CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Frustrated, Paige tossed the skirt on the bed. She was running out of time and needed to be dressed for her meeting, but she had a big problem.
Nothing seemed to look right. This was just about the biggest meeting of her life and her clothes were all wrong. What had she been thinking when she’d packed for New York?
“Darling, after your meeting do you want to go to lunch?”
Nate froze in the middle of the hotel bedroom, his gaze taking in the pile of clothes on the bed. She was sure she looked a sight as well, standing in her bra and panties. He’d been patient with her excitement since she’d received the call right before Thanksgiving and had even offered to accompany her here on their way back to London. Of course she’d jumped at the chance to have him by her side. He might not be attending this meeting with her but they were a team making this movie together.
“I don’t think they’ll let me in the restaurant dressed like this.”
He placed the script he was reading on the bed and approached her carefully, like she was a wild horse about to bolt. “Don’t like anything you packed, love?”
Taking a deep breath, she picked up the skirt she’d just tossed away. “I hate every single thing I packed. It’s all wrong and I’m an idiot who only wears pajamas all the time.”
Those last words were choked out as a lump lodged in her throat. She had no idea what to wear to a Hollywood meeting. A bank meeting? Sure. But big studio executives? She was clueless.
Rushing to her side, he pulled her into his arms, dropping a kiss on her temple. “You are not an idiot, love, and you wear some rather fashionable jammies. Now let’s take a look at what you packed. I’ve been to many of these sorts of meetings and I’m sure we can find something here that will be suitable. Did you bring a skirt or dress?”
“I brought two skirts.” She held them up for his inspection. “Black and red.”
He picked up an eggshell colored lace blouse. “This with the red skirt and the black pumps. Very classy and elegant.”
“You’re a freakin’ genius.” Paige stood on her tiptoes and pulled Nate down for a kiss. “I’d been eyeing that combination but I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate. Man, Treetop, you made my day.”
“I’ll bank the points for the next time I’m in the doghouse.”
She pulled the shoes from her suitcase and placed them by the bed. “Are you planning to be there any time soon?”
Tossing the rest of the clothes back into the dresser drawer, she laid the outfit onto the bed but Nate moved closer, his hands cupping her sensitive breasts.
“It’s a crime to cover up these beauties. They should be displayed like the work of art they are.”
Biting her lip against the surge of desire, she had to stifle her moan as his thumbs brushed her nipples. “Are you suggesting I walk around topless?”
“Only for me.”
His lips pressed against the curve of her breast, his tongue snaking out under the edge of the lace. They were only headed one place if they kept this up and she needed to make that meeting on time.
“Let’s put this on hold, handsome.” She gently pushed at his arms. “I can’t be late. This meeting it too important. For both of us.”
He stopped back reluctantly and sighed, his gaze still glued to her boobs. He was a breast man through and through.
“You’re right. Finish dressing and I’ll walk you downstairs and to your car.”
“I don’t have a car. I’ll just get a cab.” He was smiling that I-have-everything-under-control-smile again. “You ordered a car service for me, didn’t you?”
“I did,” he nodded. “I just wanted to make sure you’re taken care of today when I’m not around to do it.”
There were times this coddling and spoiling stuff was pretty good. “Thank you. That was very thoughtful.”
“I know you’re nervous but you have no reason to be, love. They want your books and you have control of the negotiation. Remember that. You have what they want.”
She slid the skirt over her hips. “I hope you’re right. I want this deal. For us, handsome. I can’t wait to work with you.”
“We’re an unbeatable team.”
* * *
Paige met the two movie executives in a tall office building just off of Park Avenue. She was ushered into a conference room with a large oval table, plush leather chairs, and a pretty female assistant in the corner who she was told would take notes. Paige’s stomach tumbled with nerves but she managed to smile and shake their hands as her agent Kris introduced her. Burt Ellis and Earnest Thorpe.
Wait…Burt and Ernie?
“Paige, we are so excited to finally meet the woman who created these amazing stories,” Burt gushed. Or was it Ernie? She’d been too nervous to pay attention. “This is going to be a very important film. I can feel it. A movie that everyone will want to see.”
That was quite the overstatement but she was happy to see their enthusiasm about the project. That boded well for the rest of the meeting.
