My reflection should be a happy one, but instead it’s grim. Dark rings are under my eyes, reflecting the kind of night I’ve had. As I button up my long-sleeve shirt, I can’t shake a feeling of unease; it started to haunt me this morning.

With a sigh, I pull up my pants and turn away from the full-length mirror. Briefly I glance at the bed, a bed with so many happy memories.

We didn’t even make it to the party. I bet the whole crew partied the night away, but me and Sophie…well, we fucked the night away.

And it was amazing.

Over at my dresser, I rummage around for my cufflinks. I pull out an unfamiliar object. I peer at it and recognize it as one of Sophie’s opal earrings; she must have left them here.

I smile at the thought of Sophie leaving something of hers behind at my apartment.

The longer I look at the earring, the more aware I become that I’d like Sophie to be here more often…fuck, in fact, I’d like her to move in with me.

An alarm on the phone reminds me it’s time to get going. But shit, why is it that my feet are refusing to obey my commands? It is as if they’ve grown roots in my bedroom.

“Come on,” I tell myself, “how bad can it be?” If my gut is any indication, it’s going to be fucking awful.

The reasons as to why I agreed to this charade in the first place totally escape me. Because you are a fool, an inner voice whispers.

“Fucking bitch,” I mutter to myself and take the elevator to the ground floor.

Purposefully I stride out of the Eleganza and head to my toy, my Porsche. I put the pedal to the metal and roar off. May as well get this out of the way as quickly as I can.

Outside 66 Heaven Drive, I hesitate. Maybe I shouldn’t go through with it? Ah, but what’s the worst that’s going to happen?

A giant lump of some sort has taken up residence in my stomach. Fool, fool, fool. I should have talked this over with Sophie.

Sophie. Her lovely face comes into vision.

I smile. I remember why I’m doing this; it’s because of Sophie that I’m taking this cow Emma to this stupid Hollywood party. Last night it was all about the crew, but tonight it’s about the movie investors.

It’s a fancy party, not a storm of whisky and tequila on some dive bar.

Fuck, I knew entering a deal with Emma wasn’t a wise decision. I was supposed to have dinner with her, not bring her as my plus one to this party—one where it’ll be almost impossible to escape from Sophie’s gaze.

I tried to say no, but then the threats started. A few calls from her, and she’d kill the movie. And that’s just after we wrapped up shooting. Yeah, Emma’s one crazy bitch.

I leap out of the car and head up the driveway. Any other time I might have admired the elaborate and very green front lawn and garden, but not today. I’m not in the mood.

I press the doorbell once and wait.

The door opens instantly, as if she’s been waiting right near it.

“There you are, my gorgeous spunk,” says Emma and takes me by the shoulders. Before I can stop her, those blood-red lips kiss me on the cheeks.

I pull back and retrieve a handkerchief from the pocket of my trousers to wipe off any remaining lipstick. Heaven forbid Sophie sees it; she’ll jump to the wrong conclusions for sure.

“Ready?” I keep my voice cool and clipped.

Emma nods and links arms with me and follows me to my car. The lump in my stomach is doubling in size every step I take toward my Porsche.

Dutifully, I open the door for her but do not watch her slide into passenger seat. If it was Sophie, I would. I love the way she folds her legs under her and pulls down her skirt.

I slam my own door shut and floor it again. As I’m maneuvering my vehicle through the traffic, I’m grinding my teeth. Why isn’t Sophie here with me?

I can’t get rid of the words fool, fool, fool.

“I still can’t believe you would even consider sleeping with Sophie,” Emma starts, and I try hard to ignore her high-pitched dribble. “I mean, she’s not much to look at, and has the personality of a moose…and I can’t imagine she’d be very adventurous in the sex department.”

Emma stops her speech and I breath a sigh of relief. Just as I do, she puts her hand on my thigh, and her fingers trail up to my dick.

“Trust me, Todd,” she purrs. “After tonight, you’ll be lusting after me and won’t give Sophie Palmer another thought.”

I push her hand away. She giggles.

“Pretending to be a prude, are you, Todd? I don’t know why. I’ve heard of your prowess in the bedroom.”

My eyes are fixed on the road ahead. After what seems an eternity, we arrive at the Black Rabbit. To my horror, the front entrance is swarming with reporters and photographers. I’ll never be able to enter with Emma unnoticed.

I park the car and turn to my guest.

“I think it might be best if we walk in separately.”

Emma laughs, a high-pitched unpleasant—almost evil—laugh, and a shiver runs down my spine.

“I don’t think so, Todd Alexander. We will walk in together. Arm in arm. Screw it up, and the movie suffers. I have the connections to make it happen. Or have you forgotten our little deal?”

How could I?

As she takes my arm, Emma snuggles real close into me.

“After tonight, you won’t want to go back to your boring Sophie anyway, so relax.”

It doesn’t take long for us to be spotted by the vultures. Instantly a hundred or more cameras are snapping away madly, capturing each step we take toward the entrance of the Black Rabbit.

“So it’s over then, between you and Sophie?”

“How long have you been seeing Emma?”

“Emma, how do you feel being here tonight with Todd Alexander, the superstar of the movie?”

“Have you two been an item for a while now?”

Those and another hundred other questions are fired into our direction.

I ignore all of them, but it’s very difficult to remain cool, calm, and collected. My insides are burning.

Emma, on the other hand, is smiling brightly and waving at everyone. She even blows kisses in the direction of some of the reporters.

I scan the area. Where’s Sophie? I need to find her before she forms the wrong impression of what’s going on.

Fool, fool, fool.

There’s that darn inner voice again. It seems to be getting louder and louder. For the umpteenth time, I regret entering into this little deal with Emma.