Eloise was having none of his nonsense.
"I'm not upset," she huffed. "That's your personal life."
Harvey chuckled lightly. "She's not my personal life. You and Linda are."
Turning to Linda, he asked, "Isn't that right, sweetheart?"
Linda climbed onto her father's lap, staring at Eloise with a judgemental gaze.
In the lull of the conversation, Denise walked in. She was carrying a tray laden with pecan pie, Linda's absolute favorite, and an assortment of other baked goods. Trailing behind her was the tall, striking actress, Beverly.
Beverly was a woman of immense confidence. She was an award-winning actress and was well-respected in the industry.
Having missed an opportunity to meet with Harvey in Sydney, she was determined not to let this opportunity slip away.
Denise gestured. "Please, have a seat."
Just as Beverly was about to sit down, her gaze froze. There was already someone seated on the couch.
A stunningly beautiful woman, young and elegant. She was slender, but not in the unhealthy way that many Hollywood actresses were; instead, she was slim but clearly fit.
Beverly’s heart sank. Could this be Mr. Horigan’s mistress?
Just as she was hesitating, Linda scurried off Harvey's lap, took Denise's hand and obediently seated herself at the small round table to enjoy the pastries.
After eating a piece, Linda turned to Eloise, "Eloise, will you eat with me?"
Beverly ignored Eloise, took a seat on the couch and turned her charming gaze towards Harvey. "Mr. Horigan, I would like to discuss the details of the contract."
Harvey glanced at her, then made his way to the coffee machine, his figure clad in a tailored suit, minus the jacket. He started brewing a cup of coffee - Eloise's favorite. He'd gotten an antique Italian espresso machine, so she could enjoy good coffee whenever she visited.
Beverly felt a sense of triumph. She felt that she had finally found a man who was her equal; a successful businessman and a top actress, they were a perfect match. She watched as Harvey brewed the coffee, expecting him to serve her. But to her surprise, the last piece of pecan pie was handed to Eloise by Linda, who then innocently asked, "Mommy, is it good?"
Mommy? Beverly was taken aback. Before she could recover, Harvey walked over with a cup of coffee placing it in front of Eloise, his voice gentle. "Don't drink too much, only half a cup."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Tangled Temptations