A year or so long commitment with a huge financial payoff. Michael had placed five million dollars in an account that would become hers the day they separated. In return, he kept his reputation as Hollywood’s bad boy that every woman wanted, and continued making films.
So Karen had to give up sex for a year. No big deal.
She’d met and partied with Hollywood’s finest and found a best friend in Michael. It had only been in the past month that they’d actually talked about their mutual sexual frustration playing the role of a married couple. Ironically, the itch was never there to scratch with her husband, and if Michael were to make any real moves on Karen it would gross her out.
She glanced over the courtyard to the black jeans gripping the back end of Michael’s brother. Now his brother, Zach…
“Michael grew up in his hometown in Utah. Did the typical high school thing. Starred in the plays and attempted football. But that was his brother’s sport. He never lived up to it. He applied to colleges here in California and fell into the lure of the big screen.”
“No bad blood at home?” Eliza asked.
Samantha shook her head. “None that I found.”
Karen watched Michael and Zach from across the yard and blew out a breath. “This is going to get awkward.”
“Is he staying here?” Eliza asked.
Karen froze. “I-I didn’t ask. He should, right?”
“He’s family. And they don’t seem to be hating on each other,” Eliza stated the obvious.
Karen set her cup of coffee on a table and stood. “I should find out and have Alice make up a room while she’s still here.” Alice was the only domestic help they brought in during the week. She didn’t live in and had only been employed for a few months. Michael refused to have help for any real length of time. Hollywood’s best-kept secret would never keep if the housekeeper stuck around for long.
Karen walked to Michael’s side, and he smiled in acknowledgment. “Sorry to interrupt. But I was wondering if Zach is staying over?”
Zach looked between her and Michael. “It’s OK, I—”
“You’re staying here. Mom would kill me if you stayed at a hotel.” Michael’s tone was genuine.
“Mom’s going to kill you anyway.”
Michael nodded. “You’re right. No need to add to the ammunition. We have plenty of room.”
“I don’t know.”
Karen did what any wife would and took matters upon herself. “I’ll have Alice set up a room before she goes home.” She left their side and walked into the house.
Gwen met up with her in the kitchen. The caterers had left boxed-up food that would all be going to the Boys and Girls Club in the morning. The beauty of Hollywood parties was how well the kids ate once the festivities were over. The kids thought they got the leftovers. Only Karen and Michael knew that wasn’t the case. They always ordered more than they needed and had trays of food to serve to the kids.
“I’m outta here, Karen,” Tony, Michael’s manager, said as he passed through the great room.
Tony was short, Italian, and louder than any man should be.
“Did you pour Tom into a limo?” Karen asked.
Tony chuckled. “His car is parked to the side of the garage along with a few others. You’ll probably have assistants here bright and early to pick them up. Might just wanna keep the gate open.”
Karen shook her head. “Not a chance.” The last thing she’d do was leave the gate to Michael’s estate open for maundering fans or paparazzi to help themselves to a photograph. “Thanks for the warning. I hope you managed to have a good time.”
Tony always seemed to be working when he was in her and Michael’s presence.
“I always do. G’night Karen, Gwen.”
“Good night, Tony.”
Before Tony made it out of the room, he turned and shouted, “Oh, and happy anniversary.”
“Thanks.” Somewhere in all the excitement of the party, the fact that she and Michael had been married for a year escaped her for the past few hours.
Michael loved flashy parties, where Karen was just as happy with a few select friends with honesty flowing between them. Because her friends knew the business of Alliance, they all knew the marriage was coming to an end.
They’d only recently started talking about the Hollywood breakup and how it would go down. Irreconcilable differences without anything messy. Complete with a divorce party at some point.
They’d go their separate ways and remain friends.
“Where do you think Alice is?” Gwen asked as she leaned a slender hip on the center island, picked a fresh chocolate-covered strawberry from a tray, and nibbled on the ripe fruit.
The house had some order to it. The waitstaff had left thirty minutes before with the majority of guests. Now there were only a few guests weaving out of the house, waving good-byes as they left.
She seldom used the home intercom system, but Karen went to it and called Alice through the speakers. “Alice?”
A few seconds passed and the woman’s voice came through. “Yes, Mrs. Wolfe.”
“Can you make sure the spare room on the east side of the house is prepared for a guest?”
“Of course, Mrs. Wolfe.”
Karen plucked a strawberry off the tray and joined Gwen in her snack.
“How are you feeling?” Karen asked, letting her eyes drift to Gwen’s slender waist.
“I feel great. Samantha was so sick with both her pregnancies, I expected nothing different.”