Chapter 2

I didn' t scream, I didn' t cry.

My mind was crystal clear.

I buzzed my head of security, Marcus Thorne, ex-Special Forces, loyal to a fault.

"Marcus, there's an actress, Tiffany Starr. She's currently at the Starlight Mixer at the Chateau Marmont. I want her removed. Publicly. And serve her with this restraining order. Effective immediately."

I forwarded him the video link and her social media profile.

"Consider it done, Ms. King," his voice was a gravelly assurance.

"And Marcus," I added, "revoke any and all access passes she might have to any studio lot King Global has a stake in. Make sure her face is flagged at every gate."

"Understood."

Two hours later, my phone pinged.

A news alert from a gossip blog: "Unknown Actress Forcibly Ejected from A-List Party! Dress Torn, Tears Ensue!"

Attached was a blurry photo of Tiffany Starr, mascara streaking her face, a cheap sequined dress ripped at the seam, being manhandled out by two burly security guards who were definitely not Chateau staff.

Marcus was efficient.

The restraining order would keep her at least 500 yards away from me, my properties, and, most importantly, Desert Mirage.

A small measure of satisfaction, cold and hard, settled in.

Ethan called, his voice no longer casual, but tight with anger.

"What the hell did you do, Scarlett? Tiffany is hysterical! You can't just manhandle people like that!"

"I can, and I did," I replied, my voice devoid of emotion. "She trespassed, she abused my property, she publicly humiliated me with your encouragement. Consider this a light warning."

"A warning? You ruined her night! She's a fresh talent, and you're bullying her!"

Fresh talent? That vulgar opportunist?

"She' s an animal abuser and a clout chaser, Ethan. And you stood by and cheered her on. That' s the only part of this that truly matters to me right now."

"You're blowing this way out of proportion! It was a joke!"

"Was it a joke when she deliberately hurt him, Ethan? Was it a joke when she called my grandfather's legacy a 'rich bitch's pony'?"

He was silent for a moment. Then, defiance.

"Tiffany is a good kid. She just got carried away. You' re being vindictive."

"Vindictive?" I almost laughed. He hadn't seen vindictive yet. "You have no idea, Ethan. Absolutely no idea what I'm capable of when someone I trusted spits in my face."

I hung up before he could respond.

The battle lines were drawn. He had chosen his side.

And he had chosen poorly.