I arrived at the gala before the rest of my team, so I could get a few cocktails down and meet with the executives who were putting on the event. They were all affluent members of Miami society, and I wanted James to be seen with them and photographed with their wives. It wouldn’t just look good for her image, but there was also a chance it could help her career since several of the men were retired from the industry.

Miami was where old Hollywood money came to retire and die, and these men were part of that generation. At times, the ones who didn’t participate in the everyday hustle had more pull than the guys who worked it full-time.

I needed their connections.

So, I sat with the old-timers, sipping my second tumbler of scotch, and listened to them talk about property tax and the Dolphins and how to convert a chlorine pool to fucking saltwater.

I was putting in my time.

And it was noticed.

Henry, a movie producer who had been in the business for over forty years with a stack of awards that was highly impressive, asked me to follow him to get a drink. Adjusting the tie of my tux, I walked behind him and leaned into the bar top as he took a seat beside me.

“What would you like?” Henry asked me as the bartender stood in front of us.

“Whatever he’s having”—I pointed at Henry—“I’ll take the same.”

As Henry ordered, I felt my phone vibrate from my inside pocket and quickly checked the screen. It was a text from Scarlett, saying she was on her way with Max and Jack and James was in a separate limo with a few of my team members. I stuck it back in my pocket and lifted the glass from the countertop, clinking it against Henry’s.

“I hear you have a new client,” he said. He ran his hand over his beard, one that looked like it hadn’t been trimmed in months. “She’s got some talent, that girl.”

“She does.”

“I hope you’re helping her navigate all the trouble she’s found herself in.”

I nodded. “We’re working with the authorities. It hasn’t been as easy as we all would like, but some evidence will surface soon. I’m confident of that.”

“Vaults are only as strong as their key holder. If I’ve learned anything from this industry, it’s that those holders have a weakness. You just have to find it.”

“I will.”

“I don’t doubt that.” He took a drink. “What can I do to help you, Mr. Young?”

My trip to Alabama had been successful. The client I’d visited was made for the role, and I was sure the Academy would take note. The other half of the trip, I’d spent talking to the director about the movie he was going to be filming early next year and the lead that hadn’t yet been casted. It was a drama that would be shot in Alaska where a young fisherman and his wife were in the Bering Sea, and fifty miles from shore, their boat would capsize and sink. It was a hell of a script, and James would be perfect for the wife. As long as the media calmed down, the role would be hers.

I would make sure that happened.

But it still wasn’t the blockbuster I was looking for.

That was where Henry came in.

“James has lost all of her upcoming films. One of them is anticipated to be the biggest movie next year, and it’s a role she’s worked her entire career to land.”

He pushed his glasses up and nodded. “I heard.”

“I need to get her another one just like it.”

“I had a feeling.” He turned toward the bar and took several sips of his drink. “Let me put out some feelers and see what’s in the pipeline.”

“That’s all I’m asking.” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “I know you and your wife are Knicks fans. They’ll be playing the Celtics in a few weeks, and I’d like to send you both to Manhattan for the weekend. Floor seats, full access to my company’s private jet.”

“Sounds like something my wife and I would like very much.”

I squeezed his shoulder and made it about ten feet before I was approached by Rebecca, one of my clients.

She kissed me on the cheek and hugged me, and as I pulled away, she grabbed my hand and said, “Brett, I just saw him.”

“I assume you’re talking about the CEO of Netflix, and before you ask, he’s already looking forward to meeting you. I’m going to take you over to him in about ten minutes.”

“This is why you’re the best.”

Rebecca was one of my leading actresses, who dabbled in writing and directing. She had recently finished scripting her first series, and I wanted to pitch it to Netflix. It would be a huge hit for direct streaming, and I had high hopes they would bite. Given that the CEO was attending tonight’s gala, I thought this was where we should start.

What Rebecca didn’t know was that HBO was also here, and we would be meeting with them right after.

I could tell she was nervous, so I’d keep the second pitch in my back pocket until she made it through the first.

“Did you review the notes I sent you?”

Because I had known she’d be anxious, I’d had my team put together some talking points that would keep her on subject. The setting was informal, and she wasn’t expected to be perfect, but this was an imperative step. If the CEO showed interest, the process would move quickly, and within a few days, we could be at their headquarters in Los Gatos.

She needed to be ready for that, and my team would prep her.