“Thank you, I’m excited as well.” She fiddled with the hem of her blouse under the edge of the conference table. It gave her fingers something to do. “I have a lot of ideas about the movie.”
Ernie leaned forward, a grin on his face. “We absolutely love, love, love the ideas your agent forward to us, plus the sample pages of the script. Pure gold. No, make that Oscar gold.”
They really were laying it on thick. While she thought her books were good, they weren’t the heavy literary works that won Academy Awards. She wrote feel-good stories that made people cry and smile.
She nibbled at the muffins they’d placed on the table but stuck to water instead of coffee. She was already jittery and overexcited.
They bantered back and forth about their ideas for the production, even discussing ways they could market the movie to the masses. They didn’t need to discuss money as she wouldn’t even be here if the dollar figure wasn’t fair. This was all about creative control and so far they appeared to be open to her vision, but then they hadn’t discussed all of her ideas. Better to ease in and pick her battles. She wouldn’t win all of them, of that she was sure.
Paige thought she was home free when she saw Burt and Ernie exchange a look that wasn’t a happy one. Well, crap.
“There is one thing,” Ernie began, shifting in his chair. Even he didn’t want to talk about it from the looks of things. “You’ve chosen Nate Mason as Flynn and also slated him to direct. We have some concerns about that.”
A quick look at Kris’s face told Paige that this was the first she was hearing this too.
She didn’t panic, instead crossing one leg casually over the other, although her stomach twisted into a knot. “What concerns do you have?”
Burt held up his hands in almost surrender. “We understand that you and he are in a relationship.” He used air quotes when he said relationship. Really? Air quotes? “But we believe he lacks the star power needed to bring in the crowds that this story deserves. If you’re set on someone from the UK, let’s talk about Maxwell Hayes.”
“Max? Trust me, Max is not Flynn. Not even close.”
Ernie’s brows went up. “You know Hayes? That’s even better. We can sweeten the deal for him with the directing. He can sell tickets.”
Paige shook her head. “Flynn is Nate. Nate is Flynn. He is my first and only choice.”
Burt sighed and seemed to regroup. “We like you, Paige. We like your work. But after last year, Nate just isn’t an A-lister, if he ever was. When we market this movie, we want people buzzing about the story. All people will be talking about will be Nate’s PR nightmare.”
“He’s rehabilitated.” Paige argued. “No one talks about Stella anymore.”
“But they will,” Burt shot back. “Otherwise, he’s just not that interesting. He runs, he reads boring English literature, and is – I mean was – something of a playboy. What else do they have to talk about?”
“His large body of fine acting,” she answered, keeping her features as schooled as possible. “Nate is a great actor. Possibly one of the best in the business.”
And her mood had just gone to hell. She had taken a swing to the dark side. Heaven help Burt and Ernie.
Kris decided it was time to pop into the conversation. “I think we can all agree that we want a great movie to come from this project. I think we can also agree that Paige’s cooperation hinges on making any casting and directing decisions.”
Ernie’s head bobbed in agreement. “We completely understand but we all want to make money here. Nate is an immense talent and I agree that he may be one of the best actors of our time. But he’s had two box office flops in a row. He can’t put people in the seats and that’s a fact.”
Paige had had enough.
“First of all, he was born to play this role and he’s going to do an amazing job. As for the movie flops, the first one was a terrible film but Nate received excellent reviews. The consensus was that the actors deserved better material to work with. That one is on the writer and director. As for the indie movie, that was never going to be a big grossing film. The story is too niche for that. Once again, his acting was reviewed positively. He received an Emmy nomination a few years ago, so his acting must not suck.” She leaned forward and looked Burt in the eye. “Who do you want to see in the role? Who is your dream casting?”
His smile widened. “I’m so glad you asked. We think Sam Collins would be perfect and have that star-power draw that we need. I think we can get him too if we give him points on the back end.”
“Sam Collins,” Paige repeated, giving Kris a look of disgust. Sam was a nice man and a great actor but he wasn’t the Flynn type in the least. “Isn’t he a little busy making Scorsese films?”
“We heard that he wants a break to do something lighter,” Ernie crowed. “He’s looking specifically at book adaptations.”
