Free If I Loved You (Hollywood Hearts 1) by Jean C. Joachim

your phone been ringing off the hook?” There was a trace of annoyance in his voice.
    “Two hundred emails…the phone is still ringing…”
    “Did some of those rag magazines call you?”
    “ Celebs R Us did.” She put her coffee down on her desk.
    “What did you tell them?” Irritation mixed with apprehension in his voice.
    “Nothing. I practically hung up on her. I had no idea Harvey was going to issue a press release.”
    “Really? I find that hard to believe. Aren’t you running this ‘Celebrity’ division? Don’t you know everything going on in your division?”
    “I don’t. I’m new. He didn’t ask me. I’d have said ‘no.’ I told him I didn’t like the idea, but he seems to think other wealthy people will come to us because you’re here.”
    “And so they may. Sharp guy, old Harvey. Gotta give him credit for this one. By the way, don’t be too rude to the press. They have a long memory.”
    “I don’t care what they think. I care what you think. You have to believe me…”
    “Do I? Why?”
    “Because I’m telling you the truth…because you have the power to humiliate my brother …destroy my relationship with him with one phone call.” Beads of sweat broke out on her forehead.
    “True.” His voice dripped with smug satisfaction.
    “Would I give you that ammunition if I intended to betray you?” She chewed her lip.
    “Good point. Probably not. Besides, if the heat gets too hot, Harvey will be crying the blues when I take my account to another management firm.”
    “I wouldn’t blame you if you did. I had no idea what I was getting into with this job. I’m not cut out for this.”
    “You’ve got all the right answers. We’ll hold tight…for now.” His tone softened.
    “Chaz, I’m so sorry…I never…” Emotion choked Meg. Words caught in her throat.
    She was greeted with silence. I hate doing this over the phone. Meg wanted to look into his eyes to know how he was feeling and reacting. “Chaz, I wouldn’t hurt you for the world,” she whispered.
    “We’ll see about that.” He hung up the phone.
    Megan stared at her cell phone for a minute until the insistent ringing of her landline startled her out of her reverie. Furious at the constant interruption, she marched to reception. “Do not put through any phone calls unless they are from my family or Chaz Duncan.”
    A silly look came over the receptionist’s face. “God, you’ve been out to dinner with him. What did he order?” Megan stormed out.  Isn’t anyone here professional besides me?
    A glance at her email had Megan in distress; another two hundred messages. She deleted all of them except one from Alan.
     
    So, what’s it like to sleep with Chaz Duncan? Is he as good in bed as I am?
     
    Megan deleted the email. Her throat closed up, tears threatened. She didn’t want to cry in front of her colleagues so she made a hasty retreat to the ladies room.
    Safely inside a stall with the door closed, her hand trembling, she pressed the button on her cell phone to dial her sister-in-law. Barely holding on, Meg burst into tears at the sound of Penny’s voice.
    “Meg? Are you all right? What happened?” Penny questioned her.
    With her voice shaking, Megan replied, “Everything is ruined.”
    “What? Why?”
    Megan sobbed, putting her head down on her lap.
    “We’re coming. Mark and I will be there tomorrow. We’ll take the early train.”
    Megan took a deep breath as her chest shuddered. “Davis, is that you in there?” Brielle’s voice rang out loud and clear.

 
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    “What do you want, Brielle?”
    “I wanna know why you’re bawlin’ your eyes out in there. You’re a star now. You’re famous. Not that you deserve it…”
    “Shut up.” Megan was out of patience. She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands.
    “If you wanna be like that…”
    “Actually, I do.” Megan stepped out of the stall.
    At the sink, she splashed water on her face then dried it with a