See You at the Picture Show
Speculation was all over the Internet. Rome didn’t want to spoil their time in Vegas by constantly checking his phone, but he was nervous. If anyone figured out who Ella was, that could be a huge problem.
He saw the pictures, and there was no way to identify her unless someone knew her really well, but the fact that she’d lost her shoe alarmed him. One of the entertainment sites was reporting that a member of the paparazzi had taken her shoe and was doing his best to trace it back to where and when it had been purchased and by whom. It was just a matter of time until someone recognized the shoe had been purchased in the Venetian, and while Rome had paid cash and they’d been careful not to call each other by their real names where anyone could hear, he was worried.
“You know, we could get different disguises and go out,” Ella suggested two days after their wedding. He hadn’t let her leave the room since, and while they’d found other things to do to keep themselves busy, he knew she wanted to stop looking at Vegas out the window and actually experience it again.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he said, taking her hand and rubbing it as he spoke. “Yeah, we can do that. I’m just afraid someone will figure out who you are, that’s all.”
“I know. I spoke to my dad earlier today. He’s back in France, but he left Henry at the house. He said he’s disappointed in me. I tried to explain I’d had this trip with my friends planned for a while--I told him I went to Cabo, not here--but he didn’t care. I also talked to Tim. He’s freaking out. He’s talking about buying a gun.”
“A gun? Why?”
“He’s afraid of my dad’s men, what they might do when I come back. He doesn't know where I’m at either.”
“That's probably for the best. The last thing we need is for anyone in your family to know that you're in Las Vegas at the same time the tabloids are reporting that I’m getting married in Las Vegas.”
Ella nodded, but he could tell that she was worried about Tim. Rome didn’t blame her. The idea of her cousin with a gun was unsettling to him, too. Tim had never been completely stable. He was a hot head. The fact that he was now armed, and Rome had done something to offend him, made matters all the worse.
Rome’s phone rang, and he saw it was Marge. He’d spoken to her earlier. She knew he was out of town and that the rumors were true, he had gotten married, but he hadn’t told her to whom--even though she’d desperately wanted to find out. “Hey, Marge. What’s going on?”
“I have some news, dear. The casting director wasn’t pleased that you turned down the role they’d originally wanted you to play, but they are excited that you’re willing to play the part of Ken instead. I have all of the paperwork. I’ll just need you to come by the office and sign it.”
“Okay. I’m out of town at the moment, but I can come by in a few days.”
“How long will you be gone, Rome? There’s a casting party next Saturday they’d like for you to be at. They’re asking the entire cast to come along. Wynnie Wilson has invited everyone out on her yacht for the day. You can bring a guest, if you’d like. It will be a good opportunity for you to get to know the other actors. I think you should go.”
Rome tried not to roll his eyes. He knew Marge was his manager, and he paid her to make recommendations, but she didn’t need to restate the obvious. “I should be able to do that.”
“Wonderful! Now, in case you haven’t heard, Mark has also been given a role in the movie, which is just fabulous for me since that means I have two actors that I manage in the same movie with a dynamic cast that is sure to win several awards! I’m really proud of both of you.”
Sitting down on the edge of the couch, Rome considered her declaration. “No, I hadn’t heard that Mark is in the movie. Who will he be playing?”
“The younger brother--Elden.”
“Well, good for him.” Rome wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He was excited to get to work with Mark. It had been years since they’d worked on a movie together, but he wasn’t sure it was a good idea for Tim and Mark to be on the same set together. Even though Mark wasn’t a Verona, he’d always been a huge champion of Rome and his family, and he hated Tim Bolt. Tim wasn’t a fan of Mark’s either.
“Anyway, I wanted to let you know. I hope you’re having fun in Vegas.”
“Uh… I don’t think I told you I was in Vegas.”
She laughed. “I don’t think you needed to. It’s all over the tabloids. Congratulations. She seems lovely.”
“Thank you, Marge.” He was shaking his head, not sure what else to say. Marge always kept up with her people, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that she knew exactly where he was. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
He hung up and looked at Ella. She hadn’t said a word or moved much at all while he was on the phone. “That was Marge.”
“I heard. Everything okay?”
He nodded. “Mark got a role in the movie, too.”
“That’s good.”
Shaking his head, Rome said, “No, Tim and Mark hate each other. It’ll be bad.”
Ella understood. “Well, maybe it’ll be a good chance for them to get to know each other and put their differences aside.”
“I doubt it. Especially if Tim’s got a gun.”
“I’m sure he won’t take it on the set.”
“We’re invited to a party on a yacht next Saturday. We can bring a guest, but, I don’t know if I’ll be able to take you if Tim’s going. We won’t have enough time to tell him everything by then.”
“It’s okay. I’ve never been a fan of boats anyway. I love the ocean, but not boats.”
“I want you there, Ella. You’re my wife.” He sat down next to her and took her hand, looking at her rings.
“I want to be with you all the time, Rome, but that just might not be possible at the moment. We’ll figure it out.”
“I love you, Ella.” He knew he’d told her that a million times, but he felt the urge to tell her a million and one.
“I love you, too. We’ll make it work.” She leaned over and kissed him, and all thoughts of leaving the hotel room were swept away from his mind.
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