Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“I’m bisexual, and my wife understands my needs,” he explains. “I come from a conservative, very wealthy family. If my parents find out, I’ll be disinherited, and it will cost me a hundred million dollars. I’ve kept the secret this long. I might as well wait the fuckers out. Until then, I have nice casual relationships with men like Patrick.”
It hadn’t looked nice. He’d said no. “So you tend to hook up on set. That’s a popular activity.”
He stares at me. “Yes. Yes, it is. You should remember that.”
Something about the way he says the words feels threatening, and I’m done with small talk. “Well, good night, Joe.”
“Good night, Anika.” He watches me leave.
When I hit the stairs, I run up them and down the hall to my room. I lock the door behind me. I really need a shower.
Chapter Nineteen
I’m practically vibrating with anger when Luca enters, the door opening without a single squeak. His eyes go straight to me sitting on the bed, a towel wrapped around me. I managed to scrub the makeup off my face and I’m feeling relatively normal again, but I haven’t gotten dressed. He seems to immediately know something’s gone wrong.
“What’s happened, Schatz?” He sits on the bed beside me, his hand going to my thigh and a look of concern stamped on that handsome face of his. “Don’t tell me nothing because you were smiling when I left you last. Was it Shelby? I knew I shouldn’t have listened to the producers. I told them I wanted to get rid of one of the mean girls, and they talked me into Kate.”
“It wasn’t Shelby. She’s perfectly happy with the situation. She’s thrilled she’s the last bully standing because she’s sure that means she’s making the final two.” I don’t care about the NDA in this moment. I need to talk to him. I need him to understand why I’m going to blow his relationship with an important person. “It’s something else. Something serious. I caught Joe trying to force himself on Patrick.”
“What?” Concern seems to turn to confusion. “Force himself?”
His English is so good, I forget it’s not his first language. “I caught him and Patrick in a sexual situation. A nonconsensual one.”
“But he’s married.” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry. That was a naïve thing to say. I’m a bit startled because I didn’t know he was anything but the straight man he presents himself to be. I don’t have a problem with it. I believe we’re all born the way we’re born and we accept it, but why would he hide it?”
I truly believe Joe told me the truth about this. Not so sure that his wife knows, but that doesn’t matter to the situation at hand. “Apparently his parents are loaded, and he’s concerned about them not approving of his lifestyle. He doesn’t want to get cut out of the will.”
Understanding dawns as he nods. “Ah, yes. Of course, and they are very religious in an… How would you put…old-school fashion. I’ve met them. They’ve done business with my country. Are you all right? Did he try to hurt you?”
He hadn’t, though I had felt like it could happen. “No. I accepted his explanation that he’s having an affair. Although I don’t know he would call it that since he told me his wife knows about his lifestyle and they have an open marriage. I don’t think Patrick would say they’re having an affair.”
“Did you talk to him?” Luca asks.
“I heard him saying no. He said it plainly, and he was crying when he did.” My gut clenches because sometimes men don’t understand. If you’ve never been in the position, it can be easy to wave it off. “I saw what was happening, Luca. I have zero doubt that Patrick didn’t want what Joe was trying to do to him. I don’t care if Patrick was having some kind of relationship with him. He has the right to say no at any point.”
“Of course.” He takes my hand, holding it to his heart. “You’re right, my darling. So what are you going to do about it? How can I help you?”
I sniffle and lean into his strength. “I was sent to work on this show by the head of the company. She’s been a mentor to me since I was an intern. She wanted me to take a low-level PA position so I could investigate some rumors she’s been hearing.”
His hand strokes over my hair. “Rumors about Joe. Rumors that he was hurting people?”
“Women,” I correct. “I thought he was harassing the women around him. I assumed that was why Jessica sent a woman in. I’m young and potentially someone he might hit on. When he didn’t and he seemed to treat all the contestants with respect and professionalism, I didn’t even look at the men.” I’m upset with myself for walking into this with a mindset that didn’t allow for a different outcome. I had a specific scenario in mind and didn’t think about all the times Joe would bark at Patrick to meet him in his office. Didn’t see how tense Patrick would get. How angry he was all the time. “I should have known. Directors don’t work that closely with production assistants.”