Everything paused. She knew that voice. It was the voice of producer Eileen “the snake” Hendrix. Kenzie and Leah had been waiting to hear from Eileen for weeks about the lead role inWander Love. Eileen had the power to squelch Kenzie’s career—or make it soar again.
Kenzie angled herself toward the woman in charge of her destiny. “Eileen. So lovely you’re here.”
“A word?” Eileen asked.
Kenzie followed Eileen to the side of the room opposite from Tucker. The soundproofing carpet along the wall brushed her arm.
“What can I do for you?”Why haven’t you returned my calls?Kenzie asked silently, hopeful the quirk of her eyebrow would relay the unspoken question.
“You and Tucker are an item now?” Eileen asked, quietly enough so only Kenzie could hear, but not quite a whisper.
Kenzie nodded, her gaze flicking to the man in question. “Something like that.”
“I hate to put you on the spot,” Eileen said in a way that implied she had no problem doing it. “The thing is”—deep sigh—“we’ve been trying to convince him to do the title song forWander Love.”
Eileen took the tiniest sip of her champagne and stared into the crowd. The studio was rumored to be sparing no expense on the flick. In La La Land, that meant big things for an actress in the starring role.
“Tucker’s retired. I’m certain you’ve heard.” With the explosive breakup of his band, everyone capable of breathing in the continental United States had heard about it.
Eileen nodded in fake agreement. “That’s the thing though. I’m curious how serious he is about retirement right now.”
“Pretty serious, I think.” Given the whole charade they were tied up in as part of… What was it his manager had called it? An extraction plan.
“I don’t suppose you might talk to him about his refusal. Convince him to postpone his retirement until after he pens something forWander Love?” Eileen had a way of saying things that somehow managed to be a question and a command at the same time.
Kenzie refused to squirm. “I’m not sure I have any power over Tucker’s decisions.”
“Come on, dear. I think when one is inspired enough, they can move mountains.” Eileen’s innuendo was clearer than a Colorado sky, but Kenzie didn’t play that game. Never, she’dneversold herself for a part. No way would she start now. Still though, she could convince Tucker without bedroom tricks, if that was the leverage it would take to get her career back on track.
Dammit.
“To confirm,” she asked. “If Tucker does the song, then the part is mine? With fees to match the last project I did with your studio?”
Eileen scoffed at the direct hit. She eyed Kenzie. “Yes.”
Kenzie glanced around, her gaze landing on Tucker talking to some guy wearing ripped jeans at a red-carpet event. Now that took some balls. “How long do I have to convince him?”
“Until the new year?” Eileen sipped again. “We really need to shore up our lead actress, you know?”
Oh, yes. Kenzie knew, all right.
“He’ll do it,” she heard herself say.
Only she had no idea how she’d convince him.
“I’m so pleased to hear that.” Eileen practically flicked a forked tongue into the air between them, searching for weakness.
“Leah and I will need some reassurance that once he does, the part is mine.” Always Watch Out for Number One.
“Consider it done. Have Leah contact my office on Monday.” Eileen slithered away, back into the abyss.
Kenzie escaped to the nearest bathroom—the private kind often used for hookups or, in her case, a private conversation. Cell to her ear, she practiced deep breathing until Leah picked up.
“Do you need a rescue?” Leah asked as a hello.
“No.” Kenzie dropped to the cushy chair by the stack of rolled hand towels. “I need to figure out how to convince Tucker to do a song for Eileen’s movie.”
She relayed the conversation.
