Free Captive Films: Season One by Jillian Dodd Page A

needs to be covered in twinkle lights. And I love the idea of saying our vows in the same spot where you brought the dirt.”
    “Me too,” I say, yawning again.  
    I lay my head on his shoulder and am almost asleep when Aiden says, “You know Riley and Ariela kissed last night, right?”
    My eyes shoot back open. “What? When? Where?”
    “When you told her to go talk to him.”
    “They kissed then ?”
    “Yeah, it was crazy passionate. Her leg was wrapped around him. I thought they were gonna do it up against our bar.”
    “Then why was he such a dick to her?”
    “I think maybe when they kissed, he told her it didn’t mean anything. Because they got interrupted by Marvel and when she pulled away, she said she knew it didn’t mean anything. He was pretty rattled.”
    I smile. “He still loves her.”
    “She still affects him. That’s different than love. It’s been a long time.”
    “But he hasn’t fallen for anyone else. And god knows it’s not from lack of dating.”
    Aiden chuckles. “No matchmaking. He’s our friend. She hasn’t been our friend for ten years. And that was her choice. I’m not sure asking her to help with the wedding is such a good idea, honestly. We don’t know if we can trust her.”
    “Hmm. You’re right. Maybe I’ll get a second opinion.”
    “Inviting her to lunch with Vanessa?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good plan. Vanessa reads bullshit a mile away.”
    Even though it’s six in the morning, I grab my phone and fire off a quick text to Ariela, asking her to meet me for lunch today.
    Then I lay my head back on Aiden’s shoulder and close my eyes.

Captive Films - Santa Monica
    RILEY

    I’m sitting at my desk waiting for Keatyn. We always meet an hour before every board meeting. It’s our routine. Something that originally helped smooth out our nerves when we started working at the company and helping to guide its future. The company was already successful when she took it over. It had done well buying movie futures and investing in classic film rights. Grandpa Douglas always says Don’t fix what ain’t broken , and we listened. With his guidance and business expertise, we kept the best of the past and followed our own vision to give it a bright future. I’ll never forget how much fun we had making our first film. What a summer.  
    I’m lost in memories—memories of that exciting summer with Ariela, doing what I loved and being with who I loved—when Keatyn steps into my office.  
    “Hey,” she says, a little frown gracing her face.  
    “Hey,” I say back.
    “I’m sorry about last night.”
    “It’s okay. Believe it or not, it got worse.”
    “You look a little hungover. Did you go out?”
    “Yeah. Called Knox. Went to a club.”
    “Where you were surrounded by beautiful women?”
    “Until Ariela showed up.”
    Keatyn’s eyes get big with shock. “She showed up at the club? Was she following you?”
    “She said it was a complete coincidence. That when she got home her friend wanted to go out. Her friend chose the club. They waited an hour to get in.”
    “Maybe you should ask her out on a date.”
    “I have no desire to go on a date with her ever again.” I run my hands through my hair, hoping my hangover will go away quickly. I don’t know what I was thinking. I never go out the night before a board meeting. I hit a button on my phone and demand, “Tyler, bring us some coffee.” Maybe that will help. “Shit, Keats. Why did she have to come back and ruin my life?”
    “Speaking of that, I kinda hired someone without telling you.”
    “What? You hired Ariela? What the fuck? Work is my sacred place. You told me that I couldn't hire the girls I date. That I couldn't mix business with pleasure.”
    She tilts her head at me, giving me an amused smile. “You just said you have no desire to date her, so if I hired her, it shouldn’t be a problem, right?”  
    Tyler, my assistant, walks through the door with dark roast coffees. Best hangover cure ever.