Mr. Hollywood (Celebrity #1) (34 page)

Anger boiled through me.
“
That
’
s
a lie and you know it. If you
’
d have been any kind of girlfriend
to him it should
’
ve been you he was in bed with.
”
I hadn
’
t realized how much I blamed her
for what had happened to him.
“
Where were you all night when this
was happening? Passed out? Drunk? Fucking someone else?
”

“
Aubrey,
it
’
s all right,
”
Zane said, attempting to guide me
past her.
“
It doesn
’
t matter anymore. She can
’
t say or do anything that will hurt
me either. If she says anything to anyone, she
’
ll
lose everything she has.
”

“
Need
a girl to fight your battles for you now, Z?
”
Giving
him a haughty glance, she placed a hand on her perfect hip, and I wondered how
much liposuction she had every year to keep it looking that way.
“
It
’
s
sad how far you
’
ve fallen
—
from the top of Hollywood to some
filthy farm boy with a kid.
”

Zane remained remarkably cool.
“
I guess it depends on your
perception. Frankly, I think I moved up the ladder, from Hollywood to absolute
Heaven. Let
’
s go, Aubrey. Talking to Lauren is
always a waste of good breath.
”

“
It
was Jax Devereaux,
”
Lauren said loudly.

“
What?
”
Zane turned back to stare at her.

“
Your
plaything there asked me who I was with that night. It was Jax Devereaux
—
you know, the biggest rock star on
the planet?
”

Zane
’
s features clouded, his normally
bright blue eyes appearing stormy as his jaw flexed.
“
He wasn
’
t the biggest rock star on the
planet back then. Either way, he must
’
ve been slumming that night if he
slept with you.
”

Guiding me, he steered me away again.

“
I
was good enough for you,
”
she hollered after us.

Glancing over his shoulder, he shook his head.
“
You were never good enough for me.
You were just something to pass the time while I dreamed about what I really
wanted.
”
He glanced at me.
“
And that was always Aubrey.
”

“
You
’
re a prick,
”
she yelled at him as we continued
on our way.

“
Learned
how to be one from you, remember?
”

“
FUCK
YOU, Z MCCARTNEY!
”
Her words reverberated off
the buildings, she screamed so loudly.

“
No
thanks.
”
Draping his arm around my shoulder
he steered me around the next corner and out of sight.
“
I
’
m
sorry about that. Really. I had no idea she was on the lot today.
”

“
It
’
s all right. I
’
m just glad Dustin wasn
’
t here.
”
That was putting it mildly. In
fact, this little scene was causing me to have second thoughts about all this.
I didn
’
t want him around people like that.

“
Yeah.
She
’
s a piece of work. No doubt about
it.
”

Dustin and I had been staying at Zane
’
s house, in an effort to keep the
paparazzi away from both us, and my parents. Zane wasn
’
t around very much though, since
his shooting schedule was pretty busy now, thanks to the delay rehab had
caused. The studio was doing its best to keep things clipping along at as fast
a pace as possible. A lot of his time was spent at Sunnybrook Haven, too, as he
continued his therapy.

As far as our relationship though, we were just taking
things one day at a time. We both felt it was important for Dustin to be the
center of attention, and if he was awake, we spent most of our time with him. I
didn
’
t want him feeling like Zane had
stolen me from him.

Nothing could really progress one way or another until
Zane was free of the contract he was currently under. Dustin was also still in
school during the week, so for now, we were just easing into a new lifestyle
and getting to know one another.

Zane had been flourishing in rehab. Once he
’
d committed, he
’
d done it heart and soul. His
meeting with Andy had been a big turning point for him. I
’
d seen lots of changes in his
demeanor over the last week. He seemed lighter .
 
.
 
. happier. Once he told me what had
happened with Andy, even I wanted to meet the guy. It sounded like they
’
d both been through a lot. While I
was sad they
’
d had to go through that, I was
happy they both seemed to be finding peace.

But now I was worried again. Granted, not everyone in
Hollywood was a bitch like Lauren, but according to some of the stories Zane
had told me about people, the ones that were, could make life miserable. I
could handle bitches
—
or crappy people of any gender
—
but I didn
’
t want my son exposed to petty
people like that.

