"I started noticing things being misplaced. At first, it was always small items such as costume jewelry, books, or souvenirsfrom trips. Then things began disappearing entirely." She rubbed her temples, remembering the confusion and self-doubt of those weeks. "I kept thinking I was losing my mind, that I was just being forgetful."
Casper leaned forward, his attention focused on her words. "How did you figure out what was really happening?"
"My agent called me one day to say he'd seen some of my personal belongings being sold on an online auction site. At first, I couldn't believe it was Gloria. I made excuses, convinced myself there had to be some other explanation."
"But you investigated?"
"I had some basic security cameras installed in my LA condo without telling her. Within a week, I caught her on video taking items from my bedroom and jewelry box, putting them directly into her purse." The betrayal still stung, even two years later. "My agent started monitoring the auction site, and sure enough, those exact items appeared for sale within days."
"Was that all she was taking?"
"No." Willow's voice grew quieter. "I discovered she'd created alternate social media accounts where she was essentially using my name and connections as her stepping stone to build her own online presence. She was sharing details about my private life, posting photos from inside my home, even claiming to be my 'best friend' to get attention from my fans."
"How did she react when you confronted her?"
"She was embarrassed at first, apologetic, claimed she was just trying to supplement her income, and never meant any harm. But when I told her I had to let her go, she became angry. Really angry. She accused me of overreacting, said I didn't understand how hard it was to work for someone famous without getting any recognition herself."
Casper was making notes on his tablet, his expression thoughtful. "When was this?"
"Over two years ago. I know what you're thinking, and yes, there's a significant gap between firing Gloria and hiring Aaliyah. But I was so shaken that I decided I didn’t need an assistant. Certainly not someone who had access to my house. It was also then that I realized how tired I was of living in LA. With my attorney's help, I found this place. I moved, and then once I felt more settled, I hired Aaliyah."
"We'll definitely look into Gloria’s current situation," Casper said. "What about your upcoming trip to LA? Who will you be meeting with?"
Willow pulled out her phone to review Aaliyah's itinerary notes. "My usual professional circle, mostly. Nathan Foster is my film and TV agent. He handles all my screenplay deals, and he's become a genuine friend over the years. Christopher Baldwin is my entertainment lawyer, who negotiates contracts and handles any legal issues that arise. We'll meet with Ryan Mitchell, who's a producer that champions my work and brings me the best projects."
"Anyone else?"
"There's a development executive at one of the major studios who's my go-to person for getting my projects the green light. We'll have lunch with him." She scrolled through her schedule. "And if time allows, I'm hoping to grab drinks with Doug Malone and Becky Smithson. They were costars from my teen acting days who stayed in the industry. We try to catch up whenever I'm in town."
"Tell me about Doug and Becky."
"Doug played my younger brother on the show, and Becky had a recurring role as my best friend. We were all kids together and went through that whole crazy experience of sudden fame at the same time." A smile crossed her face at the memories. "Doug's doing special-effects work now. He's incredibly talentedwith CGI and digital animation. Becky is now into directing, mostly independent films and commercials, but she loves it."
"Any romantic history with either of them?"
"God, no." Willow laughed. "Doug was like an actual little brother to me, and Becky became one of my closest friends. We've all stayed in touch over the years, but it's purely platonic."
As they finished dinner and moved to the living room, Willow studied Casper's profile as he reviewed his notes. Something was deeply reassuring about the methodical way he approached her protection, the careful attention he paid to every detail of her life and relationships. For the first time in weeks, she felt like someone was taking her fears seriously without making her feel paranoid or foolish.
Casper closed his tablet and set it aside, but his expression remained serious. "There's one more thing I need to ask about, and I hate to pry into painful territory, but I have to understand the complete picture."
Willow felt her stomach tighten, sensing what was coming. "My parents."
"Your background file mentioned estrangement. I need to know if they could factor into this situation in any way."
She was quiet for a long moment, then stood. “Let’s get comfortable before we have this conversation.”
They washed the dishes and put the leftovers in the refrigerator. She poured a glass of wine, and he opened a beer. They walked into the living room, and each sat on the sofa, twisting so they faced each other. When she finally spoke, her voice was carefully controlled. "Warren and Cecily Thorton are still alive, living somewhere outside Los Angeles now. We have what you might generously call a basic relationship involving the occasional holiday cards and nothing more." Saying it aloud sounded so cold, and she wondered what he thought of her statement.
"What happened?"
"They were my managers until I turned eighteen. Legally, anyway." She pulled her legs up under her on the sofa, wrapping her arms around her knees in a protective gesture. "They started me in child modeling when I was five, and they... they had very specific ideas about what that required. I was put on a diet and calorie restrictions. They constantly monitored my weight and appearance."
Casper's jaw tightened, but he remained silent, letting her continue at her own pace.
"When the TV show came along, they saw dollar signs. They pushed me to audition for movies while I was still filming the series, wanted me to take every opportunity that came along, regardless of how exhausted I was or whether it was appropriate for someone my age." Her voice grew quieter. "It took me years to realize that to them, I wasn't their daughter. I was their primary source of income."
"How did that change?"
