“Do I have to let you go?” she asked.
I wanted to roll my eyes.
Vicky’s stare followed us all the way out the door.
“I’m sensing a little animosity between you and Vicky,” Spencer said as we stepped out of the soundstage and onto the sidewalk. “I hope it’s not because of me.”
“Of course you do.” I gave him the side-eye. “You love it.”
He laughed. “You’d think I was used to women fighting over me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, Mr. Hayes—or should I say, Mr. Leeds?” I smiled at his teasing, which I had once mistaken for arrogance. “My rivalry with Vicky precedes your arrival in our lives.”
He was quiet for a moment as we walked toward the executive offices, then he took my hand and said, “You know she won’t win.”
My heart did a little flip-flop. Was he only playacting?
“Of course I know she won’t win.” I laughed, trying to ignore the flutter of emotions welling up inside me as I disentangled my hand from his. “With a contract between us, it would be even more upsetting if she did.”
He laughed and shook his head as I led him across the studio lot.
At one time, there had been a dozen people working in the executive offices, but now there were only three. Papa’s secretary greeted us as we entered and told us to go into his office, where Mr. Fellbaum was waiting.
“There you are,” Mr. Fellbaum said in a gregarious voice when we entered. “I was just about to go looking for you.”
“Hi, Frank.” Spencer closed the door behind me. “What was so important you needed to see us today?”
“I have the first copy of today’s issue ofPhotoplay.” He heldup the popular magazine that followed the lives of actors and actresses and grinned. “I like what I’m seeing, you two.”
Spencer took the copy from him and found the page Mr. Fellbaum had marked.
“Your initial meeting got a centerfold placement.” Mr. Fellbaum rocked back on his heels with pleasure. “You’ll see that they interviewed some of the cast, and everyone had a glowing report about you two.”
Spencer’s gaze found mine, and we shared a smile.
“Who did they interview?” I asked, needing to direct my attention away from him. He moved so that I could see the magazine properly.
Mr. Fellbaum shrugged. “Your sister and niece.”
It was good that they’d interviewed Vicky last week before she had set her cap for Spencer.
“Keep up the good work,” Mr. Fellbaum said, clapping both of us on our shoulders. “I like this publicity, and more importantly, Mr. Mayer likes it.”
“Is that all?” Spencer asked. “You came all this way to show us this?”
“That’s it from me. This was such good news, though, I wanted to deliver it in person. I’m expectingFilm Dailyto have an article about you any day now. Apositivearticle for once.”
Spencer gave him a look.
Mr. Fellbaum ignored it as he said, “I’m sure Mr. Bennett doesn’t want me to monopolize all your time, so I’ll leave. But I do want you to know that Mr. Harrison is hoping to visit your house soon, Miss Bennett, to get some pictures of you and Spencer on the front porch or sitting around the dinner table with your family. I’ll have my secretary call and arrange it with you soon.”
I nodded and smiled, though I wasn’t sure how that would go over with Vicky.
Mr. Fellbaum said good-bye, then left Papa’s office.
Spencer slowly looked over the magazine. “It looks like we’re playing our parts well.”
“It appears that way.”
