Rhett froze. What was La Pearl talking about?
The photographer’s smirk told Rhett he was being blindsided but he couldn’t think. It was as if his mind had turned to mush.
“You haven’t heard, have you?” La Pearl scrolled through his phone and closed the distance between them. Holding it up, Rhett ducked under the barrier, drawn to the man.
La Pearl handed the phone to him. Rhett saw it cued up to the E! News entertainment site. The headline screamed “Rhett Corrigan dumps Playmate Randi James”. Rhett skimmed the few lines. His heart stopped at a picture of Cassie labeled “Corrigan’s New Cutie”.
Where had they gotten this info? Only Cassie and Carreen knew of his plans to end his relationship with Randi and neither would have breathed a word. The picture of Cassie had to be from today. Rhett had seen her in the same outfit this morning as she and Jolene left for their shopping date with Melanie Cameron.
“Boy, Corrigan, letting the media end a relationship for you takes the cake.”
Rhett was tempted to slam his fist into Ramon La Pearl’s face but knew it wouldn’t be worth the consequences.
Instead, he turned and walked away. He had to get home and see Cassie.
As he walked through the airport, his cell rang.
“Are you nuts?” Becky Bloss screamed at him. “What’s going on, Rhett? You couldn’t mention this at lunch two hours ago? Do you know what it’s been like to be blindsided by every media outlet?”
“I just was, Becky.”
“Where are you? I want to see you now, in person. We’ve got to fix this mess.” She paused. “And I’ve got to know if it’s true or not.”
Rhett sighed. “I’m leaving LAX now. I was headed to see Randi in person. I have no idea how this got out.”
“It doesn’t matter, Rhett. We’ve got to do some damage control. This is a PR nightmare. At least it’ll probably mean bigger box office for Fireball’s opening. Beyond that, we’ve got to spin this fast. If not, you’ll be crucified from Entertainment Weekly to Access Hollywood.”
“Meet me at my house. I’m headed there now, Becky.”
Rhett hung up and dialed Cassie’s number. Her voice mail came on.
“It’s Rhett. I’m headed back to the house. It’s a little after two. I really need to talk to you. Call me when you get this.”
He left the terminal and began jogging to his car. A sense of urgency drove him. He reached the car and pulled out of the parking lot and decided to try Cassie at the gatehouse. When she didn’t answer, he left a second message.
“Cassie, it’s Rhett. We have a situation that I need to talk to you about. Pick up if you’re there.”
He waited a minute, his insides twisting. Rhett was about to hang up when he heard the phone click.
“Rhett Corrigan, you better get back here.”
“Jolene?”
“You bet your sweet ass it’s Jolene. I’ve fucked up royally. Cassie’s ended our friendship and she’s already packed her bags and moved out. No forwarding address.
“Get over here now before the whole damned ship sinks.”
His gut churning, Rhett raced home, screeching up the drive and leaping from the car. He ran to the guesthouse and threw open the door, finding a weeping Jolene leaning into Breck, her face buried against his chest.
His friend smoothed Jolene’s hair. “Rhett’s here, baby.”
She pushed away, sitting up, and Rhett saw the comedian was a total mess. Her red, swollen eyes were filled with tears. Streaks of dark mascara ran down her cheeks. She looked like a nightmare.
“It’s all my fault,” she said. “Everything. Cassie tried to do damage control but it was too late.”
Rhett took a seat in the club chair next to the sofa where Breck and Jolene sat. “Tell me. Everything.”
“Cassie and I met Melanie Cameron at Vanity. So she could find something to wear to the premiere. We were in the dressing room. She was trying on stuff. And I opened my big, fat mouth.”
“How did you know about Randi?” he demanded, trying to keep his anger reined in. “Did Cassie tell you?”
“No,” Jolene denied, pushing her fingers through her hair. “I overheard Cassie on the phone with Carreen. That’s when I figured out you were breaking up with Randi.” She eyed him sullenly. “About time.”
Suddenly, she pushed to her feet and began pacing the room. Then she wheeled and faced Rhett.
“I’m the one who broke the NDA. Not Cassie. I’m stupid and thoughtless and have no filter. Cassie just looked so damned hot in that dress and I told her how she’d turn your head.” Jolene swallowed hard. “Then I let slip that you planned to dump Randi. Someone in the dressing room overheard what I said. By the time Cassie changed back into her clothes and we left the dressing room, the entire shop knew. People snapped her picture. One bitch gave her the evil eye.”
Rhett could see it all. Women turned on one another quickly. He imagined it had been a feeding frenzy, with Cassie the main course.
“I take full responsibility,” Jolene continued. “You can sue my ass but not hers. I’m the idiot. I’ve already told Breck I’m moving out.”
She went and plopped next to him on the sofa. He placed a comforting arm about her shoulders.
Jolene’s eyes, still brimming with tears, tore at his gut. She was a good person. A little raw but never deliberately thoughtless.
“I am sorry, Rhett,” she said softly. “More than I could ever convey to you. You’ve been nothing but generous to me and Cassie. I blew it.” She brushed away her spilling tears. “It’s cost me my friendship with Cassie, something I can never get back.”
“She’ll forgive you,” Breck said. “It’ll take time but The General will know you weren’t being malicious.” He glanced to Rhett, asking with his eyes what was left unsaid.
Rhett knew how much Breck cared for this woman. Breck was a constant in Rhett’s life. That meant Jolene would always be around. No sense in burning bridges he’d only have to rebuild.
“I won’t sue you, Jolene,” he said. “I’m not happy with you but I’m not kicking you to the curb. You’ll have to repair the damage you’ve done to your friendship with Cassie.”
She burst into fresh tears. “I told her you were too fucking nice.”
He leaned forward, hands gripping his knees. “The important thing is to find Cassie. She has to be hurting. Badly.”
“She’s gone,” Breck said. “Jo doesn’t know where she went.”
“I’ll find her,” Rhett promised, determination filling him. “And when I do, I will never let her go.”
CHAPTER 18
“Turn on Today’s Hollywood,” Rhett’s mother said when he picked up the phone. “Randi is about to crucify you after this commercial break.”
“I knew it would happen, Mom. Thanks.”
Rhett picked up the TV remote and flipped around. The program returned from commercial with the teaser “Randi Fights Back”. As Randi began to speak, Rhett thought it was like passing by a massive car wreck on the 405. He couldn’t look away. He couldn’t get away. He simply sat in a stupor and listened to her brutalize him.