The Game (21 page)

"Is it true?" Ryan asked.

"Is what true?"

"Did you really fall in love?"

I didn't say anything for a while, but then slowly nodded my head. I heard Ryan let out a low whistle and looked up to see him smiling at me. My face twisted into a scowl.

"Don't look so happy now," I said.

"But this is a miracle! Robert J. Benedict has finally gotten pierced by Cupid's arrow. I never thought I'd see the day. It's wonderful. I can't believe I've missed so much while I was away," he said, still grinning from ear to ear.

"Go ahead and laugh. I probably deserve it," I said, feeling the fight drain out of me. This was the least I deserved.

"What do you mean?" Ryan asked, taking on a serious expression suddenly.

"Roman didn't tell you?"

"No. Mel and I just arrived a few hours ago. Actually, I got a call from Roman asking me to check up on you as soon as we landed. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was having us followed. All he told me was that you're heartbroken over some girl. You know that piqued my curiosity and I had to find out what the deal was."

"How kind of you," I said sarcastically.

"Oh cut the bull, Rob. I know you're dying to tell me all about it, and I promise to listen and give good counsel. What else have you got to lose?"

"What's there to tell? Haven't you read the papers?"

"No, I haven't. We just got back. What happened that it's in the papers?" Ryan asked, staring at me intently. "Who is she?"

"Emilia Holliday," I said.

Ryan stared at me in astonishment before he burst out laughing, cackling like a hyena more like.

"Oh, this is too rich! Emilia Holiday?"

"Why do you sound so surprised? You're the one who introduced us after all," I said sulkily.

"Yeah, but I never thought you'd actually fall in love with her. My God, you've never been serious about any one in your life. Then again, Emilia isn't an ordinary woman," he added thoughtfully. "I'm surprised she let it go so far. Now, I've got to hear this story."

I got up to pour myself another drink. I took my time and took grim satisfaction at the fact that Ryan was squirming in his seat. He was practically ready to jump down my throat. Finally, I relented and told him everything that had happened between Emilia and me, up to the night at my parent's anniversary party. Once I had finished, I felt slightly relieved. I guess there was something to be said for the power of confessing your sins.

Ryan remained silent, probably digesting everything I'd just told him. If I hadn't lived through it myself, I'd find the story hard to believe too.

"I'm speechless," he finally said. "This is really one of the most incredible things I've ever heard."

"You must lead a very boring life then," I said dryly.

"Now I know why Roman and Stella were so worried about you," Ryan said, brushing aside my comment. "What are you going to do?"

"What can I do?" I asked, standing up and pacing the room in frustration. "I've tried all I can to see her, but she's not taking my calls. I have no idea where she is. It's like she's disappeared off the face of the earth. No one has seen her. And her manager is no help. Talking to her is like banging my head against a brick wall."

"That does sound bad. Then again, you did fuck up pretty badly. My God, what were you thinking leaving with Cordelia Crenshaw of all people? I thought you said you were completely through with her."

"It's not like I actually went and slept with her!" I said defensively. "Besides, I thought Emilia was flirting all night with Peter Stanwick."

"Stanwick the Prick?" Ryan asked, using the nickname we'd given him years ago.

"The same."

"I've got to hand it to you, Rob. Out of all the women out there, I never thought you'd go for someone like Emilia Holiday," Ryan said shaking his head slowly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, my voice low and threatening.

"Calm down. I'm not insulting her--or you. It's just that she's not really your type. She's beautiful, for sure, but you're quite a snob. I didn't think you'd be able to get past her--er--background."

"I'm not a snob!" I refuted. "What do I care about all that?"

"Don't you?" he asked, looking at me keenly. "From what you told me about your engagement, you wanted an unsophisticated, vulgar woman to pretend to be your fiancée, and the first person you thought of was Emilia."

"If you're trying to say that I think Emilia is not good enough for me, you're wrong. She's too good for me. I don't deserve her," I said. "Maybe I thought those things before I really got to know her, but not anymore." I slumped my head down and closed my eyes.