“
Hey.
You
’
re awful quiet.
”
He glanced behind us.
“
Are you upset?
”

“
A
little, but mostly because she was rude to you.
”

“
So
what else is bothering you?
”

I sighed and shook my head.
“
Nothing really. I just don
’
t like fake people.
”

“
Forget
about her. Let
’
s just enjoy our lunch and have fun
with our son. I don
’
t want anything to ruin our day.
”

Smiling, I attempted to shove my negative feelings
aside.
“
You
’
re
right. We
’
ve been looking forward to this day
for ages.
”

“
I
’
m looking forward to tonight, too.
”
Grinning, his hand slipped lower,
grabbing my butt.

“
Keep
your grubby hands to yourself,
”
I replied with a laugh.

“
Can
’
t. I
’
m
leaving to go on location to Paris tomorrow, remember? I need to sex it up so I
have something to last me while I
’
m away.
”

“
I
wish we could go with you, but I don
’
t dare pull Dustin out of school
for that many days.
”

“
We
can hire him a tutor. Kids go to school on set all the time. I
’
m happy to find someone for him.
”

I shook my head.
“
No. Not right now. This is the end
of the school year and I want him to live as normally as possible. I
’
m afraid all this will go to his
head.
”

“
Let
him be excited, Aubrey. He
’
s getting to do something most kids
will never get the opportunity to do. It
’
s probably pretty incredible for
him.
”

“
I
know. And I get that. It
’
s why I agreed to him coming with
you today. I just don
’
t want him to get a false
impression of the world.
”

“
I
understand completely. If anything is bothering you, just tell me. I
’
ll do my best to see that he
’
s safe and living the life you want
him to have.
”

“
We
want him to have,
”
I corrected.
“
We have to be on the same page.
”

“
And
we will be,
”
he replied placing a kiss on
my head and I should
’
ve felt better
—
but I didn
’
t.

“Z McCartney Son Missing! Nationwide Amber Alert Issued!”

~
Glitz Magazine
~

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Aubrey

Was that my phone ringing?

Pausing, I held Zane
’
s
shirt I
’
d been folding and listened. Sure
enough there was a ringtone. Laying the shirt down, I hurried back to Zane
’
s bedroom to retrieve it. Glancing
at the number, I recognized it as Dustin
’
s school. I answered it
immediately.

“
Hello?
”
I wasn
’
t sure why, but a feeling of
trepidation washed through me, and fear gripped my heart. Why would the school
be calling in the middle of the day?

“
Hi,
this is Julie Wood. I
’
m the principal for Highland
Elementary. I
’
m trying to reach Aubrey Hart.
”

“
This
is Aubrey. Is Dustin all right?
”
I needed to know right now.

“
Well,
actually, we can
’
t find him.
”

“
What?
”
My heart sank and a tremor raced
through me.

“
Apparently
the kids were out to recess and a bunch of reporters showed up at the school
and tried to talk to him through the fence. One of his classmates said he told
them that he was supposed to run home if he ever saw any of those people.

“
The
teachers on playground duty told the reporters they had to leave or the police
would be called, but after they left the school Dustin was nowhere to be found.
”

A sob threatened to escape me, as my mind frantically
fought to keep it together.
“
I did tell him once to run home,
but I meant if he were playing outside the house, not to leave school.
”

Julie continued.
“
We
’
ve
called the police department, as is our policy for a missing child, and they
’
re sending an officer to the
school. I
’
m so sorry about this. Is there
anyway you can check friends and neighbors maybe? Or do you have any idea where
he might have gone?
”

“
I
’
m assuming he would
’
ve gone home, but I
’
m not there. Let me call my
parents. They live next door. I
’
ll also go drive the route to
school and see if I can find him.
”

“
So
do we have your permission to officially declare him missing? We have certain
protocols to follow in that case. We already have the school on lockdown.
”

“
Yes,
please. Let me know if you get any more information. I
’
m heading out the door right now.
”
Slipping my feet into my shoes as
we spoke, I grabbed my purse and keys, and headed toward the private elevator.

“
We
will, for sure. Please do the same for us. Again, I
’
m so sorry this has happened.
”

“
Just
help me find my son. That
’
s all that matters.
”

“
We
will. Good luck on your end.
”
Hearing the concern and worry
in her voice scared me even more.

“
Thank
you.
”
Ending the call, I stepped into the
elevator, immediately dialing my mother. She answered on the second ring.

“
Hey
there. How are you today?
”
she asked, cheerfully.

“
Mom,
have you seen Dustin today?
”
I blurted out, my voice
shaking.

“
No.
What
’
s wrong?
”
Instantly, the tone of her voice
changed.

