Midnight came, and Max collected Kessler and Guy from the airport. Guy swept into the castle, a garment bag over his arm and his kit carried by Max.
“Sweetie, what are you up to?”
We kissed cheeks.
“Oh, you know. Just a little exposé.”
Kessler emerged behind him. “There’s no little about it. Overshadowing the premiere is huge. The impact will rock their worlds.”
“And impact you will have.” Guy presented the garment bag with a flourish. “Guess what I have.”
I blinked at it. “A dress?”
“Not just a dress, the dress. The Paolo Escale.” He hopped on the spot in glee. “It arrived right as we were leaving. Everything went to shit, and it was the work of the moment to drive back, well, have Elizabeth drive me back, to collect it for you. Your mom and Janelle had gone, so it was just sitting there, waiting for no one. I told the guard I was taking it to you, and he didn’t give a damn.”
I cackled then clapped my hands to my mouth. “You did not. You seriously stole it?”
“No such thing. The contract to wear it is in your name. And I’m working for you now. Totally legit.”
He dropped a curtsy, and just like that, I had a dress to fit the occasion.
We wasted no time in setting up. Cameron’s parents had arrived earlier in the evening, bringing equipment. William, his father, had already readied the gear for Kessler. She’d do the photo and video editing, ensuring a polished piece, then I’d upload it.
As I readied for my performance, my emotions remained strangely calm despite what I was about to do.
Kessler sidled into the guest bedroom. “I’m glad you called me. If in any way this helps repair what I did, it’s worth it.”
Guy hummed to himself, applying my makeup like the professional he was.
I summoned a smile for Kessler. To save Dad, I would’ve done anything, too. Her mom had similar issues to him. I couldn’t hold a grudge any longer. “I forgive you. Thank you for coming.”
She left us, and Guy tipped my face up so he could see me.
“Oh em gee. What did she do? She didn’t say any of that on the plane.”
I gave him the story while he prepared me for my role, his outrage only making me smile now. Iridescent makeup complemented the silvery dress, and my hair fell over one shoulder in a classy twist.
Then it was showtime.
I descended the stairs, drawing the attention of everyone in the open hall. I sought Cameron and sent him a smile. He leaned against a stone column and watched me, nothing hidden in his regard.
“You’re beautiful,” he said.
“So are you,” I replied.
Under the bright lights, and in front of the cameras with the castle as my backdrop, I settled into my seat. A second call to the LAPD had given me advice on how much I could share without compromising the investigation. With a nod from Kessler, I commenced, speaking to the lens.
“In recent months, there’s been a lot of press about me. Starting with a very public exposure and continuing more recently after my stage performance with Leo Banks. There’s a story I need to tell, and I’m not holding back.”
I poured my heart into the piece. I gave up my assault, no names named but made clear that it was on a movie set and non-consensual, the revenge attack, and how dark my days had become. I explained how I couldn’t make another movie in those conditions again, and provided more insight into my professional life than I’d ever given before.
The words fell from my lips with no hesitation.
I didn’t feel brave. This would close doors of my old life, for sure. But it paved a new path, too.
A far more exciting one I couldn’t wait to start.
My awareness of Cameron alerted me to a problem as I was coming to a natural pause. He glowered at his phone, Max joining him, holding up his own device. Cameron beckoned to Gordain, and the three of them stood together deep in a debate.
In my gorgeous, sparkling and silvered gown, I stood.
“Pausing here,” Kessler muttered, pressing something on the cameras.
Cameron’s gaze instantly alighted on me.
I stepped over the wires to join him. “What’s happening?”
His eyes glittered with a dark light. “A smear campaign. You don’t need to see this.”
At my resigned smile, he handed over his phone.
Multiple fresh headlines involving my name littered the search results.
Elise Darcy’s illicit affair with Leo Banks exposed.
Diva actress devastates fans by holding out on filming.
Beauty and the thug. Elise’s new boyfriend hunted by police over violent assault.
I clicked on the last one, horror filling me. The article named Cameron. It called for his employer to be shut down. Gordain’s business.
My heart sank. “This has to be coming from Mom. Or maybe Derren.”
Cameron lifted his chin. “Or both. This doesnae change anything.”
Except it did. Leo and Viola had gone to bed with their baby, but they were implicated in this, too. My boyfriend was. His uncle. People I cared about.
I found my own phone. Multiple emails had pinged in from Brandon Fines, Mom’s lawyer. Claims for breach of contract, notifications of potential legal action.
Viola appeared at the top of the stairs. “No,” she said to me then descended fast. “I see your expression and I know what they’re trying to do. Don’t even dare think of cancelling this for any of our sakes. We’re behind ye one hundred percent.”
She grabbed Cameron’s arm. “We’re plotting something so your boyfriend is coming with me. Ye are going to put on all your social media platforms that there’s a personal message coming from ye tomorrow. Do ye hear me?”
Guy appeared at my shoulder with a tissue. “Don’t you dare cry, don’t you mess up that makeup.”
