up your ass before you go. And the next is Vanity Fair. Maybe try speaking in a British accent for that one. It might alleviate some of the snobbery. Oh, and before all that, I’ve set up a photo shoot for Scarlet this Friday for publicity. I expect both of you to attend.”

I stared. No, not stared, I scowled at her. “What do these events have to do with me?”

She drained her glass and eyed the decanter. “You will be Scarlet’s date at each event, my darling. I can get behind using an actress as Scarlet Rocket, but having her play the part when the real writer isn’t even there? That’s a bridge too far. No.” She rose and made good on her thirsty glances by pouring herself another. “Unless, of course, you want to drop this plan and come clean about the real Scarlet Rock—”

“No.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Okay then, on with the plan. The week after the last party, the book will release, and, if all goes as planned, you two will have drummed up enough publicity for it to be a bestseller.” She held up her glass. “I’ll toast to that.”

“I want more money.” Scarlet swiveled toward Linda and showed me quite a bit of leg under the table.

I pulled at my collar even though it wasn’t buttoned. Of course Commander Reptilian had been all over her. She looked like a porn daydream in her good girl dress with the demure heels. But I knew there was a devil underneath. I needed to get away from her before I fell under her spell. That was the smart move. Only spend as much time with her as necessary. Right?

Linda smiled at Scarlet, the tension ratcheting up between them. “Beverly!”

The woman clattered down the hall and opened the door. “Yes?”

“Did you get the signed contract from Ms. Rocket first thing as instructed?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Go.” Linda’s smile widened, and she turned back to Scarlet. “You see, darling, there’s a reason I’m the best. Your contract terms are already set.”

Scarlet relaxed and shrugged. “I had to give it a try.”

“I understand that more than you know.” She took another draw from her glass. “And I respect you for—”

“She signed it as Scarlet Rocket or under her real name?” How easy it would be for me to simply take a look at the contract and find out who she was.

Scarlet’s eyes widened before her brows lowered in a mix of fury and distress.

Linda shook her head. “Confidentiality is of utmost importance in my business. You’ll have to find out some other way, Willis.”

Scarlet’s confident smirk returned as I cursed under my breath.

“But you two need to exchange phone numbers.” She adjusted her glasses, her shrewd eyes catching every last detail. “I can’t act as a go-between for everything.”

“Of course.” Scarlet pulled her phone out and looked at me expectantly.

I entered the number Scarlet gave me and called it to make sure she wasn’t up to no good again. Once we’d saved each other’s info, Linda continued, “Now that we’ve got this all settled, you two should be on your way. I’ve more business to attend to.”

“Wait.” I slid my laptop into my leather messenger bag. “What if I don’t want to go to these events? I don’t have clothes for them.”

Linda gave me a long-suffering sigh. “You run a very successful relationship blog, right?”