Unforgettable: Book Three (A Hollywood Love Story #3)(11)

“We rocked it,” says Blake after a gulp of his cocktail. “Thanks to the screening, we renewed the show in every major territory at a premium price and even picked up new broadcasters along with lucrative licensing and merchandising deals.”

Since I have profit participation, that’s going to be a big chunk of money to me. Yet, right now, I could give a shit. “That’s great,” I say, my voice lackluster.

“Brandon, you don’t seem too excited.”

I take a swig of the Scotch. “I am. I’m just tired and stressed.”

“Brandon, I’m going to level with you. I didn’t ask you to have drinks with me to talk business. I’m worried about you, bro. You’re our biggest star. And a friend. I need to know what’s going on.”

I shift in the booth and take a deep breath. “It’s Katrina. I have a problem.”

His brows knitted, Blake takes another sip of his drink. “Problem isn’t the right word. Katrina’s a f*cking nightmare. I’ve tried to tell you this.”


I take another chug of my Scotch and set the tumbler down. If Blake’s going to open up to me about their past, it’s now or never. Here goes. “What went down between the two of you?”

Blake drains his Scotch. He breathes in and out through his nose. “Listen, man, this is what I can tell you. She almost cost me my life and my marriage.”

“Jesus. She tried to kill you?”

“Not quite, but she could have. She’s a f*cking psychopath.”

His words sink in. Did she run me over and leave me for dead? Did she intend to kill me last night in her rampage?

Blake continues, cutting my disquieting thoughts short. His eyes flicker with rage.

“And when we were in high school, she did something really sicko that hurt both me and my family.”

Questions are burning on my tongue, but I can tell Blake’s being cryptic. He’s not going to tell me everything, at least not tonight. He plays with his empty tumbler while I try to extract more information.

“After my lunch with you back in January, she told me you were the love of her life and you broke her heart.”

Blake huffs and shakes his head in dismay. “She’s so f*cking delusional. I was never in love with her. She couldn’t handle it and had a breakdown. She was sent to a mental institution after we graduated.”

Christ. She really is insane. What have I gotten myself into? I polish off the Scotch. Blake orders another round from a passing waiter.

“So, what shit is she doing to you?” he asks me while we await our drinks.

“She’s blackmailing me.”

Blake furrows his brows. “What exactly do you mean?”

Loosened up by the alcohol, the words tumble out. “If I don’t marry her, she’s going to tell the media I assaulted her and tried to kill her.”

Blake’s crisp blue eyes widen. “Did you?”

“Christ, no! She staged the whole thing in my hotel suite and then took photos with her phone to prove it. She has a self-inflicted gash on her arm that must be six-inches long. She’s been covering it up.”

“Jesus.”

“I know. It’s a f*cking nightmare.”

Just in time, the drinks arrive. We’re both in dire need of them and take several gulps.

“I f*cked up, Blake. And I hurt someone else really badly.”

“Your assistant, Zoey?”

My lips press thin. “Yeah. I’m in love with her. Katrina caught us together. That’s what set her off. I intended to break up with her before this trip, but the timing was off. She went out of town to visit her father in prison and wasn’t reachable.”

“It’s water under the bridge at this point. Trust me, the psycho bitch would have figured out a way to bring you down.”

Despite Blake’s comment, I bow my head with guilt and remorse. “I should have never brought Zoey here.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You did what any guy would do.”

“Yeah, I listened to my cock.”

“No, you listened to your heart.”

I look up, lifting a brow as Blake continues.

“While going after my wife Jennifer—and that’s a wild story for another time—I did some seriously stupid things but learned my cock is connected to my heart.”

I digest Blake’s words. He must be right. At the thought of Zoey, the ache in my heart gives way to an ache in my cock. I still haven’t been able to reach her. It’s like she’s shut me out of her life.

“Does Zoey know what’s going on?”

“No. She split from Cannes right after Katrina showed up. I’m positive she thinks I went back to Katrina because she wrote me a goodbye forever note.” The moving words of that letter make my heart stutter and I pause. “I haven’t been able to reach her.”

We both imbibe our drinks in silence, our faces pinched in deep thought.

“Blake, I don’t know what to do.”

Setting his tumbler down, Blake blows out a breath of hot air. “This is really f*cked. I don’t know either. If she goes to the press, all hell will break loose. And even if I came to your defense, it’s going to be an ugly shooting match—your word against hers. The public adores her. Her clout-score is through the roof. And the timing couldn’t be worse with the season finale of Kurt Kussler airing only two days after your highly anticipated televised wedding. Ditch her and you may kill the show. And your career.”