"Damn, you really are in it deep. It's a good thing I'm going to help you then," Ryan said.

I snapped my eyes open and looked at him. "How can you help me?"

"I can get you a meeting with her," he said, smugly.

I sat up and leaned forward eagerly, feeling hopeful for the first time.

"How?"

"Did you forget that my fiancée is her stylist? She's already called Mel to help dress her for the Golden Globes," he said. "That's why we've come back."

A slow smile began to spread across my face. I could have smacked myself for not thinking of it sooner. Of course Mel would be able to contact her. This was just the news I needed. I stood up again and began to pace, trying to formulate a plan, and what I'd say to her when I saw her. This would probably be my only shot to see her and I had to convince her of my sincerity.

"I could kiss you, Ryan!" I said.

"Please don't," he remarked dryly.

"When can I see her?" I asked.

"I'll have to discuss it with Mel. She'll probably be pissed at you for what you did to Emilia. They've become good friends, you see. I'll have to convince her to help you," Ryan cautioned

I was ready to wrap my hands around Ryan's neck. One minute he was giving me hope and the next he was trying to snatch it from me.

"Could you just not mention to her what I did? Just tell her I need to see Emilia," I said.

"I'm sure by now Mel already knows everything anyway. My girl's a clever one. Besides, don't you think Lily would have told her?"

I sunk back on the couch and groaned. "Goddamn busy bodies everywhere," I mumbled.

"So, here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to try to convince my lovely fiancée to help you're worthless self out of this predicament. In the meantime, you need to think of what you're going to do when you have the opportunity. Don't waste it."

"Don't I know it," I said.

***

Somehow Ryan had worked his magic and convinced Mel to help me out. Technically, he said she'd talk to me and then decide what to do. That was good enough for me. I wasn't having any luck on my own so far, and needed all the help I could get. Besides, she was the one who had helped Roman when he screwed up with Lily, so if she could do that for me too, I'd be forever indebted to her.

We decided to meet up at her office in Soho. When I walked in, it was a frenzy of activity, with everyone running around carrying bags and boxes of God knows what. I could see Mel in her office behind the glass walls. She was talking to some woman. I didn't want to interrupt, but I was too impatient to wait, so I walked up to the glass and waved to make sure she saw me.

She glanced up briefly and continued talking to the woman for another five minutes. Finally, they got up and the woman walked out the office, giving me a curious look as she passed me.

"You're early," Mel said in greeting. Her voice sounded stern, but she still leaned in for a kiss on her cheek.

"I didn't have anything else to do," I said.

"So, Ryan told me what happened with you and Emilia. Not that he had much information. I had to go scouring the internet for the truth," she said.

"Don't believe everything you read," I said.

"Oh I know, but I also don't think Ryan was telling me everything. In any case, is it true you walked out on her at your parent's party with another woman?" she asked.

"Er--yes," I said, not able to deny it. "But nothing happened," I added quickly.

"I hope it didn't!" she said. "Otherwise, I'd tell you you're on your own."

"I would have never done it if I wasn't so eaten up with jealousy. She had been flirting with this guy--a real piece of work--and causing a lot of raised eyebrows. I just thought I'd give her a taste of her own medicine. I never meant to take it that far," I said.

"Well be that as it may, what do you need my help with?"

"I was hoping you could convince her to see me, or even just tell me where she is and I'll go see her myself," I said.

"I don't know, Rob. What is it about you and Roman that causes you two to screw up so majorly?"

"Ryan wasn't an angel either," I said defensively.

"True, but he never did anything close to what you two did," she said. "I mean, not only do you humiliate her, but then you go and blow her cover."

"Please don't remind me. I know what I did."

"Why is it so important to see her? If the engagement is fake--"

"Because I love her!" I burst out.

My hand instinctively went to my pocket and I felt the smooth texture of the velvet box inside. The engagement ring had arrived at my apartment yesterday. When I opened the package and saw that familiar blue box tucked neatly inside, my heart sank. I should have expected it, but somehow seeing the ring in the box and not on Emilia's finger made it that much more final. It had been a harsh reminder of what I'd done, and let get away. I knew I had to do everything I could to get her back.