“Who told you that?” Kris asked, her brows pulled down into a frown. “I haven’t heard that.”
The two men shifted in their seats, clearly uncomfortable with the question. Burt glanced at Ernie before speaking.
“Actually it was Stella Riley.”
Stella Riley. Paige should have known. That girl needed to mind her own business.
“I didn’t realize she and Collins were that close,” Paige replied tightly, knowing full well that Sam couldn’t stand that woman. “What else did Stella say?”
More fidgeting and fussing but Paige and her agent simply sat there patiently waiting. They wanted answers. This time it was Ernie who broke first.
“We saw Stella at The Ivy yesterday at lunch. She reminded us that Nate has a history of bad judgment. We can’t have someone like that starring and directing in one of our movies.”
Paige couldn’t control her reply. “Might I remind you gentleman that the bad judgment Nate showed was dating…Stella Riley? If I were you, I wouldn’t make the same mistake of trusting anything she has to say.”
Burt cleared his throat and Ernie took a long swallow from his water bottle but they weren’t saying anything else. Frankly Paige didn’t want to hear more of their excuses.
This was every nightmare she’d had about this project only now she was living it in full living color. Taking a deep breath to steady her voice, she placed her hands flat on the table before speaking. She had to say this exactly right.
“Gentleman, this is what I was trying to avoid. The entire reason I’ve fought so hard for creative control was to stay out of discussions like this. Sam Collins? He’s a great actor but he is all wrong for this. In addition, I’m not sure how Stella Riley became a consultant on this project especially considering that her own acting career is made up of one good role in a romantic comedy and then low budget horror films for the rest.”
To Paige’s relief, Kris straightened in her chair and took control of the meeting. “Gentleman, I need to speak with my client. Would you mind if we took a little break?”
Both men seemed relieved, and they all stood, Paige and Kris excusing themselves to the ladies’ room. Paige freshened her makeup while Kris returned a few texts. When the older woman was finished, she tucked her phone back in her handbag and leaned against one of the sinks.
“Talk to me, Paige. Tell me what’s going on in that brilliant writer’s brain of yours.”
Rubbing her temple where a headache was forming, Paige wasn’t sure Kris was going to want to hear it.
“I’m frustrated,” she finally confessed. “I feel like I’ve been lured to New York on false pretenses. They know what I want and they acted like everything was great but it wasn’t. They’re taking advice from Stella Riley of all people. Do you think one of them is dating her? Then they sprung this shit about Nate on me at the last minute. I’m pissed off, I guess.”
“They never mentioned it to me either,” Kris said with a harassed sigh. “I’m as angry as you are because these guys know better, but they’re trying to take advantage of you. They think you want this movie more than you want control, but I think they’re wrong.”
This was why Kris was Paige’s agent. She understood. “They are wrong. I’d rather not do this at all if it can’t be done my way. I’ve heard too many authors lamenting what Hollywood did to their books. I don’t need the money or fame and frankly, I don’t need the hassle. Anyone who would do this isn’t someone I want to trust with Flynn.”
Kris gave her a shrewd look. “And Nate? Is he a deal breaker?”
Lifting her chin, Paige nodded. “If they don’t want him, they don’t want me. He and I are a team and we’re going to make this movie together. We’ve talked for hours about what we want to do, and we’ve made so many plans. I won’t sell him down the river because these two guys can’t see any farther than their own hands. If they want the books so bad, there has to be others out there that also want them.”
“Maybe. Are you prepared to walk away knowing that this movie might never be made?”
She didn’t even have to think about it.
“Yes,” she stated, putting every ounce of certainty she could into her answer so there would be no question in Kris’s mind. “I’m prepared to do that without an ounce of regret. Are you angry with me?”
Kris laughed and checked her hair in the mirror. “You mean am I going to miss the huge commission that I would get for selling this to Hollywood? Of course, but I have to say that I admire your intestinal fortitude. You know what you want, Paige, and you’re not afraid to do the hard stuff to make it happen.”
That’s where Kris had it wrong. Putting Nate in the role and making this movie with him was the easiest thing Paige had ever done. This wasn’t about love, although she did love him more than she’d ever imagined. This was about Nate Mason being the perfect person to play Flynn and direct this film. It was more a business decision than anything although she was sure no one was going to see it that way.
