Unforgettable: Book Three (A Hollywood Love Story #3)(9)
Letting go of my hand, she rises and exits. I’m glad to be rid of her. My eyes stay riveted on the big screen, and my stomach muscles clench. The romantic tension between Kurt and his assistant Mel is heating up. Something that’s always been there, and now at last, it’s coming to a climax. I wrote this scene so quickly it was as if the words were flying out of my brain. Or perhaps my heart. Emotionally, it’s hitting me so hard I’m not sure I can watch it. My chest tightens painfully. And then, BANG! It’s over! Loud gasps fill the theater along with audible sniffles and sobs from female audience members. The screen fades to black. The lights go back on while uproarious applause and chants of bravo bellow in my ears. I turn my head. Holy shit! A standing ovation! I’m overwhelmed. It’s almost as big a moment as winning the Golden Globe.
Blake gives me a man hug. “Brandon, they f*cking loved it! Congratulations, man!”
My fellow cast members and the production team also congratulate me with exuberant embraces. I give a special hug to my co-star, Kellie Fox, whose extraordinary portrayal of Kurt’s impassioned assistant Mel contributed so much to the impact of this episode.
“It’s Kellie’s night as much as mine,” I humbly tell everyone.
“Oh, Brandon, the finale was wonderful! Totally heart-wrenching!” Blake’s teary-eyed wife Jen gushes before smacking my face with a kiss. “It’s really a shame Zoey couldn’t be here.”
Her words hit me like a punch to my gut. My Zoey. Yes, she should have been here. That was my intention—to have my adorable assistant experience the episode with me. To show her what she means to me. My eyes flit to the vacant seat next to mine. Katrina’s still MIA, but I don’t give a damn. I’m glad she missed the gripping, emotionally charged climax. That scene belongs only to Zoey. She may be six thousand miles away, but deep in my soul, I’m sharing this triumphant moment with her. Maybe Katrina could steal her seat, but she can’t rob me of the place Zoey has in my heart. She’s the love of my life, even if I can’t have her anymore. My high gives way to the depths of despair. My heart aching, I call on my acting skills again to plaster a big smile on my face as I head up to the stage with Blake and the rest of the cast and crew for a short Q&A session. Chairs have been brought out for our comfort.
Questions from the audience are tossed our way at a rapid fire pace. While some are directed at my co-stars and Executive Producer Doug DeMille, the majority of them are targeted to me. Several ushers with mikes in their hands dash around the audience to handle the queries. So many have their hands raised, eager to ask one. For sure, given our twenty-minute time frame, we won’t be able to get to all of them. A cocktail reception in the lobby awaits us and perhaps those who are not chosen can interact with us there. Personally, I just want to get the f*ck out of here. I’m in no mood to schmooze. Wearing my tux, I play with my father’s lucky gold cufflinks and think of Zoey as the questions come hurling at me.
Q: “Brandon, what was it like writing your first episode?”
Me: “It was very challenging. But I was very inspired.”
Q: “What inspired you?”
Me: “The question should be: Who inspired me?”
Q: “Okay, who inspired you?”
Me: “Someone I love.”
Q: Your fiancée, Katrina Moore?”
My heart stammers and then I answer:
Me: “No.”
On my next agonizing breath, Katrina re-enters the theater and saunters back to her seat. All eyes are on the platinum-haired beauty. I avoid eye contact with her and am thankful the usher moves on to someone else before I have to answer the question—“Who?”
Q: “Can we expect to see the relationship between Kurt and Mel to flourish next season?”
I hesitate.
Me: “I’m not sure…”
My voice trails off. My dark reality consumes me. Our relationship, if you can call it that, is already over. Zoey and I will never be. Words are trapped in my throat. Blake, to my relief, chimes in.
Blake: “We’ll be focus-group testing the episode right after it airs to make sure we’re going in the right direction. But previous groups, with both men and women, loved the idea of Kurt hooking up with his assistant Mel.”
Mumbles of approval sound in the theater.
Blake: “We have time for just one more question.”
An attractive, petite Asian woman is selected among the many who are zealously waving their hands and crying out: “Me, me, me, me!” Animated, she gives her best shot at English.
Q: “Bwandon, I want to ask you a pawsonal question. You excited about upcoming mowage to Katwina, Amewica It Gawl?”
Her question catches me off guard. Before I can say a word, Katrina leaps up from her seat and turns to face her. “Of course, he is. It’s going to be the wedding of the century. And please, if any of you would like to attend, just let me know. Mommy will send you an invitation. We’d love to have you. It’s going to be televised live—a special edition of my reality series. I’m sure you’ll all want to air the episode on your networks as well. It’s going to be a ratings blockbuster!”
Mortification races through my bloodstream. Jesus. She’s already invited half the world to our wedding. And now the whole world may get a chance to watch it. My body wants to jump out of my skin, leap off the stage, and shout out, “Fuck you, Katrina!” End it right here, right now. Put the kibosh on Bratrina and follow my heart. But I know if I did that, all hell would break loose. The f*cking psycho bitch would tell the world I assaulted her. Fling off her glove and the bandage beneath it to expose the damage I did. Then, show everyone the photos on her phone to prove it. God knows what else she would say or do. It would create a media frenzy. Without a doubt, kill the ratings of Kurt Kussler and destroy my career. “Brandon Taylor: It Girl Slayer.” Would Blake Burns, who knows she’s evil and demented, come to my rescue? The question really is: Could he? It doesn’t take a lot of soul-searching to figure out the answer. It’s simply no. The raving lunatic is out of control. Totally uncontrollable. Chances are anything Blake would say or do would come spitting back in his face. Possibly even destroy his career and marriage. That I’m caught between a rock and a hard place is the understatement of the century. Even if I once really loved Katrina and I doubt it, that can never be possible again after what she’s done. I will never forgive her nor will I feel for her what I feel for Zoey. I’ve always loved Zoey. But sadly, she will soon just be a memory in the vortex of my mind. Blake once shared his father’s words of wisdom with me. Some things are meant to be forgotten. Not Zoey. A sickening feeling sweeps over me. Amnesia comes with its benefits.