“You’re all incredible, do you know that?” I managed.
Viola dragged Cameron away and, numbly, I tapped out a post.
Elise Darcy: A statement is coming from me tomorrow. Please have faith in me until then.
I stilled my nerves and got back to filming.
A short while later, Gordain was called upstairs, too. What they were planning, I had no idea.
I kept speaking, kept bleeding for the camera, giving Kessler all the material she needed to make a great video.
“Shut the front door,” Guy interrupted me ten minutes on. He gazed at the stairs, and I followed his focus.
Cameron, suited, booted, and so gorgeous, jogged down. His smart dark-grey jacket was a little snug—Leo’s, I guessed—but I had a flash of seeing him as a groom. Holy shit, that was an image I loved.
Behind him, Gordain, Leo, and Viola followed, the men in smart suits and Viola in a flowing gown.
Cameron got into shot and pointed at Kessler. “Each of us will say a piece, so we’ll all be in the frame. Adjust the focus or whatever ye need to do.”
She jumped to do it, and I stared at him, unable to speak. Fresh tears welled again.
“Roll it,” he ordered Kessler. Then he held my hand and stared straight down the camera. “I’m Cameron McRae, and I’m lucky enough to have Elise as my girlfriend. Let me tell you a little story about the paparazzi who hunted her.”
Next up was Gordain. He introduced himself, folded his arms, and basically told Cameron’s accusers where to go.
Then Leo and Viola joined the shot.
Leo eyed the camera and pursed his lips. “Here I am, yet again, to prove you shouldn’t believe anything you read in the press.”
His wife took my other hand in a show of solidarity, a gorgeous emerald dress flattering her form.
“Elise is our friend,” Leo continued. “We both love her dearly and want only good things for her. I was proud to have her join the stage with me to tell her story. We stand by her, and so should you.”
That was the last word, because, now an emotional wreck, I was done.
I’d talked about being abused, used by my mother, and yet this final scene was the most emotional of all.
But it was over, and only tomorrow would tell us the reaction and whether the video had done its job.
I finally hit the guest bedroom’s soft mattress at six in the morning. My phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Derren’s name was onscreen.
“The nerve of this man.” I held it up to show Cameron and then answered.
Derren’s voice, once that of a friend, was dulled. “I was too hasty the other day,” he stammered. “We should’ve worked things out ourselves. I’ll give you the chance now—”
“Have you heard of someone named Duncan Smith?” I interrupted. “A security guard who beat me up on someone’s orders? And how do you like handcuffs? I hope they hurt.”
I badly wanted to say more, but I bit my tongue.
A pause followed, then Derren hung up, and my restraint turned to laughter chased by a kiss from Cameron.
I woke to a warm Cameron wrapped around me and the knowledge that, no matter how today went, I’d have this with him tomorrow, too.
It made everything worth it.
Slowly, I curled against him. He stirred, then hugged me harder.
A kiss followed, then our clothes vanished and the kiss turned into more. Love drove us on, naked, sweaty, and so happy. I rolled to my back, and Cameron thrust into me. My body knew his now. No worry overshadowed our joy.
Later still, I made it downstairs. Kessler had finished the file overnight and gone to bed later than we had. I’d first intended to launch the video at the same time as the premiere, but now thought better of it.
The attack on my friends needed answering. Plus if the blackmail threat played out, that picture of Rory would be live any minute.
I sat at the laptop, scheduled the video to go live everywhere at noon on the west coast. Then powered down the machine.
It was done.
In the kitchen, Gordain stood at the counter, devouring a sandwich and with Baby G on his arm. The tiny boy widened his eyes at me and made a hiccupping sound.
“Hello you!” I took his little hand. “It’s lovely seeing you every day. Do you know how awesome your family are?”
“Here.” Gordain handed him to me before taking up his coffee.
I propped Finn’s butt on my forearm, and cupped his head, pulling faces to make him smile.
“I’m glad to see you alone for a moment,” I said to Gordain. “Just so I can thank you properly for the loan of your house and all your support. You’ve been wonderful.”
He wrinkled his nose, the apples of his cheeks pinkening in a way that was just like his nephew. “Nae bother.”
“It is. So just know how much I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome for it. I’ve always had a greater degree of concern for youngsters facing trials. Ye know what Viola went through after her accident. It ended her career, and she carries scars but found a new way to be happy. Then a couple of years ago, I sat on a plane next to a young lass clearly on the run. Amelie, her name was. She had a nasty scar on her forehead, and we talked a wee while until I was sure she was on the right side of her troubles. Just the same, Elise, ye carry your scars. They’re on the inside but just as real. If I can in any small way help ye find a happier path, I’m glad for it.” His gaze touched on someone over my shoulder, and the big man smiled. “Though I suspect Cameron here is ready to do battle on that front.”
“Am I now?” Cameron joined us and kissed me on the head.
Together, we made a late lunch and waited for the fallout.