“Yes,” she said, a smile covering her whole face. “Each point has been memorized.” She gripped my hand harder. “You’re so good to me.”

As I started to reply, I saw James in the corner of my eye, and I turned my head just enough to see the rest of her. She stood near the entrance with several of my team members, wearing my favorite dress out of all the ones Eve had chosen. It was black and floor-length, wrapping around her neck and down her arms with cutouts on both shoulders and hips. It revealed just enough skin to make it incredibly sexy, and it hugged her flawless body.

My team would keep her busy for the next hour, introducing her to the wives of the executives and the other attendees we’d targeted when we got a copy of the guest list. Once Rebecca and I finished with both networks, James would get my full attention.

There was a vibration in my inside pocket, and I pulled out my phone to check the screen. It was another text from Scarlett, saying the red carpet had gone extremely well, the photographers had played nice, and no one had given James a hard time.

That was the way I’d planned it.

And that was what I’d fucking paid for.

This morning, cash had been wired to the photographers’ accounts with an order to release the shots to all major celebrity sites before the gala was over.

This was James’s first media appearance since the video had been leaked. So, I wanted the public to see how amazing she looked and how professional she was on the red carpet despite the things that had been said about her. I wanted it to be known that the gala was for charity and that James had made a sizable donation.

She wasn’t going to hide anymore, but each sighting was going to be planned. And, each time, she would look hot as fuck and sophisticated, just like she did right now.

Tonight would be one of the best evenings she’d had since the tape was aired.

I’d make sure of that.

“How much time do we have until the meeting?” Rebecca asked.

Her hand was on my shoulder, and she was fixing the strap to her shoe.

“About eight minutes.” I looked for James but no longer saw her near the entrance, which meant my team was taking her to her first introduction. “I’m going to grab you a drink, and I’ll meet you over there in five.” I pointed at the archway that was between the ballroom and bar.

“Make it a stiff one.”

As we parted, I headed to the same spot where I’d talked with Henry, and just as I placed both drink orders, Jack joined me.

“She did good,” he said, taking one of the drink straws out of the holder and chewing on the end. “But I’m sure Scarlett told you.”

“Yeah, she texted me.”

The bartender handed me two scotches, and Jack ordered one as well.

“It’s going to be a busy night,” he said. “I have six clients here and two prospective ones. And do you see those two women over there?”

I looked to where he was nodding, and there were two chicks standing near the corner of the room. One appeared to be in her fifties and the other in her twenties.

“Don’t even fucking tell me.”

He laughed, taking the drink from the bartender and holding it up to his lips. “I didn’t know they were mother and daughter. Fuck, I didn’t even know they knew each other.”

“Which one do you like more?”

He glanced at them and then at me. “Do I have to choose?”

I laughed even harder than him and finally said, “We’ve got some good meetings tonight that could earn The Agency a shit-ton of money.”

“Then, don’t fuck them up. The last thing we need is you covered in cum.”

My brows rose. “What?”

“I saw your tie when you came out of the conference room with James. Then, when we went back in to meet with her, the whole fucking room reeked of sex.”

“Jesus Christ.”

It was Jack’s turn to dig, so I wasn’t surprised I was getting that from him. I was just surprised it had taken him this long to bring it up. I was sure he’d been holding it in, waiting for the right time to lay it on me.

He clinked his glass against mine even though we’d both taken several sips. “You still tapping that?”

I shook my head.

“Are you fucking crazy? Why not? Do you see what she’s wearing tonight?”

“She looks good; I know.”

“Then, what’s the issue?”

“She’s eighteen years old, Jack.” That didn’t seem to dent his opinion, so I added, “She deserves a guy who is good at committing and isn’t a serial bachelor.” That didn’t do anything either. “She’s my client, and this isn’t the right time to start anything. James needs to chill out for a while. Getting involved with me won’t help her situation at all.”

“I still don’t know why you stopped tapping that.”

“I need her to focus. I need to fucking focus. I can’t do that if every meeting gets cut short because my dick has more to say than I do.”

“So, have the meeting, finish what you need to say, and then dip it in.”

“You’re not helping.”

“Trust me, my friend, I’m fucking helping you plenty. Any guy in this room would give you the same advice.”

I looked at my watch and saw I had a minute left before I needed to meet Rebecca. “I’ve got to go pitch Netflix. I’ll catch you later.”

“Attaboy; go get that money,” he said.

And I walked away.