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  His words stabbed Imani in the heart as she thought about how she wouldn’t have met him had he not come on the show. Would he blame her if something terrible happened to the clinic?

  Raymond tapped on the production door and waited briefly for Tres to open it. When she did, neither Raymond nor Imani liked the somber look on her face.

  “Please, come in,” she said in a low tone.

  “What’s going on?” Raymond asked.

  “Please sit,” Tres said, nodding toward a chair.

  “Just tell me what’s going on,” Raymond said gruffly.

  Tres sighed and pulled a mini bottle of Malibu Rum out of her desk drawer and offered it to Raymond. “Normally, I wouldn’t even give you this news, but there’s no way I can keep this from you.”

  “Will you just spit it out!” Raymond bellowed.

  “We got a call from New York about your partner, Keith.” Imani placed her hand on Raymond’s shoulder when she saw his hand trembling.

  “What about Keith?” he asked tentatively.

  “There was an accident,” Tres said. “And according to Celeste, Keith is in really bad shape. He is in a coma and he has several internal injuries.”

  Raymond dropped down in the chair across from Tres, his face tight with sadness. Imani stroked his shoulders, at a loss for words. If it had been Dana, she’d be inconsolable.

  “I—I have to get back to New York,” he muttered.

  “That’s fine and your choice. But you’re so close to winning the—”

  Raymond slammed his hand against Tres’s desk so forcefully that the bottle of rum tumbled over and Imani yelped. “Do you think I give a damn about some money right now when my best friend is in the hospital in New York? Why didn’t Celeste call me on my cell phone?”

  “Well,” Tres said, looking a little shaken up, “Elize decided that we should block all incoming and outgoing cell phone activity until the end of the show.”

  Raymond cocked his head to the side and glared at Tres. “You and Elize can go to hell. Keith is like family to me and if he needs me, he should’ve been able to get in contact with me. I shouldn’t have to hear from you that his girlfriend called about an accident.”

  “I’m sorry. I understand that you want to be there for your friend. But if you leave now, you’re going to lose your chance at a million dollars.”

  Raymond gripped the arm of the chair so tightly that Imani thought he was going to break it in half. “Raymond,” Imani whispered in his ear, “let’s go back to your room and get things in order for you to return to New York.” Her voice seemed to calm him and he loosened his grip on the chair and bolted out of the room.

  Before Imani could reach the door and catch up with him, Tres grabbed her shoulder. “Imani, I know you and Raymond are close. But if you leave the show, do you know what the fallout for your career will be?”

  “Are you serious right now? And are we talking my career or yours? If Raymond and I are being used in as many ad spots as we are, then we must be the show. If you have a dedicated cameraman following our every move as you do, then we must be good ratings.”

  “That may be the case and you may think this is just a reality show, but no one is going to want to work with a quitter. That’s what you’re going to look like to Hollywood if you leave this show. Sure, you may want to jump the good doctor’s bones, but you and I both know that you want the fame. You enjoy the fact that the scripts are pouring in and when you get back to New York, you won’t have to go back to waiting tables or whatever you were doing just to scrape by.”

  “You don’t know a damned thing about me. I have talent and leaving this show isn’t going to undermine or change that.”

  Tres folded her arms across her chest. “If you really believe that, then you don’t know a damned thing about this industry and it’s no wonder you thought Fearless Diva was a good project to attach yourself to.”

  Imani glared at her. “Are you supposed to be better than me? Any high school dropout with an iPhone can produce a reality show.”

  “But I have enough of a reputation to put your fledgling career on an even further downward spiral.”

  “Go to hell,” Imani snapped, then stormed out of the room. Heartless bitch! Does she think I’m going to let her idle threats keep me on this island when Raymond needs me?

  As much as she wanted to pretend that she was going to be able to shrug off Tres’s words, she couldn’t help but wonder if leaving the show would cool the hot streak her career had been on. Scripts were still coming in, Edward had already booked a guest appearance for her on How I Met Your Mother and Modern Family. Could she really give all of that up?

  What means more to you? Fame or Raymond?

  She rode the elevator back to his room with conflicting thoughts fighting inside her head. When the elevator stopped on her floor, she rushed to Raymond’s door and knocked loudly.

  He snatched the door open and Imani saw that he had begun packing. “What can I do to help?” she asked as she walked into the room. He shook his head and crossed over to the bed, perching on the edge. Raymond dropped his head as if it weighed a ton. “I can’t believe this,” he said in a near whisper.

  Imani joined him on the bed and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through. Have you had a chance to talk to Keith’s girlfriend?”

  He nodded. “Celeste sounds so scared and so alone. Both she and Keith are only children and his parents are in North Carolina. They’re on the way to New York, but right now, she’s alone. No one should have to go through this alone.”

  She hugged him tighter. “Baby,” she whispered. Imani wished she knew what to say and how to ease his pain for a moment. Instead, she silently stroked the back of his neck, realizing that Raymond couldn’t face his friend’s accident alone either.

  Yes, her career was important, but seeing him look so broken and so hurt, Imani knew the most vital thing was being the shoulder Raymond could lean on. “When are we leaving?” she asked.

  “What?” he asked, turning to face her.

  “You just said no one should face this alone, and I’m not going to allow you to be alone when your friend and his girlfriend need you. Who’s going to be there for you?” Imani questioned.

