Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Yates slid into Vince's car, ready to head back to the Zimmerman estate and pick

up Jessica for dinner.

As he buckled in, Timothy's name flashed on the dashboard screen. Yates

glanced at Vince. "It's Timothy calling."

"Go on, answer it. Put him on speaker-I'm curious what he wants this time."

Yates accepted the call and switched to speakerphone. Timothy's voice came

through, slightly breathless and urgent. "Yates, what's Jessica's connection to that

film, 'Letters from the Fetal Sea'?"

So, he'd caught on.

Not bad-he was quick.

Yates shot Vince a look, silently asking if they should spill. Vince shook his head.

Not a word.

Jessica had confided in him before: Timothy couldn't know. She was worried he'd

ruin everything.

That movie was Carlisle and his friends' labor of love. It would be a disaster if all

their hard work went up in smoke.

Jessica wasn't hoping to make a fortune; she just wanted to give Carlisle and his

crew a chance to prove themselves.

And Vince had seen it firsthand-Timothy had tried to snatch the film and slap

Sheila's name on it.

Just like Jessica had warned.

There was no way Vince would let Timothy mess with the film's release.

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? My soon-to-be brother-in-law

swooped right in. I just invested some money, made a bit, then dropped out. I'm

not hurting for cash, so I stopped paying attention."

"Stop calling him your brother-in-law. Jessica is my wife."

Timothy's irritation was palpable.

"I never said Jessica. I'm talking about Salome-she's my fiancée. Vince has

been my future brother-in-law for, what, twenty, thirty years now? Why can't I call

him that? Unless you want to?"

Vince let go of the wheel with one hand and shot Yates a thumbs-up.

Timothy's lips pressed into a hard, thin line, his jaw as sharp as a chisel. His face

shifted from pale to flushed with frustration.

"I don't want to argue with you. That film definitely has something to do with her."

Yates snorted. "Why do you even

care? Weren't you planning to

rebrand it with Sheila's name at

first? Now my brother-in-law's takennoveldrama

over, and there's a preview tonight. If

you wanted to interfere, you're too

late. Why waste your time? Use it to

actually rest up and let your head

clear."

That "brother-in-law" dig was grating, even over the phone.

Timothy sounded thoroughly exasperated. "Is Vince with you? Put him on. I want

a word."

"He's right here, but really, do you think he wants to talk to you? Use your head."

"Whether he wants to talk or not isn't

up to you. He even went out of his

way to visit the Howard family he

must have something to say to me.

Might as well use this chance."

Yates looked at Vince, who finally spoke up, voice flat. "Timothy, I'm warning you

-don't even think about meddling with my film."

"I won't. If this is about Jessica, I'll support it. I'll invest as much as you need."

Vince slammed on the brakes, the

car jerking to a halt. "Are you

serious? The movie's about to

premiere. Yates already sorted out

the theater screenings. Now you

want to swoop in and 'support'

it what, steal the credit?"

Where were you when it was tough at the start? Now you show up, trying to

muscle in. Shameless.

Timothy went quiet for a moment, then said, "So it really is about her."

Vince froze.

Damn it.

He'd walked right into Timothy's trap.

The guy was impossible to guard against.

He glanced at Yates, who was barely hiding a smirk, clearly enjoying the show.

Vince groaned inwardly. With two cunning men like these around, one wrong

move and he'd fall straight into their pit.

Vince's tone turned grave. "Timothy, if you try anything this time, I won't let it go."