A Humble Heart (Hollywood Hearts 1)

“Right there, get it going,” Nick said. He grabbed a remote and pointed it towards the panel wall. The sound of whooshing caught everyone’s attention as the paneling moved aside revealing a large flat screen monitor. Derrick walked over and pushed against the wall. A keyboard secured to the wall popped out like a tray, revealing a small screen.

Dana watched horrified as the huge monitor displayed the internet. “Can you find it?” Nick asked anxiously. Derrick rolled his eyes and gave him a cocky look. Within seconds the video was playing. Underneath the video the number of views was displayed, 3,898,779 views. Super, Dana thought. That meant that either 3,898,779 believed it was them or didn’t. Just freaking super.

The men watched the entire video while Dana watched their reactions. Edward looked bored. Rick and Eric tilted their heads now and then and had a speculative look on their faces. When it was over Nick looked at Dana gleefully.

“Okay, now explain to me how we know it wasn’t you, Dana,” Nick asked her.

“Look at the video of Lucas and me and you’ll know,” she said.

Nick put a finger to his lips. “Yes, the tattoos. Well, at the time you may not have had one, however, since this is recent you could have one now so that really proves nothing,” Nick said.

Dana’s jaw dropped. For a long moment no one said anything. “You little bastard,” she said, making Nick bounce up and down again.

Eric and Rick shared a nervous look. If it was her they were going to have a PR nightmare. No one would pay ten bucks just to see a staged sex scene when they could see the real deal for free.

Nick studied her. “I can tell by the look on your face, Dana, you realize the problem we’ll have if we can’t disprove this.”

“Ah, Dana, I hate to do this but we need to know for a fact that wasn’t you in the film if you expect our support. I’m really sorry about this. But these things can cost us all a great deal of money.”

“For f**k sake, the guy wore a condom! Why the hell would I wear one when we’re having sex? She’s already pregnant!” Edward argued.

Nick waved his finger in the air. “She would if she wasn’t one hundred percent sure you were faithful in England. You might have an open relationship. It’s an easy argument to make.”

Dana groaned. She knew the angle Nick was trying to push. “Let’s cut the shit, Nick. Where were the tattoos?”

“Why I never thought you would ask, Dana. A sweet little tattoo on her ass, apparently one above her umm…..genitals and a breast tattoo.”

She pushed away from the table and grabbed Nick by the arm, pulling him out of the office. “I assume you will take his word for it?” she asked Eric and Rick.

“Yes,” they answered in unison.

“Fine, I’m only doing this once.” She pulled him out of the boardroom into the next room.

Chapter 13

“What the hell is she doing?” Edward demanded.

“Sit down, Edward, she’s saving your career as well as hers. Just chill, he’s not going to touch her,” Eric said.

“Son of a bitch!” He kicked a chair across the room. They weren’t moving out of his way.

“Holy shit!” they heard Nick say from the next room. That was it. Edward jumped over the table and tried to make his way to the door. Eric and Rick tackled him to the ground.

“He’s just f**king with you. Don’t worry, Dana is great girl. She wouldn’t let him do anything!” Rick said.

He was still on the ground when Dana walked in shaking her head while she grinned hugely. That pissed Edward off more. Nick walked into the room with his hand over his heart. “That was a mean thing to do! I can’t believe you would do that to me!” Nick bitched.

Dana shrugged indifferently and inspected her fingernails like she couldn’t be bothered. All three men looked up at her. She looked at them “What? You didn’t really think I was going to let him see me naked, did you? Come on guys you know me better than that.”

They turned in unison to look at Nick. “She….,” He gestured wildly to the next room. “She got me in there and did…she….then she…..you’re such a tease, Dana!”

She smiled sweetly at Nick. “I told you payback’s a bitch, Nick. Don’t taunt my guy again or I’ll do something worse next time.” She walked past the three men on the floor and sat in her seat like nothing happened.

Nick thrust his hands in his hair, frustrated. “Damn it, woman, if you think what you did would stop me you must be out of your mind you just kicked this into a higher gear. Oh, now that I know you can dish it out like that…” He shook his head back and forth in a menacing manor. “Sweetheart, I look forward to seeing what it will take to make you blush.” He chuckled, making Dana laugh too.

“I missed you, Dana. No one else takes my shit like you do and puts me in my place.” He grinned hugely at her.

“It’s good to be useful,” she said dryly. She watched the men on the floor slowly stand up.

Eric and Rick looked at her expectantly. “So?”

She sighed. “This is easily proved without shredding my clothes for the office pervert.” She stood up and pulled down her tee shirt baring the skin above her bra where the tattoo would be if she was the woman in the video.

“Thank god,” Rick and Eric said at the same time.

Nick looked at Edward as he sat down. “You are an unbelievably lucky man. Just know if you hurt her I will personally kick your ass, no hard feelings.”

Edward nodded. “I understand.”

Dana rolled her eyes. “Can we please get on with it? What’s going on, Eric?”

“First to cover this little incident I’m going to need you to do another photo shoot. I’ll set something up that’s tasteful with the two of you,” Rick said.

They both nodded before looking at Eric.

“I have a film on hold, a very good film. The lead male just dropped and the woman who was casted isn't working out. It’s scheduled to start filming in four days. I want the two of you to do it. It’s perfect for you, a romantic-adventure with a touch of comedy.” Eric pushed a script towards each of them. “Read it over and let me know. We're offering you each fifteen million.”

"I'm not sure I can do this right now," Dana said as she opened the script and skimmed over it.

“What will it take to get you to agree to this, Dana?” Eric asked.