“Don’t　be　mad。”　Hollis　put　his　hands　on　Vanessa’s　shoulders　and　whirled　her　Aeron　chair　around　so　she　faced　him。　His　gray　eyes　were　wide　with　concern；　and　his　chin　had　a　tiny　bit　of　the　five　o’clock　stubble　that　Vanessa　had　always　found　so　sexy。　“I　have　someone　for　you　to　meet。　This　is　Norma　Desmond。　She　sort　of　has　this　diva…ish　personality；　but　I　think　there’s　a　lot　going　on　beneath　the　surface。　She’s　certainly　a　charmer。”　He　scooped　up　the　tiny　puppy　and　waved　its　paw　at　her。

“You　decided　to　get　a　dog。　Any　other　decisions　you　made　today　that　you　didn’t　tell　me　about？”　Vanessa　asked　crisply。　She　gazed　down　at　Norma；　who　was　shaking　her　tiny　butt　uncontrollably。　The　name　was　from　Sunset　Boulevard；　a　film　Vanessa　and　Hollis　both　loved。

“Look；　Vanessa；　I　know　you’re　mad。　I’m　really；　really　sorry　about　the　way　everything　went　down。　I　should　never　have　had　you　pitch　the　film　to　Streetscape。”　Hollis’s　eyes　looked　so　sweet　and　sincere　that　Vanessa　wanted　to　believe　him。

“So　then　why　were　you　going　along　with　them？　Why　didn’t　you　leave　with　me？”　Vanessa　asked　sharply。　She　glanced　down　at　her　beat…up　Doc　Martens　so　she　wouldn’t　have　to　look　at　his　face　when　he　lied。　She　willed　her　boots　not　to　kick　him。

“Because　Streetscape　has　changed。　I　realized　that　when　I　saw　it　was　Stacy　handling　the　meeting。　Stacy　is　under　a　lot　of　pressure　to　make　movies　that　will　sell。　Before；　no　one　knew　who　she　was；　so　she　could　afford　to　take　risks。　Now；　she’s　known　in　Hollywood　and　she’s　scared　shitless。　That’s　why　she　called　that　other　exec　in。　I　know　the　demo　talk　is　bullshit；　but　it’s　the　formula　that　works。　I　mean；　I’m　still　building　my　career　and　they’re　the　best　and　I　trust　them；　but　I　know　they’re　not　the　best　for　you；”　Hollis　explained。　“And　I　just　got　Norma