Anna took a deep breath. “I want John’s movie.”

Tom barked a laugh. “Holy shit, you’re serious.”

“You always give yourself an out. I know you. There’s no way you can’t have the deal unwound.”

Tom sat back in the chair, surveying her as if to test her seriousness. She knew she was right. Tom knew how to protect himself from potential threats. His downfall was that he’d never considered Anna a threat.

“You could have taken millions in the divorce,” Tom said. “Jenny kept your gowns. You didn’t even want one of the cars.”

“I never wanted your money or any of this,” she said, gesturing at the ostentatious trappings around them. “I wanted what I came in with: my career. And now I want two things: John’s script and for you to leave us alone.”

“Once it gets out that I’m no longer involved, the deal will die. This movie will never get made.”

“Whatever happens, you aren’t going to be a part of it.”

“I can’t believe that when you finally fight back, it’s all for a piece of ass.”

“Never,” she said, her voice deadly calm, “speak about him that way again.”

“You were always so pathetic, so ready to reconcile.” He shook his head. “For a director, you hate conflict.”

“I’ve changed.”

Tom smirked. “You learned well from me.”

“No.” She stood up, planting her hands on the desk in front of her. “Nothing about me was made better by you. Not even when I thought I needed you to tell me what to wear and how to make it here. I don’t need that anymore. I don’t think I ever needed it.”

“Oh, this is about love, is it?” He sneered, slumping back in his chair. “You get laid for once, and I pay the price? Spare me your blushing-girlfriend act.”

“I’m not his girlfriend.” It hurt to admit it, even to an asshole like Tom.

“Oh, did he move on to someone more age-appropriate? He used you, Anna.”

“You know nothing about him. He’s ten times the man you are or could ever hope to be.”

Tom sat back in his chair, deflated.

“You shouldn’t have gone after him to get to me.” Anna watched as he faded before her, as the illusion of his power dissipated. He was just a man. “Give me John’s movie, and I’ll walk away.”

Tom nodded before turning away from her. It was done with a few phone calls and a stack of documents. He handed them over to her without a word.

“Come after me or any of my friends again, and I’ll release the rest of your financial deals.” She walked to the doorway. “I’ll leak the middle school photos too. Just in case you have any doubts who did it.”

Chapter Forty-One