Chapter 44: Chapter 44

A glass of sweet tea on the table next to her, Ella sat on the back patio, her laptop poised on her knees, as she finished adding a banner to her website. It was starting to come along, everything falling into place, and before long, she’d be ready to reveal her new enterprise to the world.

Over the last few days, she’d spoken to Fae several times, running ideas past her and getting her take on most of the details. Fae was like the grandmother she’d never had, always encouraging her and also coming up with moments of inspiration that sent Ella off in a new direction as her creativity took hold. Ella’s realtor was looking for the perfect site for the unveiling, and she was working with several other marketing firms as well as the new LLC Rome had helped her establish to get the plan ready for the launch. Everything was beginning to come together, and within a few months, she’d be ready.

Her cell phone rang, sliding as it vibrated in the condensation ring from her tea. It was difficult to pull her mind away from her work until she remembered Rome was supposed to be having lunch with the new owner of the production company today. She expected him to call when it was over, but it seemed early. Hurriedly, she picked up her phone, alarmed that it was him calling only twenty minutes after his scheduled meeting time. “Hello?”

“Hey, babe.”

She could tell immediately that he was angry. His words were clipped, and his tone conveyed the meeting had not gone well. “What’s wrong?”

Rome sighed loudly. “You will never believe who the new owner is.”

Her breath caught in her throat, and Ella found it almost impossible to swallow. It couldn’t be her father--the Veronas had made sure of that. So who else? She quickly pored back over the details of what Rome had told her about the new owner so far, and a realization dawned on her, one she wished she would’ve put together days ago. “Not Henry?” she asked, praying she was wrong. In the back of her mind, the suspicion had been there, but she’d pushed it away, praying it couldn’t be true.

“How did you know?” Rome asked, surprise making its way through his rage.

She couldn’t answer his question, so she ignored it. “Oh, God, Rome. I’m so sorry. What the hell does he want with your father’s company?”

“To make my life a living hell!” Rome spat. “As if he hasn’t already contributed enough to my personal angst, he has now decided he needs to own me for however damn long it takes to make ten shitty movies!”

Ella had no idea what to say to that. She couldn’t blame him for being mad. She was, too. After a few moments, she said the only thing that came to mind. “I’m so sorry, baby. What are you going to do?”

“Call my lawyer,” he replied. The sound of horns honking and other traffic noises made her realize he was driving, which worried her. He seemed way too angry to be behind the wheel at the moment, and even though she knew he was hands free, she didn’t want to distract him. “What else can I do?”

“Okay--yeah, that’s a good idea. Maybe there’s something he can do to get you out of it. Why don’t you… call me back when you get to the set?”

“I’m angry, Ella, but I’m not going to crash. Traffic is moving about five miles an hour.”

He always could read her mind. “I know. I just… I worry about you anyway. Now, I have even more reason to do so.”

“Don’t worry about me, Ella. I’ll be all right. I just… God, he had the audacity to try to tell me that I ruined his life. Seriously? All he had to do was tell your father that he didn’t want to marry you and maybe you wouldn’t have had to go to such lengths to get away from both of them.”

“I know,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm and her tears from falling. She’d been over all of that a million times. How would things have been different if Henry would’ve spoken up on her behalf, the way she almost thought he was going to that day before she faked her own death? The idea that he would dare to try to blame Rome made her wish she could call him and chew him out. But she couldn’t do that because Henry thought she was dead….

“Anyway, it’ll be all right. I’ll sort it out. I just wanted to talk to you about it.”

“I’m glad you called. But seriously, be careful driving back to the set.”

“I will be. I’ll text you when I get there.”

“Thanks. I love you, Rome. More than anything.”

“I know you do, El. I love you, too. I’ll talk to you later, sweetheart.”

Ella hung up and set the phone aside, but inside, her stomach was churning. There had to be something they could do to get even with Henry. What it was, she wasn’t sure, but as she was reinventing herself, she’d be sure to work it into her plan--one way or another.

Refocusing her attention on the project in front of her, Ella had a harder time concentrating than she had before, but she was even more determined than ever to get herself back together. With the plan she and Fae had created, she simply couldn’t fail.

* * *

Back on the set, Rome was filled with anger. The meeting with Henry had him completely out of sorts, and his acting was suffering because of it. They’d gone over the same scene four times before Wynnie finally called a break and asked to speak with him. It had been a long time since anyone had needed to pull him aside and talk to him about his acting in a negative context, so when she’d sent him to his trailer to take a few minutes and regroup, he wanted to send his fist through the wall. She was an award winning actress, and if it wasn’t for her, he wouldn’t have this role. He couldn’t stand the thought of disappointing her.

“Can I get you anything?” Phil asked, after giving him a few minutes by himself.

Rome shook his head. “No, there’s nothing anyone can bring me right now to make me feel any better.” If he’d had a few minutes, he would’ve called his lawyer before he tried to get back to work, but he hadn’t had time then and knew he didn’t have time now. Just the idea that someone else was working on the problem might’ve made him feel better.

“I take it your lunch meeting didn’t go well?” Phil asked. He was never one to pry, but it was obvious he was concerned about Rome, and for good reason.

“No, not at all,” Rome replied. He was sitting in a chair in front of a mirror, and a glance in that direction told him he even looked angry and out of sorts. He needed to calm down and trust that there was a solution to this problem, but that was easier said than done.

“Well, if you wanna talk… I’m always willing to listen,” Phil said with an easy smile.

Rome might’ve taken him up on the offer if his cell phone hadn’t rang at that moment. He glanced down to see who was calling, and when he saw that it was his mother, a fresh bolt of lightning soared through his body. He snatched up the phone and growled, “Hello, Mom.”