A slow smile spread across her face and she nodded in approval. "Ryan told me you were in love with her, but I didn't believe it at first. Now I can see it's true."

"So, will you help me?" I asked.

Mel took a deep breath and bit her bottom lip in thought. "I'll see what I can do, but I can't make any promises."

"Thank you. Have you seen her?" I asked. I hadn't had any news of her for almost a month. Mel was the first person who could give me any information about her and I couldn't hold back my questions.

"Yes."

"How is she?"

"She seemed all right. We didn't talk much, you know. She just told me she needed me to dress her for the Golden Globes. I was surprised she was still going. I thought the snub would turn her off of it," Mel said.

"Snub?" I asked, confused.

She stared at me for a moment almost in disbelief before she spoke. "You haven't heard? She wasn't nominated. It was a huge snub since people thought she was a shoo-in for the win," she said.

I felt a wave of sadness wash over me. This had been her dream for as long as she could remember, and just as she was so close to achieving it, it was snatched away from her. I couldn't imagine the bitter disappointment and hurt she must have been going through, and I felt guilt over my role in adding to her problems.

"Oh God," I said, hanging my head. "I had no idea."

"Don't you read? Or even watch TV?" Mel asked in dismay.

"N-no, I mean I haven't been keeping up with the news," I said.

"Well, it's a pretty big deal. I thought for sure she'd skip the shows, you know with all the interest still in the fake engagement and plus not even being nominated, but she's determined to go," Mel said.

I felt a new wave of admiration for Emilia's strength in the face of all her adversity. Not many people could swallow their pride and do what she was planning on doing. Especially with the glare of the spotlight still on her. I could only imagine the other indignities and little digs she'd had to endure since word of our fake engagement hit the news.

"I'm supposed to meet with her in a couple of days," Mel said, cutting into my thoughts.

"Where?" I asked. "Is she back in New York?"

"We're meeting at her apartment," she said. "And she's been in New York the whole time."

I was so stunned by what Mel said, I couldn't speak for several moments.
Emilia's been here the whole time
?

"Damn Charlotte!" I cursed under my breath. She told me Emilia had gone to some tropical, out of the way island to regroup after her ordeal. Emilia had probably told her to tell me that and I felt a twinge of hurt that she'd had to go through all that just to keep me away.

My feelings were probably nothing compared to how she felt, though. I hoped Mel would be able to work her magic and somehow convince Emilia to meet with me. If she didn't, I didn't know what I'd do.

Chapter 23: Emilia

Mel was early. I had been expecting her to come at noon but she arrived half an hour early. I was just in the middle of Googling myself, a bad habit I know, when I heard the doorbell. It was probably a good thing she arrived when she did, since nothing good ever came of searching for myself on the internet.

I'd gotten better over the years, and especially since I'd come back from the little retreat at my parents' house over the holidays, but the urge was still there. I'd resisted as much as I could, but the temptation proved to be too much. I wanted to see what people were saying about my decision to attend the awards. I knew I shouldn't care, but I was only human, and a part of me did care.

Charlotte, my family, and friends had mostly tried to shield me from any news of myself--my parents even going so far as to disconnect the internet from their house. It'd been a blissful few weeks, but now I was back in the "real world" and I told myself I needed to be armed with information so I wasn't walking into a danger zone.

I got up from the couch and walked to the door. Mel looked radiant as I looked her over. I hadn't seen her for several months, and I couldn't remember when she'd ever looked better. Her features were the same, and she'd always had a wonderful fashion sense, but there was an inner glow about her. I guess love could do that to a person. She was positively beaming and she didn't even realize it.

I felt that familiar tug of envy--first Lily and now Mel--but I tried to bury it. Those thoughts never went anywhere good, and I'd gotten so good at redirecting my thoughts, it wasn't hard to do.