“My costar, Zander Lewis, cornered me in my trailer and tried to force himself on me. Ever since then, the chemistry on set has been terrible. As you would guess, there are a bunch of scenes where we have to act like we’re in love. I can’t get what he did out of my head, and it’s affecting my performance,” Halle shared.
“Has Zander tried anything else?” I asked.
“Yeah. He’s a lot like Zak, but not in a good way.”
“What do you mean?” Brook asked.
“Zak is an unapologetic skirt-chaser, but he’s harmless. Zander is the embodiment of the worst stereotypical Hollywood type. Just because he’s a movie star, he expects that women should fall at his feet. If they don’t, well, let’s just say he can be persuasive. Zander’s a favorite of several of the big executives. I know for a fact that he derailed one girl’s career. She hasn’t worked since she turned him down,” Halle admitted.
“You’re not considering …” Brook started.
“No. I am Rita James’s daughter. If I weren’t, I would probably have to, though.”
“Jesus,” I swore.
“The problem is that if you say anything, they all circle the wagons and freeze you out. It’s not like a regular job where you can just quit and work somewhere else. If I get a reputation for complaining about sexual misconduct, I might never work again.”
“Have you talked to your mom?” I asked.
“No. Mom’s preparing for a role, and I don’t want to distract her with this.”
“You need leverage and support,” I said. “Are you at least videoing everything?”
“No. I told Fritz I didn’t want my life captured 24/7. I guess I need to,” Halle admitted.
“Fritz is a good start. He and his team have to be told that you’re in danger. He hates stuff like this and will do whatever it takes to keep you from having to worry about this guy. Why don’t you talk to Kent, Frank, and Saul? Between the three of them, they should be able to give you advice,” I suggested.
Kent was her manager; Frank, her publicist; and Saul, her agent. They all had a vested interest in making this work out. Plus, they understood the darker side of the business and how to navigate it.
“I was just going to suggest that you kick his ass for me,” Halle said.
That would have been my solution too, but I’d learned a thing or two over the last year.
“That is an option, and I’d be more than happy to do it for you,” I said in all seriousness.
“Too bad Cassidy isn’t with us,” Brook said.
“That’s true. Not too many guys want to admit it when a girl kicks their butt,” I said.
“Let me think about it. I also wanted to warn you that Zander will be at the party tonight,” Halle said.
I said a little prayer that he would do something in front of me, then resumed sending out text messages.
◊◊◊
USC knew what they were doing. My old teammate, Bill Callaway, was our chaperone, and everyone was happy to see him.
“Nice. I see you got us invites to a Hollywood party,” Bill said.
“Malibu, actually,” I corrected.
“What’s that all about, anyway?” Wolf asked.
“Zak was one of the actors in
“Why do you say that?” Brook asked.
They all laughed at me. I took their good-natured ribbing in stride. The guys were all jealous when I told them about the porn-star party I’d been invited to and how he’d finagled an invite on my coattails. I also explained to Tim and Wolf how Zak was a player, not just a wannabe. He was always on the lookout for his next conquest.
I then told them the not-so-funny story of how he’d worked another invite to go on a yacht with me. That was when they wanted me to sign early for the next two
“What would make it even better would be if you invited the girlfriend,” Tim said. “Then we could sit back and wait for the fight to break out.”
“I’m not sure I have Isabel Alexandra’s phone number,” I admitted.
“You’re talking about the babe from the
“She did look good in her bikini,” I admitted.
That was when I was reminded that I already had a girlfriend. Going to USC might not be the best for my long-term relationship with Brook. I thought about it for a minute and decided she might as well get over it. She knew how I felt about her. That was why I sent a text to Saul. If anyone could get Isabel’s number for me, it was him.
“And you’re fine if Ridge and I invite some of our teammates?” Bill asked.
“Just don’t overdo it. We might want Zak to invite us to more parties in the future,” I suggested.
My dad motioned for us to get back with the group. We were ready to see USC’s football facility, the John McKay Center.
◊◊◊
