and went back into the bathroom.
“OK.” Kate paced the floor. “So basically I’m an insecure nut bag who’s wielding the power one of the oldest and most lucrative movie studios on the planet to further the ambitions of two men?”
“Pretty much. Those were the highlights. The rest of the hints were entitled drivel and bellyaching about Raymond not being able to command ashe wants. I count at least five people I suspect as the source.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if that number is much higher.”
“I can start taking a baseball bat to some executive knees to flush out the rat, but I’m guessing you’ll do something more civilized.”
Although the accusation that she was some manipulative mastermind that moved actors and actresses around like chess pieceson a board hurt her feelings, Kate wasn’t surprised by it. Aside from stopping Raymond’s unilateral reign, not much had changed. The higher-ups that once green-lit projects with outrageous budgets but had nothing substantial to back up the expenses begrudgingly came to her for input on executive decisions because they had no choice. Money flowed too freely around the studio, and Raymond did nothingto stop it. A few execs had resigned, but that was only because she’d countered with the threat to fire them ambiguously, leaving a cloud over the reason for getting canned. To get out from under a PR nightmare like that, they’d have to be pretty crafty to spin the story without taking a cheap shot at her. And in this town, spin was everything.
“Yes, they’ll be watching me carefully, andI don’t want to give them any ammunition. So a non-violent, undercover approach would be best.”
“Discretion is my middle name.” Scar stood and headed for the door. “Athena is working on it. I’ll do some digging on my own.”
“Thanks.” Kate straightened the pillows on the bed. “I’ll be ready in an hour.”
Kate went over to the bedroom door and locked it. She looked up to see Chrisstaring at her from the bathroom doorway.
“I know what you’re going to say.” She sighed.
He smiled. “You do?”
“You’re going to be really supportive and tell me to keep my head held high and that it will all blow over.”
“Wow. You really give me more credit than I deserve. I say go in there and give them hell. But after our shower.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“I got anew loofah.” Kate disrobed and walked over to him.
“Excellent.”
It was going to be a rough morning, but she could start the day out right with her husband. A long, hot shower with Chris was just what she needed to face the day.
* * *
Kate checked her watch. She was early for her meeting with Harvey Kurtz, one of the owners of Kurtz & Markham Financial, thefirm that oversaw all of Marvin’s assets. The sudden death of her friend and neighbor had unleashed an amazing chain of events when his will revealed that he’d left her a sizable inheritance, which included control of Pinnacle Studios and other lucrative businesses and properties around California. That hadn’t sat too well with Henry, Marvin’s tortured, drug-addicted son, who thought he shouldbe entitled to his father’s estate, but fortunately she’d had Clara on her side. Clara was adamant that her husband’s wishes be fulfilled and had testified on Kate’s behalf when Henry tried to challenge the will in court.
In addition to Atlantis, the record label she co-owned with her friend John, she also inherited Blue Vinyl Records, one of the oldest, most prestigious companies in themusic business. The merging of the hot, up-and-coming Atlantis and legendary Blue Vinyl resulted in Atlantis Blue Records. It was a music powerhouse and she’d been thrilled about it but Tru Davies, the vice president wasn’t as enthusiastic. While Raymond publicly bated her and tried to undermine her at Pinnacle, Tru opted to go behind her back and rally support to buy her out.
Harvey’s requestfor a meeting after all these
“OK.” Kate paced the floor. “So basically I’m an insecure nut bag who’s wielding the power one of the oldest and most lucrative movie studios on the planet to further the ambitions of two men?”
“Pretty much. Those were the highlights. The rest of the hints were entitled drivel and bellyaching about Raymond not being able to command ashe wants. I count at least five people I suspect as the source.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if that number is much higher.”
“I can start taking a baseball bat to some executive knees to flush out the rat, but I’m guessing you’ll do something more civilized.”
Although the accusation that she was some manipulative mastermind that moved actors and actresses around like chess pieceson a board hurt her feelings, Kate wasn’t surprised by it. Aside from stopping Raymond’s unilateral reign, not much had changed. The higher-ups that once green-lit projects with outrageous budgets but had nothing substantial to back up the expenses begrudgingly came to her for input on executive decisions because they had no choice. Money flowed too freely around the studio, and Raymond did nothingto stop it. A few execs had resigned, but that was only because she’d countered with the threat to fire them ambiguously, leaving a cloud over the reason for getting canned. To get out from under a PR nightmare like that, they’d have to be pretty crafty to spin the story without taking a cheap shot at her. And in this town, spin was everything.
“Yes, they’ll be watching me carefully, andI don’t want to give them any ammunition. So a non-violent, undercover approach would be best.”
“Discretion is my middle name.” Scar stood and headed for the door. “Athena is working on it. I’ll do some digging on my own.”
“Thanks.” Kate straightened the pillows on the bed. “I’ll be ready in an hour.”
Kate went over to the bedroom door and locked it. She looked up to see Chrisstaring at her from the bathroom doorway.
“I know what you’re going to say.” She sighed.
He smiled. “You do?”
“You’re going to be really supportive and tell me to keep my head held high and that it will all blow over.”
“Wow. You really give me more credit than I deserve. I say go in there and give them hell. But after our shower.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“I got anew loofah.” Kate disrobed and walked over to him.
“Excellent.”
It was going to be a rough morning, but she could start the day out right with her husband. A long, hot shower with Chris was just what she needed to face the day.
* * *
Kate checked her watch. She was early for her meeting with Harvey Kurtz, one of the owners of Kurtz & Markham Financial, thefirm that oversaw all of Marvin’s assets. The sudden death of her friend and neighbor had unleashed an amazing chain of events when his will revealed that he’d left her a sizable inheritance, which included control of Pinnacle Studios and other lucrative businesses and properties around California. That hadn’t sat too well with Henry, Marvin’s tortured, drug-addicted son, who thought he shouldbe entitled to his father’s estate, but fortunately she’d had Clara on her side. Clara was adamant that her husband’s wishes be fulfilled and had testified on Kate’s behalf when Henry tried to challenge the will in court.
In addition to Atlantis, the record label she co-owned with her friend John, she also inherited Blue Vinyl Records, one of the oldest, most prestigious companies in themusic business. The merging of the hot, up-and-coming Atlantis and legendary Blue Vinyl resulted in Atlantis Blue Records. It was a music powerhouse and she’d been thrilled about it but Tru Davies, the vice president wasn’t as enthusiastic. While Raymond publicly bated her and tried to undermine her at Pinnacle, Tru opted to go behind her back and rally support to buy her out.
Harvey’s requestfor a meeting after all these
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