The Prada Paradox by Julie Kenner Read Free Book Online Page B

in public, and she hadn’t even balked at Tobias’s mandate to promote the hell out of herself and the movie. He knew it hadn’t been easy on her. But thankfully the glare of the spotlight had been soft-focused. They were the romance du jour, after all. The reports were extravagant, but generally kind. From a PR perspective, the situation couldn’t have been more perfect.

    So what did he do? He went on national television and slapped a big red target on the two of them.

    God, he was a jerk.

    The production assistant babbled a thank-you, then hurried off to her next task. Tobias turned back to Blake. “So there I am,” he continued, as if they’d never been interrupted, “bone-tired from shooting pickups all day, and this little slip of a girl marches over and shakes my hand. ‘So you’re our brightest new actress,’ I say. And do you know how she answers?”

    “No idea,” Blake said, even though the question was mostly rhetorical.

    “She says, ‘I guess I am, sir. But what I really want to do is direct.’” Tobias shook his head, chuckling. “She’s never wanted to direct a day in her life. But she knows how to play to an audience.That’s her special talent. And it’s a rare one.”

    “I know it,” Blake said, not sure where this conversation was going, but suddenly more nervous about it than he used to be when his army colonel father would come home from a trip overseas and spend an hour grilling him on how well he’d taken care of his mother.

    “She’s like a daughter to me, and I don’t want to see that spark in her fade. She’s been through hell twice already. Real hell, and then that crap you pulled on her.”

    “With all due respect, she’s the one who broke up with me.” It was a ridiculous comeback and he knew it, but Tobias had got his defenses up.

    “You want to know the truth? I don’t give a shit who dumped who. At the moment, all I care about is protecting this picture.”

    “You won’t get any argument from me.”

    “Good. Because I’ve been talking with the publicity folks over at the studio, and they want to turn this thing around.”

    “This thing?”

    Tobias shot him a sideways look. “Whatever you may have heard, all PR is not created equal. Your breakup’s going to affect our bottom line. Folks want to see a movie starring a couple in love. A movie starring a couple at each other’s throats? Not so much. Gossip may go up, but breakups don’t sell tickets. I’ve seen it happen to lesser couples than you two.”

    “I’d love to help you out there, Toby, but let me state the obvious. Weare broken up.”

    “I never was good with the details, kid. I’m a big-picture man, myself. And the picture I see is filled with happiness and joy. You get what I’m talking about? I want every rag in this city talking about the chemistry between you two. How you made up, and now it’s hotter than ever. We need to do everything to make sure that you two are the golden couple.”

    “And this all because of the box office? You’re just looking out for the bottom line? This isn’t about Devi at all?”

    Tobias met and matched his gaze, but didn’t answer the question. He started to walk away, then turned back. “I’ll say this much. You do anything else to hurt her, and you’re going to answer to me. You understand?”

    “I’d never do anything to hurt her.”

    “Blake, you already have. What you need to do now is make it right.”

    “I know.” The only problem was, he didn’t know how.

    Chapter8

    “So you really mean it?” I ask for the eight-hundred-and seventy-five-millionth time. “I can handle it, right?” There’s a lot of things we could be talking about. At the moment, though, I’m focused on tomorrow’s scenes with Blake. Because after the way my heart skittered in my chest upon seeing him today, I’m more than a little nervous about working with the man.

    Lindy signals for the check, but ignores me. I skim my fingers around the rim of my glass and try my best not to scream. The Beverly Wilshire is posh. Primal