“Rome? Is everything okay?”

“No, Mother, it isn’t. Do you and Father realize exactly who it is that you sold the production company to?” Rome glanced up to see Phil backing out the door, clearly not wanting to eavesdrop. Rome wouldn’t have cared if he’d stayed. It would’ve saved him having to tell the entire story twice, but it was okay that he’d left, too. He probably didn’t need a firsthand witness to the conversation he was about to have with his mother. Anyone who didn’t realize all the woman had put him through, as the willing pawn of his father, might think he was being cruel.

“Well, I’m not exactly sure. I know it was a man from France. Henry something or other, I think. Why do you ask?”

“His name is Henry Caron, Mother. He’s the man that Ella’s father tried to make her marry!”

“What?” Lacy sounded just as shocked as Rome had felt when he finally put two and two together a few hours ago. “But… your father was sure to put into the contract that the sale couldn’t be to anyone associated with Lloyd Sinders!”

“Apparently, someone screwed up then, Mom, because Henry Caron is definitely an associate of Lloyd Sinders, at least on a personal level if not professionally. And now I’m going to have to make ten movies with a man who hates me.” He ran a hand through his hair, grabbing hold of it and tugging as if he might pull a wad of it out.

“Rome, I’m so sorry. I am sure that your father will find a way to fix this.”

“I don’t think it can be fixed. Henry said that he made sure the contract was solid. But by all means, do what you can to see if there’s a way you can get me out of this. I should’ve listened to--” He stopped himself short of saying Ella’s name, thankful that he wasn’t so mad that he almost blurted out something he’d regret. “I should’ve listened to Bart and not come back here so quickly. I should’ve never trusted you and Dad! After what you did to me last time, I should’ve known better.”

“Rome, please, stop shouting,” she said in that child-like voice that told him she was on the verge of tears. “I’m so sorry, honey.”

“I’m sure you are. Just… tell Monty Verona to get his shit together and fix this!” He hung up, not even letting her tell him what it was she’d called about in the first place.

Looking up, he saw Wynnie’s familiar face in the doorway, her lips drawn together in concern as she stared at him through narrowed eyes. “Rome? Are you going to be okay, or should we just call off the rest of the shoot for the afternoon?”

“I’m sorry, Wynnie,” he said, bending over with his elbows on his knees. “It’s just that… once again… my parents are causing chaos in my life.” He shook his head. “I should’ve never trusted them.”

With a sympathetic look on her face, Wynnie crossed the room, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from her. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on, or just be angry for the rest of the night?”

“Neither,” he said, making her chuckle. “I have to make ten movies with my dad’s former production company--which he sold to the man Ella’s father was trying to force to marry before… before….” He didn’t finish the sentence. There was no reason to. She got it. He could tell by the slow nod and the way she dropped her eyes.

Reaching across the space and taking hold of his hand, Wynnie said, “I’m so sorry, Rome. That has got to be unbelievably difficult for you. I’m sure you’re feeling betrayed by your family for the second time, and you’re probably anxious, thinking this person will do whatever he can to make your life difficult for the foreseeable future. But Rome, if there’s anyone in the world who can handle this, it’s you.”

He smirked at her, dropping his head as he attempted to find the right words to tell her that she was crazy. “I don’t think so, Wynnie.”

“I know so, Rome. Think about everything you’ve gone through in the last year. Yet, here you are, making movies again, and doing a kick ass job. Most of the time. That asshole could give you the worst script ever written, and you’d find a way to make it work. Besides, I’m assuming that just because he owns the company, that doesn’t mean he’ll be on set every day. He probably won’t even be in the country for most of the productions. I know it’s not ideal, but you’ll make it work.”

Rome stared at his friend for a few moments, still not sure what to say but feeling much more positive now than he had before she’d come in to speak to him. It was one thing for Ella to tell him everything was going to be okay. She didn’t know--she wasn’t an actress and had never been on a set before. Her words were just to make him feel better. But hearing Wynnie say that he’d be okay was different because she knew the industry; she knew how all of this worked. She knew him. “Do you think?” he asked, a ray of hope finally sparking within him.

“I know,” she said again, with emphasis. “It sucks, Rome. A lot of things have sucked for you lately, and I hate that, because you’re a good guy, unlike a lot of the bastards in this industry.” He snickered. Leave it to Wynnie to tell you how it really was. “But you’re going to be fine. Now, go see Samantha, get that hair and make-up touched up, and let’s get through this last scene of the day so we can all get the hell out of here.” She patted him sharply on the hand, almost a slap, and then headed out.

She’d reached the door when he called after her. “Wynnie?”

Turning to look over her shoulder, she raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

“Thanks.”

She smiled and gave him a little nod before continuing out the door.

Rome felt remarkably better considering nothing had changed. Wynnie was right, though. He’d been giving Henry Caron his power and letting him wield it against him. The truth of the matter was, Henry had no power over him. He needed to believe in what he’d said when he left the restaurant. Even if Henry’s contract was sound, and Rome did have to make ten movies with him, that didn’t mean it had to be an enjoyable experience for Henry. Rome still had the power to make things hard on the producer without jeopardizing his own career. He just had to be calculating in his every move, and that was something that he should be able to do easily enough. After all, he was an actor.

With a deep breath, Rome headed out to find the hair and make-up personnel, resolved to get through the scene so he could go home to Ella’s arms. In the end, the fact that Henry hadn’t won, that he didn’t have Ella, and Rome still did, should be enough fuel to get him through whatever was to come.