“
The
school called. They said a bunch of reporters showed up trying to talk to him
and now they can
’
t find him.
”

“
Did
they call the police?
”

“
Yes,
they said an officer was on the way. When we had all those reporters around the
house before, I told him to run home if anyone ever tried to bother him. I
think
—
I hope
—
that
’
s
what
’
s happening.
”

“
I
’
ll get in my car right now and
drive the route to the school from here. I
’
ll also check the neighbors and ask
if they
’
ve seen him recently.
”

“
All
right. I can
’
t imagine that he
’
d try to come here. It
’
s a twenty-minute drive to the
school from here. Of course, if he used his Metro pass he could get here, but I
don
’
t think he
’
d have any clue what route to take.
”
This wasn
’
t helping my panic levels. I couldn
’
t lose my son. He was my world! The
repressed sob escaped and tears swam before my eyes as I stepped off the
elevator.

“
We
’
ll find him, Aubrey. If we have to
tear apart this city to do it, we will. Brent! Get the car keys! Dustin
’
s missing!
”
she shouted to my dad.

“
Thanks,
Mom. I gotta go because I need to drive. Please call me if you find him.
”

“
When
we find him. Be positive.
”

“
I
’
m trying. I need to call Zane, but
he
’
s on a plane to Paris right now, so
I can
’
t reach him. I should call
Penelope, though. Once the media gets hold of this, it
’
s gonna spread like wildfire.
”

“
That
’
s a good idea, actually,
”
my mom replied.
“
Penelope may have access to
additional resources. I
’
d call her right now and let her
know what
’
s going on.
”

“
Okay,
I will. Love you.
”

“
Love
you too, sweetie. Your dad and I are heading out the door right now. Call if
you need us.
”

“
All
right.
”
Hanging up, I dialed Penelope
’
s personal cell number.

“
Aubrey?
”
she answered.
“
Is everything all right?
”

Sadly, it seemed as if I never called Penelope unless
we needed her help with something. Now I needed her help more than ever.
“
No. Reporters showed up at Dustin
’
s school today and now he
’
s missing. The school is on
lockdown and the police are on their way, but they can
’
t find him.
”

“
Oh
dear heavens,
”
she muttered.
“
Hang on a second.
”
I could hear her voice in the
background shouting out orders.
“
This isn
’
t a drill, ladies. Z
’
s son has gone missing from school
after reporters showed up there. One of you get Mike Larson on the phone
immediately so he can start implementing our legal options. Suzy, you get hold
of his agent, Luke Hayward, let him know what is going on and ask him to see
when and where we might be able to get a message to Z. We also need him to
contact the studio and let them know what is going on, since it will affect Z
’
s filming in Paris if Dustin isn
’
t found. Jill, you look into
available return flights in case Dustin isn
’
t
found and we need to get him back here in a hurry. Hopefully we
’
ll find Dustin before Z lands, but
we can
’
t waste a minute on this.
”
While I was thrilled that she
seemed to have things well in hand, her words still brought me discomfort.
“
Aubrey? Where are you?
”

“
I
’
m just leaving the penthouse to go
look for him. My parents are out driving the route between school and home. I
think he
’
d try to go home.
”
It was becoming increasingly harder
to speak and keep my voice from shaking.

“
Okay,
drive there, but go straight to your house. Someone needs to be there in case
he shows up there. We don
’
t want him to be scared and go
somewhere else.
”

“
I
nneed to do something.
”
My teeth chattered and I
recognized I was going into psychogenic shock.

“
You
are. You
’
re waiting for your son in the one
place he
’
s been told to go.
”

“
I
know, I just cccan
’
t lose
—”

“
We
’
ll find him, Aubrey. Trust me. We
’
ll spare no expense.
”

“
What
if sssomeone took him?
”
I couldn
’
t stop crying, tears threatening to
completely overwhelm me.

“
Aubrey,
let me send a car to drive you. You
’
re too upset right now. That way
you can spend all your time looking instead of worrying about traffic.
”

I understood the wisdom of her words, but I couldn
’
t.
“
I
can
’
t wait. He
’
s out there, alone and scared.
”

“
Aubrey,
wait. Seriously, one of the girls is calling a driver right now. They can be
there in five minutes. I
’
d feel much better about it. Are
you in the garage?
”

“
Yes.
”

“
Stay
there. I
’
ll give the driver a passcode.
”

“
Tthank
you,
”
I replied, releasing another flood
of tears.
“
You
’
re
always so good to us.
”

“
No
worries. As soon as I know everything is being taken care of on this end, I
’
ll come to your house. You have my
full attention for the rest of the day. I
’
ll have someone here take care of
the rest of my clients today.
”