Seth was right about all this fame and notoriety. Maybe she was just too young and naïve to get how destructive a force it could be.
A soft tap came at the bedroom door.
“Come in,” she called.
Gia’s mother, Susan Moreno, opened the door and stepped over the threshold carrying a tray.
“Room service,” her mother said with calm cheerfulness. Gia forced a smile and partially sat up in bed.
“Have I told you how much I appreciate you being here?” Gia asked as her mother set the tray down on the bedside table.
Her mom gave her an arch look. “Several times. More importantly,” she said as she poured some steaming water into a cup, “have I told you how proud I am of you for testifying in this trial?”
Gia started in surprise. “You are?” she asked, sitting up in bed slowly.
Her mom nodded. She poured a packet of Splenda into the drink and stirred it before handing the cup and saucer to Gia. “Herbal tea to help you sleep. You’re strung tight as a wire,” she explained before she sat on the edge of the bed and patted Gia’s knee. “In fact, I owe you a lot of ‘I’m proud of yous’ and just as many ‘I’m sorrys.’ ”
Gia blinked in surprise.
“I know I haven’t always seemed supportive of your choice to do films. It seemed different when you were on Broadway. Hollywood seems more . . . dangerous somehow. When McClarin was arrested, and all this craziness started, my worry over you being a film actress only amplified. As a result, I know I haven’t been very supportive of you. I haven’t been fair,” Susan said regretfully. “I haven’t told you how proud I’ve been for all you’ve accomplished in the past few years. But I have been proud. I am.”
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“Watching you these past few days. Admiring your courage.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Gia said, moved by the unexpected compliment.
“Your father and I—and Stephen,” she added, referring to Gia’s stepfather, “we all just worry so much.”
“I know,” Gia said, her eyes burning. She felt paper-thin after what had happened with that story breaking. Her normal defenses and resilience seemed to have abandoned her. “The truth? On a day like today, I doubt the wisdom of my career choices as well.”
“Don’t,” her mother said resolutely.
“Not because of that story. After watching these court proceedings over the past few days and seeing that swine Sterling McClarin up close, after witnessing everything you’re going through, I know you must feel like you’re battling a storm in a ship full of holes. But don’t give up. On any of it. I’ve never been prouder of you in my life, knowing what you’re doing, seeing you face this . . . this damn persecution by the press. Even though I agree with Charles and Madeline,” she added grimly. “It’s most likely McClarin and his faction that are behind all that.”
Gia smiled at the evidence of her mother’s sober fierceness. She hadn’t seen her formidable game face since she was a corporate lawyer years ago.
“Now,” her mom said, clapping her hands briskly. “Tell me about Seth Hightower.” She noticed Gia’s stunned look and fading smile at the topic change. “I noticed the expression on your face when we watched that sleazy show’s video clip together.” Gia exhaled slowly and set her cup of tea on the table. “I assume that part of the story is true? You were indeed in a house in the woods with this man, Seth Hightower, avoiding the press?”
Gia nodded. She pinched her eyelids shut as emotion swelled in her breast. “Oh God, Mom. He must hate me by now,” she confessed shakily. Her mother clasped her hand.
“Surely he realizes you had nothing to do with this ridiculous story being circulated.”
“He’s too smart not to have realized that in a split second. That’s not why he’s probably wishing right now he’d never laid eyes on me.”
“Does his opinion mean that much to you?” her mom asked quietly.
The question triggered an unstoppable rush of emotion.
“Yes,” she gasped. “I’m in love with him.”
Her mother pushed back the hair off Gia’s face and said soothingly, “Okay, this sounds major. Better start from the beginning. Take your time.”
The whole story came spilling out of Gia: the strong connection she and Seth had felt years ago upon their first encounter, his reaction to discovering she was an actress and refusal to contact her again, the consultant disguise work he occasionally did in legal and criminal cases, and how he’d been assigned to help her disappear off the map. She left out Zoe Lindsay’s name and provided only the sketchiest details, but it was enough to give her mother the impression that Seth definitely had his reasons for avoiding actresses. She described his independence and love of privacy, his determination not to let the blind greed for power and fame that ran at epidemic levels in Hollywood taint his creative drive and love of his work. When she mentioned Seth’s contention that because of the clash of Gia’s ambition and his need to protect his private life and artistic drive, they wouldn’t “work” together, her mom paused her tearful ramble with a hand on her forearm.
“Do you think that’s true, Gia? On your part?” she asked.
“I suppose,” she said miserably. “I couldn’t give up any of my career dreams for a man. It’s not who I am. More importantly, it’s not who Seth is to ever ask or expect me to.” She blinked when there was no response and focused her bleary eyes. Her mother looked grave.