Risk Taker by Sonia Stanizzo
Chapter 26
Ethan received a text from Holly telling him she was meeting with her parents and wouldn’t see him until the next day. From what she’d told him about them, he couldn’t image spending a couple of hours together would be pleasant. He hoped she’d be okay.
He used the free evening to visit his sister.
When Chloe opened the front door, she frowned at him. “You stuffed up the meeting with Jerry, didn’t you?” She sighed heavily. “He’ll think I’m useless and never trust me again.” She spun on her heels and left him standing at the threshold. He stepped inside and shut the door behind him. “I knew I shouldn’t work with family,” she said over her shoulder.
In the kitchen, Chloe pulled two glasses and a bottle of red wine from a cupboard and poured them both a generous amount. She took a deep drink, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and said, “What’d you do to stuff it up?”
“What makes you think I did?” He blinked with surprise at her assumption.
She pointed a finger toward his face and made a circling gesture. “That’s the expression of an actor who didn’t land the job of his dreams.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. The smartass thinks she knows everything. “I got the job. Jerry loved me.” He didn’t actually think the man would ever say those words to another man. Chloe didn’t need to know that.
She rose an eyebrow. “So, why do you look like someone’s died?”
“He wants me to date the leading actress to generate publicity.” He picked up the wine glass and swirled the burgundy liquid, imaging it in a plastic cup. Like the way Holly served it on the rocky ledge overlooking the harbour. Then put it down again without taking a sip.
“What’s the prob—oh…” She smiled. “Holly. You really do like her.”
Hence why his decisions were clouded. That’s another reason why he’d never gotten into a serious relationship. He didn’t want to worry about anyone but himself.
“So, you declined his offer?” she asked.
He rubbed the stubble on his chin. “No.”
Chloe’s eyes widened. “No? Holly’s okay with you dating another woman?”
“I won’t be dating her. It’s all fake. You know how this industry works.”
“I do. You’ll be spotted out at dinner, holding hands, sneaking kisses and probably be seen leaving her house at six in the morning. Looks like dating to me.”
“It’s fake!” he snapped.
“I know that and you know that, will Holly be so understanding? Because if I was with someone and he was all over another woman, even though it was fake, I’d be pissed.”
“It’s no different to acting in a movie and doing love scenes.” And how did that go? He felt like he was cheating the whole time and Holly was uncomfortable watching.
“It’s your life. If the scowl on your face is any indication, you’re not happy about it,” Chloe said.
“I don’t want to hurt Holly, she’ll understand.”
“Are you sure about that?” He mustn’t have looked sure because she said, “Don’t take the role. Not if it will hurt you both.”
He blew out a heavy breath. “It’s the role of a lifetime. It’s brilliant. How can I turn it down?”
“Easy. People’s feelings are more important than a job. Yours included,” she stated and knocked back the rest of her wine.
“I’ve waited my whole career for something like this.”
“And if you lose Holly, who knows if you’ll ever find a woman as great for you as her? Do you want to risk that for a movie?” she asked.
“The decision’s not that easy. I haven’t known Holly long.” But it felt like he’d known her forever. Never had he felt so connected to someone before.
Chloe searched his face and screwed her mouth to the side like she was thinking. “I have a script I want you to read.” And she left the kitchen.
After a few moments, she was back and tossed a file on the counter. “Read it and if you like it, it’s yours. There’s a catch though.”
He was sick of catches but picked up the script looking from it to Chloe. “What’s the catch?”
“Read it first, then I’ll tell you. I promise you won’t have to date the leading actress. I’ve got work to do in my office, find me when you’re done.” With that, she gathered her glass and wine bottle and left the room.
An hour later, Ethan bounded up the stairs and into Chloe’s office. “I want this part. Make it happen.” It was the best thing he’d ever read. A heroin addict who loses everything. His career, his family and almost his life, and the struggles of rebuilding his life back. He’d do anything to get his hands on it.
Chloe sat on the small sofa in the room and tucked her feet under her. “Do you want to know about the catch first?”
He’d forgotten about that, so engrossed with the story. “What is it?”
“The writer needs someone to fund the movie. He’s new to the business and a liability. I can’t get an interview for him with any of the big production companies and small ones can’t afford the risk.”
The excitement dropped. “Why the fuck would you show me this?” He flapped the script in his hand. “If it can’t be made?”
“It can,” she said.
He shook his head with confusion. “You just said—”
“You can fund it.”
Ethan scoffed, “You can’t be serious. It costs millions to make a movie like this.”
“And you have millions,” Chloe pointed out.
“You said it yourself, it’s a huge risk.”
“No one’s given him a chance. If they read it, they’d snap it up because it’s that good. You know how great it is! Two minutes ago, you were ready to sign up.”
“That’s because I didn’t know it wasn’t funded. Now I know differently. Why would you get me excited like that?” He slapped the script on the desk.
“Because I hoped you’d be smart enough to take it. What’ve you got to lose?”
“A shitload of money,” he answered.
“Even if you did, which I’m sure you won’t. So what?”
He sprang from the chair. “So what? It would mean I’d lose everything. I’ve had nothing once, you and me both know it sucked. I’m never going back there again.” It wasn’t only the struggles of having no money he’d face, but the darkness that clouded his mind and set like concrete in his soul that came with it. He didn’t know if he could pull himself out of the depression again.
Getting off the sofa, Chloe stood in front of Ethan and held onto both his hands. “You won’t go back there again.”
“You don’t know that.” She held on tight as he tried pulling free. She was pretty strong for someone who only reached his shoulders.
“I do. Because even if this movie flopped, you’d still have loads of money to live on. And there’re other movies you’d profit from again.”
“It won’t be enough for everyone,” he said. “Look at Aiden. He’s fucking up at work. It won’t be long before they fire him if he doesn’t clean himself up.”
She sighed. “In case you haven’t noticed, we’re all doing fine—more than fine on our own. Even if Aiden loses his job. He has enough money to live on for many years. We are not your responsibility anymore. You need to stop thinking you have to support the family. You got us out of that hole and we’ll always be grateful. We’re okay now.”
Deep down he wanted to trust what Chloe said, but the fear weighing on his shoulders wouldn’t let him believe. Aiden wasn’t doing so great, who knows what will happen with his career if he keeps going down the road of destruction. His mother was getting older. She couldn’t work forever, and in Chloe’s industry, an agent could be dropped in a heartbeat.
“So, will you, do it?” Anticipation shined from his sister’s eyes.
“No. Get someone else.”
She sighed deeply and her hands fell by her sides. “Any chance you’ll change your mind?”
He shook his head. He couldn’t.
“You’re going to take the other offer?”
Even though it might hurt Holly? Chloe didn’t say the words out loud, but he knew she was thinking it. Dammit, he was thinking it.
“Yes.” He kissed her on the cheek and let himself out of the house.