Chapter 11

Never in her life had Melissa felt so out of control, so overwhelmed, so ... angry. Tears of frustration spilled down her cheeks.

She should be able to decide whether or not she wanted to make a movie. It should be up to her what she wanted to do with her life. If she wanted to take a year off and travel around the world, she should be able to do just that. It was her prerogative.

But apparently, it was not. She was owned by her agent, her manager, and her publicist. By directors, producers, and screenwriters who depended on her. By the public. And by the damned press.

Everyone wanted a piece of her.

“You can’t be enslaved to anyone else unless you allow it to happen,” her mother told her when she shared her thoughts with her.

Melissa opened up an app on her phone and composed an e-mail to her manager, publicist, and agent.

I’m sending all of you this e-mail to let you know that I’ll be out of LA for a while. How long? I can’t tell right now. I have to take care of some personal matters. Very personal matters.

Please don’t come looking for me. Let me have this time to sort out my thoughts and find my footing. I need to be away from everyone until I can get my head right. Please understand.

She paused, feeling the desperation in her words, and she knew she needed to end this e-mail with strength. Remembering that her agent, manager, and publicist worked for her, and not the other way around, she packed her closing punch.

If you don’t respect my wishes, you’ll only make this situation worse and you’ll force me to look for a new team of people who have my best interests in mind. I’ll contact you when I’m ready.

Before she could second-guess herself or change her mind, she sent the text.

At that moment, Lindsey came back with the good news.

“Spencer agreed to have dinner with us,” she informed her sister.

“That’s great! Tell him to text me the details about the day and the time he wants me at his place.”

Lindsey made a noise of disapproval. “Don’t you think it would be better if we cook a nice meal for him?”

“I can’t cook to save my life and you know it,” Melissa bit her lower lip. “What’s wrong with me going to his place?”

Lindsey could see her sister was in Queen mode. She was used to people serving her at her beck and call. That wouldn’t work with Spencer.

She carefully chose her next words, “It would look better if you show Spencer that you’re putting in the effort to chase him. After all, you’re the one who is asking for a second chance, Mel.”

“There is a new restaurant in town. The food is great. I know Spence eats there at least twice a week. We can ask for takeaway,” Melissa’s mother suggested.

“Okay, then. We’ll do that. Can you call them and ask them what’s his favorite meal?” Mel asked her mother. Then she turned to her sister and added, “Send him an invitation for dinner for tomorrow.”

“What time?”

“How about five-thirty? I think you and Mom can go to visit someone or take a long walk to give Spence and me some privacy,” Melissa said to both of them. “I think I’ll be able to handle serving dinner by myself. I played the part of a waitress in one of my last movies, From Maid to princess.”

“Mel...” Lindsey blushed deeply, lowering her head and her voice. “Spencer was waiting to have dinner with all of us. He was very clear about it. If Mom and I are not here he might think it was a set-up.”

Melissa frowned at her sister. “But it’s not. How can I reconnect with him if you are around?”

“I think taking baby steps might be the best approach. If you try to rush things with him it might backfire at you,” Lindsey advised.

Mel threw her arms up in frustration.

“I don’t have time to take baby steps. It’s not like we’re starting from square one.”

“No, it’s much worse,” Lindsey thought. But, she kept her opinion to herself.

“As you wish,” Lindsey finally said, giving up trying to put some sense into her sister’s head.

Lindsey was sad and disappointed that she would miss spending some time with Spencer again. But, on the other hand, it was a good thing to stay away from him. If she kept hanging with him, then she’d grow even more attached. And she knew that would be a very bad thing.