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“I mean it, Hugh.” Warner passed Hugh a glass of scotch in his hotel suite that night. “Gabrielle was pissed. She was madder than I’ve ever seen her.”
“So?” Hugh sipped from the small, square glass. “How she feels is irrelevant.” He laid on the leather couch. “This isn’t about her, it’s about me.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because it’s the truth. She might not like what’s gonna happen, but it’s happening.”
“So because you want her, that’s all that matters?” Warner walked across the Persian rug and stopped at the terrace doors. “You haven’t changed one bit, Hugh.”
“Gabrielle isn’t in a position to be say no.” Hugh sat up and lit a cigarette. “I’m sick of her shit. You know how long I’ve been waiting for that pussy? Look at how nice I’ve been to her all these years and she couldn’t even acknowledge me?”
“That should tell you to leave her alone.” Warner sat on the loveseat with his legs wide open. “She doesn’t want you. Why embarrass yourself over a woman who doesn’t want you?”
“Let’s be real here.” Hugh snatched the cigarette out his mouth. “Her career is down the toilet, and I’m one of few people who cares about that.”
“You care?” Warner sipped from his bourbon.
“If it gets me in her bed...” Hugh’s brows furrowed. “You damn right I care.”
Warner lowered his glass. “It’s times like these that makes it hard to be your friend.”
“Don’t play innocent with me. You’ve seduced every model you’ve worked with. But, it’s wrong when I want Gabrielle because she’s your friend?”
“Yes.” He clamped his teeth together. “She’s special and the last thing I want is her getting hurt.”
“Last time I checked Gabrielle was a grown woman.”
“What am I worried about, anyway?” Warner sat back, propping his right leg on his left thigh. “There’s no way in hell you’d have a shot with her. She hates you.”
He gulped scotch. “I won’t stop until she’s mine.”
“You’re obsessed with her.”
“Not obsessed with her but with the mission.”
Warner raised his eyebrow. “If Gabrielle wanted you, you might not even be interested. Am I right?”
“Sure I would.” Hugh cackled from deep in his throat. “It just wouldn’t be as exciting as it is now.”
“You only want her because she’s beautiful.”
Hugh blew smoke out the corner of his mouth. “That’s not true.”
“Name one reason you like her other than her looks.”
“Uh...” Hugh glanced around, waving his glass. “I like her personality. She has fire.”
“So does Sierra and a lot of other women you’ve been with. Anything else about Gabrielle you can name?”
“I like how she got to where she is today. I know about her struggle being a poor kid from Brooklyn with a single mother.” He stood erect, beaming with pride for Gabrielle’s accomplishments. “She dropped out of school and came to L.A. when she was only sixteen. All by herself. At sixteen, I’d never have the courage to do something like that, but she did.” He tipped his cigarette toward Warner. “And she became Futero’s first black spokesmodel. She’s amazing. Why do you think Loya and I didn’t make it? Because I wanted Gabrielle.”
“Damn, man.” Warner touched his mouth. “You are in love with her, aren’t you?”
“You gotta help me get her, man.”
“There’s nothing I can do.”
“You mean you won’t do it.”
“Bingo. Gabrielle means a lot and I can’t condone you hurting her.”
“Why are you so sure I’ll hurt her?”
“Because you’ve hurt every woman you’ve been with, Hugh.”
“If you were my friend you’d help me with her.”
“Don’t you have enough to worry about with Fatal Honor? You don’t even have a lead actress anymore since Olympia Wood pulled out. That’s where your mind should be instead of chasing pussy.”
“Warner!” Hugh slammed the glass on the coffee table and leapt on him. “I could kiss you.”
Warner lifted his fist. “You do and I’ll be the last person you kiss.”
Hugh got off him, howling. “You’re a fucking genius, man.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“You gave me a great idea.” Hugh jumped on the table.
“Get off, man.” Warner stood, waving. “If you break it, I’ll have to pay for it. That table costs more than my car.”
“Why the hell didn’t I think of this before?” Hugh jumped off the table. “Gabrielle’s career needs rescuing and what better way to rescue a career than getting a starring role in a hit movie?”
Warner batted his eyes.
“Fatal Honor will help me get Gabrielle.” Hugh grabbed Warner’s face as if he’d kiss him. “I’ll offer her the lead actress role.” He guffawed. “No way she’ll pass this up.”
“Hugh—”
“It’s perfect.” Hugh squeezed Warner’s face. “I’ll give her the role, she becomes hotter than she ever has, and she’ll be mine.” He danced in a circle. “It’s fool proof, Warner.”
He massaged his jaws. “No way in hell Gabrielle would be in your movie.”
“She doesn’t have a choice. Her ass needs to find a way to stay relevant and without Futero she’s as much as forgotten.”
“It’s not gonna happen.” Warner plopped on the loveseat. “I’d eat my toes if Gabrielle stars in your movie.”
Hugh leaned over him. “You want ketchup with them toes?”