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

"Please, Emilia, we have enough problems now as it is. I thought you were working on cleaning up your image. You can't act so trashy, getting into bar fights. That's not how you're going to land major roles. It's beneath you."

"I said I wanted to. I didn't actually hit her, you know," I said. "What's the big deal anyway? So she spread some stupid little rumor about me. Let her talk. She's just jealous."

I'd been through worse things than being gossiped about. Hell, it's all anyone did in this town. If you weren't being spoken about, then you didn't matter. Charlotte had told me that herself, so I didn't get why she was so bent out of shape over what some has-been actress was saying about me. I knew the rumors weren't true, and anyone with two eyes could see that too. Harry Barnes was old enough to be my grandfather.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Emilia? Image is everything. There's nothing that people hate more than a home wrecker."

"First of all, I'm not a home wrecker--"

"Then you shouldn't have announced that you were in a bar full of people! And to the wife no less."

"I know that now, but don't you think you're overreacting a little? I mean the wrap party was ages ago. Why would she wait so long to run to the press?"

"Cause she's a vindictive bitch," Charlotte said. I stared at her in shock. I'd never heard Charlotte swear so much in all the eight years I'd known her. "God Emilia, you're one of the most determined and hardworking people I know. I don't understand how you could risk your career over something so trivial.

"All right, how about I just keep a low profile until this whole thing blows over," I said, trying to appease her.

"It's not that easy. If the story runs in the papers, then it's going to be a nightmare. You can kiss your chances of winning any award this season goodbye."

"What?!" I sat up from the couch and stared at her. She had my attention now. For the past few weeks, my name had been garnering a lot of buzz to sweep the awards this season for my film Letters to Zelda. I was on the cusp of reaching my dreams and wouldn't let anything stand in my way.

"All I'm saying is the negative publicity isn't going to help you. People hate to see a cheater succeed, especially if you're the other woman." She held up her hand, stalling me. "Yes yes, you've said you didn't do it, but that doesn't mean jack. There are witnesses and a scorned wife who hates your guts. If this story gets legs, it's going to be an uphill battle to keep your reputation intact."

I let her words sink in as the initial shock washed over me. In its place, a heavy, uneasy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. Kelsey had planned this all along. She waited for just the right time to float the rumor out there to torpedo any chance I had. I could have smacked myself for being so foolish and playing right into her hands.

"Well, there goes that," Arnie said as he ended his call and tossed his phone on the coffee table in front of me.

"What happened?" Charlotte asked.

"They're running with the story," he said. His voice sounded weary and irritated.

"Fuck," Charlotte bit out.

I didn't even bother to be shocked by Charlotte's colorful choice of language. I knew as well as she did that my life, and hers, had just gotten ten times more difficult.

"Tell me about it. I tried to get them to bury the story, but the bastards seemed almost gleeful about it."

"Yeah, like they've been waiting for Emilia to slip up," Charlotte added quietly.

Her words just added another layer guilt and weight on my shoulders. I knew I should have been more circumspect, and controlled my emotions better.

"What can we do?" I asked. "There must be something to stem the tide of bad publicity."

Arnie shot me a thoughtful glance before turning to look at Charlotte. They remained locked in some silent conversation for what felt like hours. "Well? Is someone going to fill me in?" I asked, pushed beyond my patience.

"We could try to take the offensive," Arnie said. "I mean they're running with the story anyway, but maybe if we gave them something bigger and juicier, they'll forget all about Harry and Kelsey."

"What do you have in mind?" I asked. I knew I would agree to just about anything at this point. I didn't work this hard to climb my way to the top only to be taken down by some stupid rumor. "I'll do anything short of a sex tape."

Charlotte shot me a withering glare before she turned her attention back to Arnie.

"I'm not saying this will be easy or it will even work--"

"Just spit it out!" I demanded.

"All right. What if you were to get engaged?" he suggested.

"What? Are you serious right now?" I asked, in part disbelief and part hysteria. If the consequences weren't so dire, I probably would have thought it was a great joke, but no one else was laughing. "You can't be serious with this?"

I looked toward Charlotte, trying to gauge her reaction, but she remained silent, chewing on her bottom lip.

"Hear me out before you write it off," Arnie interjected. "The engagement wouldn't have to be real. We can have contracts drawn up specifying an end date and all the terms. All we need is to put a bigger story out there than the one they've got running now. And an engagement helps clean up your image too. It lets people know you're a good traditional type of girl, and mature and ready to settle down."