“I know what I want,” Paige said. “I was happy before all of this movie talk and I’ll be happy if it all goes away.”
Or better yet, find someone else to help them bankroll the movie.
“I’m not giving up,” Kris warned her. “Let’s go in there and see if we can make it happen.”
It was clear Burt and Ernie had also spent their break retrenching and they weren’t inclined to budge. But it also became clear to Paige that the two executives thought this was simply a bargaining tool she was using and not a deeply held belief. They were destined to be disappointed.
“I just can’t see Nate Mason in that role,” Burt said, his hands folded on the table. “We can’t go forward with him as part of this project.”
Paige shot Kris a quick glance before replying in case the other woman wanted to do the talking, but she nodded in acceptance that this was her client’s show.
“I think you need to know that I am prepared to walk away from this deal if my choice cannot be accommodated.” She turned to Kris. “Is there anything left to discuss?”
The agent shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. “No, not really. I think we’re done here.”
Paige turned back to the two men who had both gone quite pale. “It appears we have nothing left to say. Thank you for your time, gentleman.”
She and Kris began to rise and the execs seemed to wake up from whatever stupor had come over them. Both men waved her back in her seat but she decided to remain standing until she heard what they had to say.
Burt spoke first. “You can’t walk away from a deal this big.”
They didn’t want to negotiate. They simply couldn’t believe she was walking away from millions. She already had money and she didn’t spend all that much. What she wanted was to see her work on the screen, but she wasn’t going to trust just anyone to do it.
She relaxed and smiled for the first time that day. The conversation was over and she had nothing to be concerned about. She wouldn’t be making a movie with these men. Thank goodness.
“Actually, I can.”
Turning on the heel of her black pump, she walked out of the conference room after shaking their hands, taking a deep breath of relief. She hadn’t had the best vibe from them but if they’d given her what she’d wanted she would have signed. Now she didn’t have to wonder if she’d done the right thing. She knew she had.
Kris didn’t speak until they were in the elevator. “I think you just shocked the ever loving shit out of them. I doubt they get turned down much.”
“Then it was time,” Paige said proudly. “I don’t have any regrets. I did the right thing. I could tell they wanted to turn my book into a Hollywood disaster just from the ideas they floated. By the way, thanks for that. You know, in there. Backing me up. I know you worked on hard on this and I don’t want you to think I’m not grateful.”
The doors of the elevator slid open and they exited into the large lobby. “I’ll be honest with you, I almost tried to talk you into it. But then I realized you were truly fine if the movie wasn’t made. And I have to admit it was fun to walk out like that. They looked positively sick.”
There was just one thing Paige needed to make sure of before she let Kris go back to her office.
“Can I ask you a favor?”
“Sure, what can I do for you?”
Paige ran her fingers through her tangled locks. “Don’t tell Nate about today. He doesn’t need to know that the execs didn’t want him or that Stella stuck her nose in this. He’s had enough of a smackdown to his ego lately. No need to make it any worse.”
“No problem. Honestly, Ellis and Thorpe aren’t going to be running to the press to tell them they lost the book because a little slip of an author wouldn’t play ball. They’re going to pretend it was all their idea and that they changed their minds. Only you and I will know the truth. But what are you planning to tell Nate?”
“I’ll just tell them they couldn’t accommodate my vision for the movie which is the truth. Keep it vague. If he asked more specific questions, I’ll tell him about the script they wanted and the locations. That was horrifying enough.”
Paige followed Kris out of the high rise and onto the busy sidewalk. Her agent turned to leave and then paused, swiveling back. “If you’re having second thoughts, I can go right back upstairs and talk to them. You don’t even have to go. I’ll do all the groveling. You’ve worked so hard and I just want you to have what you want.”
It was sweet of Kris but Paige was just as sure now as she was ten minutes ago.
“I wouldn’t do anything different. I have no regrets then or now.”
Kris pulled her into a big hug, unexpected behavior from the savvy agent, before heading down the sidewalk to her Fifth Avenue office. “I wish I could clone you a dozen times. Tell Nate I said hi.”
Paige – and Nate – would find a way to make this movie. Their way.