Read Online Secrets of My Hollywood Life: There’s No Place Like Home by Jen Calonita - Free Book Online Page B

giving me fifteen minutes on Tuesday to prove myself, but I know I won’t change her mind.” Mom’s voice is strange.
     “The bottom line is she’s right. I don’t have time.”
    “Make the time,” I stress, trying to get Mom to look at me. “Maybe if you cut back on other things, like”—I take a deep breath
     and think of Sky— “me, you’ll have the time you need for the Daisies.”
    Mom looks at me like I’ve suggested she put me up for adoption. “What do you mean, cut back on you? I can’t do that!” Her
     voice starts to rise a little. “You need me.”
    “I know I do,” I backpedal, side-eyeing the guy in the business suit sitting across from us that is staring. “I just meant
     you seem so overworked and stressed all the time, and that makes me worried. My career is doing great now—you could cut back
     and Nadine could take up the slack. I never get to see you anymore. I miss you.”
    Mom waves her hand dismissively. “Oh, Kaitlin, now you’re being dramatic. I see you all the time!”
    “No, Mom,” I say quietly. “I mean, really see you. Not at work, not about work; as my mom. When’s the last time you and I did anything that didn’t have to do with
     filming?”
    Mom’s face sort of crumbles when I say that. “Honey, I know it feels that way sometimes, but I love you and your brother more
     than anything in this world,” she says, sounding genuine. “I love being part of your careers and it’s so important that I
     am because I feel so fiercely protective of you two. No one looks out for your interests the way I do, and when I see you
     doing so well with Small Fries and getting these incredible offers that we’re going to talk about tonight, I feel so proud. You and Matty doing well at
     something you love, that’s the most important thing to me. I want you two to be bigger than Angelina Jolie and George Clooney!”
    I can’t help but laugh at that one, and Mom pulls me in tightly, giving me a rare hug. I breathe deeply, taking in her Beckham
     perfume, and try to remember the moment.
    “If Nancy Walsh thinks my job with you two will take away from the Daisies, then let her. My children are more important than
     some silly flower project.” She touches my chin. “I am never cutting back on you, ever.” She pulls away from me, and I notice
     her eyes are sort of stricken. “Unless you don’t want me to manage you anymore. Is that it?”
    “Of course not!” I blurt out quickly, feeling guilty for even bringing it up. Look at her—Mom would be devastated if I ever sent her packing. I couldn’t do that to her. At least this way I get to see her every day. Sure, she makes me crazy
     and doesn’t listen to my opinions, but if she wasn’t my manager anymore, maybe we’d have no relationship at all.
    “Good,” Mom says, breathing out slowly. “I got worried for a minute. I just wish… forget it. It is what it is. This is what
     we wanted, right? To be busy and successful.” She puts her arm around me. “And we are. That’s what’s most important.”
    “Mom, you love the Daisies—” I start to say again, but she cuts me off.
    “Forget the Daisies.” She grabs my arm and leads me through the lobby toward the entrance to the Polo Lounge. “Tonight we
     have more important things to worry about, like your future.”

FIVE: An Offer You Can’t Refuse
    Stepping into the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel makes you feel like you’ve time-warped to another decade. You half
     expect to see Tinseltown legends like Jimmy Stewart and Marilyn Monroe sitting in a booth having cocktails. The cozy restaurant
     is known for its famous brunch on the gorgeous patio, but tonight we’re having dinner inside at a table that has cushy, fabric-covered,
     wood-armed chairs and a view of a massive tree in the courtyard. Jazz music is playing, and the dimly lit room and candles
     soothe me instantly after the conversation I just had with Mom.
    I find Seth, Laney, Matty, and my