"What was the title? Who was the author?"
"I think it was something with Dragon Dreams."
"Ah, sorry. It's at home. I wanted to read it over the weekend, but I didn't get around to it. I'll try and finish it tomorrow morning."
"You're going to read an unsolicited manuscript while Carolyn Black is visiting?" Jem asked, clearly aghast.
Annelie blinked. "How did you know about Carolyn coming over?"
"Your housekeeper dropped a hint big enough to sink the Titanic." Jem grinned. "Smart move. You can ask her about the convention and sound her out about the film role."
"That's not what this is about, Jem. I offered Carolyn the use of my pool while she's in Florida, and she was truly grateful. That's it—no agendas."
"I can't believe you've had her spending hours swanning around your house in a swimsuit and didn't say a word! What's she like in person?"
"She's very nice and very charismatic, every bit as fascinating as she seems on stage and TV. Even more so, in my humble opinion."
"Is someone I know starstruck?" Jem teased.
"You know me better than that." Annelie tried to hide her faint embarrassment with a cough. "She bought first editions of the Diana Maddox books for $12,000 during the auction. I thought that was pretty amazing. She was there with her boyfriend."
"Who's her boyfriend?"
"Jared Garrison. He's from the law firm we use for the Nebula Circle's clients."
"Oh, him. He's a nice guy."
"That he is. Great taste in women too, obviously."
This drew a small gasp. "Annelie, what are you saying?"
Stunned at what had jumped out of her mouth, Annelie lapsed into momentary silence. She did find Carolyn Black very attractive, but she never mixed business with pleasure, and certainly not with involved straight women.
"Well, she's gorgeous and has it, don't you agree?" She stalled, knowing Jem wouldn't be fooled for a second.
"Uh-huh."
"Anyhow, I'll bring the manuscript tomorrow and we can discuss it." Assuming her most businesslike tone, she said, "So, are we going to take a look through that convention merchandise?"
"Yes, but there's something else." Jem's eyes narrowed slightly. "Those e-mails flooding in—our Web guru says they originate in Grey Parker's office."
"Really?" She should have guessed.
"I wonder if your screen idol knows." Jem needled her gently.
Annelie shot her a look. "My first guess would be she doesn't. I get the impression Carolyn can barely cope with cell phones, let alone computers."
"I'm sure she's smart enough to find people who can. Seems like her agent follows the trends."
Annelie knew her chief editor was right. "Well, Grey Parker can do what he likes to stir up the fans. But it's not going to buy his client a thing."
"I hear you." Jem snapped her fingers. "By the way, I'm going to the Blue Beach Café for dinner with my sister and her husband tonight. Want to join us? We have reservations at eight o'clock."
Annelie was not looking forward to yet another evening home alone, especially knowing where her thoughts kept taking her at the moment. "Sounds like a good idea. I'll meet you there."
***
The Blue Beach Café, located where the most popular beach in Key Biscayne began, was a long, single-floor building with a waterfront deck.
Carolyn and Grey Parker strolled out on the long porch, the soft, scented evening wrapping around them. Still not over the shock of learning that her agent had flown down to Florida yesterday, she had agreed to join him for dinner. Following the waiter to a table by the railing, the actress wrapped her shawl tighter, feeling a chill. She smiled briefly and politely thanked the waiter who pulled out a chair for her.
"I'll have a scotch, please," she ordered, surprising herself. She was a little cold, and perhaps the alcohol would ignite a much-needed fire inside.
"A beer, thank you." Grey leaned back in his chair, glancing around the large deck. "Apparently it's hard to get a table here. At least that's what they said at the hotel."
"Yes, I believe so. It's popular." Carolyn focused on the menu until the waiter returned with their drinks and some iced water. Sipping the alcohol, she realized she enjoyed the warmth it spread through her system way too much.
"You look uneasy." Grey frowned.
"I'm fine, it's just…I'm…well, I admit I do feel a bit stymied by the last turn of events. I don't know what to do about the contracts, Grey. Ms. Peterson is trying to be decent about it, so I can cut my losses without actually losing too much."
"Not so fast, my dear. I went over the contracts before I left New York, and my advice is for you to hang on to them. We're not throwing in the towel just yet. It's going to take a bit of engineering, though."
"I was so certain…My mistake," Carolyn huffed, fumbling in her purse. "Mind if I smoke?"
"No, go ahead." He nudged an ashtray closer to her.
Carolyn lit up and inhaled deeply. She had cut back a lot over the last few years but always craved a cigarette when she felt like this— rattled, on edge. Damn it, what's wrong with me? It's not like me to feel so…defeated this early in the race. She had been having trouble sleeping. Worrying about Beth, seeing the Maddox role just beyond her grasp were making the veins at her temples throb painfully. Why can't Annelie see I'm the perfect choice? She knew the answer. Over the years, she had made a few enemies in the business for refusing to play their game. One of the more illustrious movie reviewers once accused her of being "too much." Perhaps I am too much. Too much me. Too much Carolyn Black.
"Maybe it's better to just bow out," she murmured. "Peterson's advisers seem determined to cast Sylvia Goodman. From what I understand, Annelie's a rookie executive producer. She's bound to listen to them."
"We can still sway them. Listen to me, Carolyn. I have some news for you. A sister company to Supernova Productions is planning an event in Orlando, on Saturday two weeks from now."
"What kind of event?" She squinted at him through the smoke.
Realizing she sounded angry, Carolyn tried to calm down. It wasn't Grey's fault she was feeling stung that the role seemed to be sliding out of her grip.
"They're holding a Diana Maddox convention, and fans from all over the world will attend. Some of your colleagues from the audiobooks will be there. This tells me they've been cast for their respective roles in the movie." He paused, eyeing her carefully. "Exactly how far are you prepared to go to land this role?"
"I don't know what you mean. I feel I've earned the right to play Maddox. The audience connects me to this character."
"Audience attention is fickle, and you know it. You have to cause some disturbance in Supernova's plans. Stir the pot, in a manner of speaking." Grey's eyes sparkled; the agent was obviously excited at the prospect of causing trouble.
"What do you suggest?"
Grey leaned closer over the table, speaking in a mock-secretive voice. "I suggest we crash their party."
***
Jem spotted her first.
"Damn, isn't that Carolyn Black sitting over there?"
Annelie's first reaction was to immediately turn around; instead she made herself casually pivot on her chair, looking over at the smoking section.
"Yes, it is. The man she's with is Grey Parker, her agent." Her voice was calm. "If the Blue Beach Café weren't so popular, I'd say this was quite the coincidence."
"It is a coincidence," Jem insisted. "Here, come sit next to me so you can see her."
Not quite sure why she complied, Annelie rose and changed seats. The first thing she noticed was Carolyn's erratic smoking. The actress's hands jerked when she put the cigarette between her lips or tapped restless fingertips against the tablecloth.