The Game (Wagered Hearts Series, #3)(16)

Darla was tall, blonde, and beautiful--the classic American beauty. She had always portrayed a cool, laid back, California surfer chick attitude, but it was all an act. She was one of the most neurotic, insecure, and catty people I knew. We had a colorful history, and I couldn't say that we were on friendly terms. In fact, I think she hated my guts, and I couldn't be bothered to muster any emotion for her. She was a non-entity in my book.

We started out in the business at the same time, both coming to acting from modeling. We were both cast in Heavenwood, but after I became the breakout star, she got jealous and spiteful. While my career took off, hers remained stagnant and stuck in minor supporting roles. She had no one to blame but herself. Her constant partying and drug use, not to mention lax attitude about showing up for work, made her a liability. I knew she leaked some false stories about me to the press during my last year on Heavenwood.

Warren rolled his eyes at her dramatic entrance, and shot himself up in my estimation. "Have you met my friends?" he said, directing her attention to Rob and me.

Darla turned her head in our direction reluctantly, and I could see the effort it took for her to paste on her smile. For someone who claimed she was an actress, she was doing a piss poor job at it. Her smile came off as a grimace, and I had the satisfaction of watching her eyeing Rob and me in envy.

"Darla, how nice to see you again," I said.

"Emilia I didn't know you'd be here, what with all those stories about you," she said, leaning in conspiratorially.

She was such a phony. As if she and I would ever conspire together about anything. I couldn't trust this woman as far as I could throw her. She had probably been filled with joy when the stories about Harry and I came out. Instead of lashing out at her like I would have liked to have done, I put on my own fake smile as well.

"Why wouldn't I be here for my own movie premier?" I asked sweetly. "You know how it is with people making up stories about you to the press. That's the life of a movie star. Oh, but you wouldn't know that. I forgot, you've never starred in a film before."

The smile slipped off her lips before her face turned red in anger. She narrowed her eyes at me, and lifted her hand as if she wanted to strike me. I almost wished she would, just so I would have an excuse to give her the beat down she so deserved. But knew that could never happen. Getting into physical altercations was not an option for me anymore. That was something I used to do as a kid, but as a celebrity, it was career suicide.

Rob stood between us protectively in case Darla got any ideas. Warren, I noticed, watched the exchange with much amusement.

"Perhaps we should go," Rob said. Before we could leave, Darla stopped him with a hand on his arm. The contact made me irrationally jealous. If anything were to make me want to deck her, it was her touching Rob. She needed to get her filthy conniving claws off of him.

"Wait," she said, malice twisting her features. "I see we have a mutual friend that just arrived."

I looked over her shoulder and could feel the color drain from my face. Fuck! How did she get in here? I wondered. There was no way she was at this party for any good reason. It was my premier, after all. I turned back to see Darla smirking at me and felt a sudden surge of anger creep up over me. Did she have something to do with this?

"What's wrong?" Rob leaned down to whisper in my ear.

I didn't realize I'd completely tensed up, and it took some effort to relax my muscles and breathe in and out slowly. Even though Kelsey's presence at this party was annoying, I knew there was nothing for me to do but just grin and bear it.

I wasn't about to start a fight and give the press any more rumors to go on. She was on my turf, after all. Besides, there was no reason for us to even acknowledge each other's existence. As long as she stayed away from me, I was perfectly fine to leave her alone.

"Kelsey! Over here!" Darla called waving her hand above her head. Ugh, I should have smacked her when I had the chance.




"Should we go?" Rob whispered in my ear again. He must have realized what was going on and the likely scene that it would cause, and was trying to extract us from it with as little fuss as possible.

"No, I'm not going to run away," I said stubbornly. "I haven't done anything wrong."

He looked at my face searchingly before nodding his head. Warren Peters shot me a commiserating look, but I just shrugged. This scene was bound to happen sooner or later.

Kelsey's smile froze once she noticed we were with Darla. She hesitated momentarily before a look of determination and vindictiveness stole across her face, and she marched over to us.

"You look amazing!" Darla gushed, kissing her on the cheeks.

I couldn't help the snort of derision that escaped me at their fake fawning over each other. It was obvious what they were trying to do, and yet they were still so incompetent at it. As if I would somehow feel bad or insecure at being left out of their little love fest.

Darla and Kelsey turned their glare on me at the same time and I smiled politely. I had decided I was going to look the picture of propriety and elegance. I wouldn't stoop to their level.

"Yes, I agree," I said.

Kelsey narrowed her eyes at me before she turned her attention to Rob. She gave him the once over and I could tell she was looking for any fault. She just needed a reason to despise him so she could feel better about herself. But Rob was faultless. He looked handsome and debonair, and his manners were impeccable. He had no dark secrets in his closet, and on top of it all, he was a successful billionaire.