opportunity. Half the shit in Hollywood is either directed by hacks or completely stolen. They just have connections. And Pierre's dead anyway. Someone had to take credit. Why does it matter?"
"Well, clearly it matters to you. You wouldn’t be so worked up if you thought otherwise. What about the Boog fellow?"
"No one liked him. He was an arrogant smart ass so we cut him out."
"Oh my God." Quite the revelation, indeed.
Noah turns away from me, sulking. This is so unlike him. I know that he doubts his talent. And having to explain how he lied to get a job can only make it worse. I know it's hard for him to accept. He knows he isn’t very good in the first place, that’s why he struggled for so many years like he did.
"I’m not worried about Boog; he’ll find work. He's really good. I'm just afraid I'll run into him on set at some point, and when I do…well,” his voice trails off.
I sit up and shake my head, looking at Noah lying there.
Yeah, I guess that is the way the world works—hell, all the online work I do is nothing but a gigantic manipulation designed to funnel money here rather than there—and don’t even get me started on advertising and public relations—the world is a dirty, cutthroat place.
I give his shoulder a tender squeeze, then curl up behind him and cuddle. "Baby, I don't care that you lied. I’m no saint myself. Like the old saying goes, Those who live in glass houses ought not to throw stones ."
Noah doesn't answer. Soon we're fast asleep.
19
Clif
I need Katie's help on this one.
There's another investor conference tonight, and I just got word that some of the big national news outlets are going to be there. I’ve got to make a speech, and I can't fuck it up.
The problem is, Katie's not answering her phone. It's so out of character, I can't help but wonder if something is wrong. I've got to see her, even if it's just to know she's okay. I'm running late, but her hotel is on the way. It’ll take only five minutes to drop in.
I leave the truck idling and run up the stairs to the third floor landing. There it is: 307.
I knock and wait, looking out over the parking lot this chilly winter morning.
The dead bolt slides back and the door opens.
But it’s not her! Where did this douche come from? Clearly not from around here.
Right away I don't like him. He's got a set of hips that belong on a woman, and a shifty expression behind his $700 eyeglasses. I bet he doesn't like me either judging by the irritated way he purses his lips as he sizes me up.
"Who the hell are you?" I growl.
The guy is shirtless, white and flabby, standing there in Katie’s doorway like he owns the fucking place. Is she sleeping with this guy? Just the thought makes my chest rumble.
"I'm her fiancée."
" Noah? Who is it? " Katie calls from inside. Then she appears, wearing a baggy sweatshirt with matching sweatpants. She stops and opens her mouth to talk, blushing red hot in about two seconds flat. She couldn't look any more flustered before she slips in between her fucking fiancée and me.
"Um, excuse us for a moment. He's my boss."
She steps out, the door clicking shut behind her.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she hisses, arms wrapping around herself to protect her from the frosty air. She's so pissed. I can tell she wants to slap me. "I live here! You can't just show up at my room out of the blue! That's completely inappropriate. Not to mention you just happened to appear at the worst fucking time possible!"
"Well, I tried to call, but you weren't answering your phone. And it looks like you conveniently hid the fact that you are engaged when you slept with me! No wonder I keep getting such mixed signals. And here I was hoping you were just crazy." I'm more than irritated. And I'm done with this whole thing, done with her. I turn to leave.
"Go screw yourself," she snaps. "You have no right to put me down."
I stop and turn. How could she possibly think she's justified?
"Not that it's any
"Well, clearly it matters to you. You wouldn’t be so worked up if you thought otherwise. What about the Boog fellow?"
"No one liked him. He was an arrogant smart ass so we cut him out."
"Oh my God." Quite the revelation, indeed.
Noah turns away from me, sulking. This is so unlike him. I know that he doubts his talent. And having to explain how he lied to get a job can only make it worse. I know it's hard for him to accept. He knows he isn’t very good in the first place, that’s why he struggled for so many years like he did.
"I’m not worried about Boog; he’ll find work. He's really good. I'm just afraid I'll run into him on set at some point, and when I do…well,” his voice trails off.
I sit up and shake my head, looking at Noah lying there.
Yeah, I guess that is the way the world works—hell, all the online work I do is nothing but a gigantic manipulation designed to funnel money here rather than there—and don’t even get me started on advertising and public relations—the world is a dirty, cutthroat place.
I give his shoulder a tender squeeze, then curl up behind him and cuddle. "Baby, I don't care that you lied. I’m no saint myself. Like the old saying goes, Those who live in glass houses ought not to throw stones ."
Noah doesn't answer. Soon we're fast asleep.
19
Clif
I need Katie's help on this one.
There's another investor conference tonight, and I just got word that some of the big national news outlets are going to be there. I’ve got to make a speech, and I can't fuck it up.
The problem is, Katie's not answering her phone. It's so out of character, I can't help but wonder if something is wrong. I've got to see her, even if it's just to know she's okay. I'm running late, but her hotel is on the way. It’ll take only five minutes to drop in.
I leave the truck idling and run up the stairs to the third floor landing. There it is: 307.
I knock and wait, looking out over the parking lot this chilly winter morning.
The dead bolt slides back and the door opens.
But it’s not her! Where did this douche come from? Clearly not from around here.
Right away I don't like him. He's got a set of hips that belong on a woman, and a shifty expression behind his $700 eyeglasses. I bet he doesn't like me either judging by the irritated way he purses his lips as he sizes me up.
"Who the hell are you?" I growl.
The guy is shirtless, white and flabby, standing there in Katie’s doorway like he owns the fucking place. Is she sleeping with this guy? Just the thought makes my chest rumble.
"I'm her fiancée."
" Noah? Who is it? " Katie calls from inside. Then she appears, wearing a baggy sweatshirt with matching sweatpants. She stops and opens her mouth to talk, blushing red hot in about two seconds flat. She couldn't look any more flustered before she slips in between her fucking fiancée and me.
"Um, excuse us for a moment. He's my boss."
She steps out, the door clicking shut behind her.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she hisses, arms wrapping around herself to protect her from the frosty air. She's so pissed. I can tell she wants to slap me. "I live here! You can't just show up at my room out of the blue! That's completely inappropriate. Not to mention you just happened to appear at the worst fucking time possible!"
"Well, I tried to call, but you weren't answering your phone. And it looks like you conveniently hid the fact that you are engaged when you slept with me! No wonder I keep getting such mixed signals. And here I was hoping you were just crazy." I'm more than irritated. And I'm done with this whole thing, done with her. I turn to leave.
"Go screw yourself," she snaps. "You have no right to put me down."
I stop and turn. How could she possibly think she's justified?
"Not that it's any
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