“Let me at least put you up in a hotel,” she offers. “Five-star luxury. Ultra private. No press.”
Do my ears deceive me, or did the words no press really just come out of her mouth?
Tempting.
Bullshit, but tempting.
I flick a piece of lint off my leggings. I can’t tell her where I’m really staying, but if I refuse, she’ll just grind it out of me.
If I accept, it doesn’t mean I have to stay there. “Fine,” I agree.
“You’re making the right decision.”
Myra sounds relieved.
Good. Maybe now she’ll give me a few hours of peace.
“Any preference for the name?”
Hollywood and fake names go together like supermodels and Botox.
For reservations, aliases are standard operating procedure. I always use Viviana for my first name. It’s my given name, even if no one ever calls me that.
Well, except mi abuela. Usually, when my grandmother’s scolding me in Spanish or praying for my soul.
“Kali will have one,” I say. The last name is always her call. And she enjoys it way too much.
If the headlines are kind, I’m a superhero.
If they’re not, I’m a supervillain.
Last time, it was Rogers.
Before that, Banner.
But when Kali went with Wilson, she really committed. She even added a note for the concierge. As in Mrs. Wade Wilson. Deadpool. Not Falcon.
“As long as it’s not Wolverine again,” Myra says dryly. “Your PA is obsessed.”
“Hugh Jackman after a thousand push-ups,” I say. “Who wouldn’t be?” Then I add, firmer, “And no circuit, Myra.”
“Ava—”
“Don’t push.”
For half a second, I think that’s the end of it, and I’ve finally got the last word.
Then she says, “One event.”
“No.”
“It’s for charity.” She lets it sit. Then, quieter, “For veterans.”
Oh, she’s good. She fires a shot right at my Achilles’ heel.
“A charity for veterans?” My skepticism is barely masked.
“I swear, Ava. And it gives context. Explains your absence without screaming damage control.” She smears icing all over the offer. “Do one day of the circuit and a charity appearance. No sob story coverage of your relationship. No drawn-out interviews. Promote the movie. You’re in, you’re out. And you can have your time off.”