  He looked deep into her eyes. “You don’t have to do this,” Raymond said. “I know you’re here for your career and this has been going well for you.”

  She held his face in her hands. “That doesn’t matter right now,” Imani said, even though she heard Tres’s voice in her head telling her that leaving the show would be the nail in the coffin of her career.

  “I can’t let you do this,” he said. “Imani, this isn’t your problem. This show is going to help your career. I can’t ask—”

  She placed her finger to his lips. “You’re not asking me to do anything. You mean more to me than a movie role and if you’re going home, I’m going with you.”

  Raymond opened his mouth to protest. Imani shook her head. “Don’t argue with me,” she said as she dropped her hands and rose from the bed. “I’m going to my room to pack.”

  “Imani,” he called after her as she headed for the door. She turned around, expecting another protest from Raymond. Instead, he smiled wryly and said, “Thank you. I really do need you.”

  She sighed, realizing that she needed him as well. Nodding, she headed out the door. Watching Imani leave the room, Raymond realized right then that she was the woman he’d spend the rest of his life with.

  Chapter 16

  Imani packed hastily when she arrived in her room, but stopped for a brief second when she realized that she didn’t know how she was going to pay for her ticket back to New York. I really can’t ask Raymond to do it. I’m supposed to be supporting him, not draining his bank account. Reaching for the phone on the nightstand, since cell phone service was nonexistent and she hadn’t paid her bill, she called Edward.

  “Ed Funderburke,” he said when he answered the phone. Imani co
uld tell that he didn’t recognize the number because he sounded überprofessional.

  “Edward, it’s Imani,” she said.

  “I’ve been meaning to call you,” he said in a fatherly tone before saying, “Have you lost your damned mind?”

  “What? Edward, what are you talking about?”

  “Tres Ellis called me. You’re leaving the show and you are about to be in the finals? Again, have you lost your mind? All of this for a man? Is that the reputation that you want to have in Hollywood? Imani, you’re getting there but you aren’t well-known enough to be a diva and leave the show that’s giving you the foundation for the career we’ve been trying to build for years. Do you know how much money we’re about to start making?”

  “I also know that there are some things that are more important than money and movie roles, which I haven’t gotten yet.”

  “Wait, wait, wait. Who are you and what have you done with the Imani Gilliam who would’ve cut off her left arm for a taste of fame? You’ve gotten it, baby, you’re on your way, and you’re willing to throw it away for a man? I mean, help me understand this. A few months ago, you were in my office insisting you were not the type who lost herself in a man, unless he was Will Smith?”

  “This is different,” she said. “Look, I need a plane ticket back to New York.”

  “I don’t think I should do this,” Edward said.

  “Whether you help me or not,” she said pointedly, “I’m getting on a plane and going back to New York with Raymond.”

  “That corny doctor?” he asked, and chuckled. “I guess you weren’t acting.”

  “Edward!”

  “All right, Imani. I will make the travel arrangements for you. But keep in mind, Tres may simply be a reality show producer today, but if your paths cross again, she’s not going to forget this.”

  “Edward, I really don’t give a damn.”

  “I tell you what, since your purpose for coming back to New York is to help the good doctor, get me the particulars about his return ticket and I’ll make sure I get you two on the same flight.”

  “I’ll call you back,” she said, then hung up the phone. After finishing her packing, she headed back to Raymond’s room to find out when he was leaving for New York. She was about to knock on the door when she heard a female voice from behind her. It was Lucy. Imani was not in the mood.

  “You just can’t let that man breathe for one minute without running up on him. Insecure much?” Lucy taunted.

  “Haven’t you humiliated yourself enough? He doesn’t want you, could’ve had you and decided to go with someone much better. I don’t have time to argue with you,” she said.

  “Whatever,” Lucy snapped. “There is still time for—”

  Imani padded over to Lucy and pushed her against the wall. “Look, I said I don’t have time for this and if you gave a damn about Raymond or were a friend to him, then you would know what’s going on and what he needs. Since you don’t, take your husband-hungry ass somewhere and find someone else to stalk. Raymond and I are leaving.”

  Lucy, surprised by Imani’s forcefulness and the news that she and Raymond were leaving, pushed back against Imani. “What? Why are you leaving now when the show is so popular? Didn’t you say that you were coming here to be famous? Everyone wants me around because they like to see us fight.”

  “Lucy, get over yourself !” Imani turned away from her and knocked on Raymond’s door. He opened it and shook his head as he saw Lucy standing there with Imani.

  “Raymond, is it true?” Lucy asked. “You’ve let her talk you into leaving the show because she thinks she’s some kind of star now?”

  “Lucy, can you just leave,” Raymond said, not attempting to hide the annoyance in his voice.

  “Damn, I thought you were smarter than that,” Lucy muttered as she turned toward the elevator. “If you’re so gullible, then . . .”

  “Lucy!” Imani bellowed. “You are the stupidest, most coldhearted bitch I’ve ever met.”

  “Imani,” Raymond said, placing his hand on her shoulder and beckoning her inside the room, “I’m sure you didn’t knock on my door for this.”

  Turning away from Lucy, she nodded. “I need your flight information,” she said calmly. “I called my agent and he’s making my travel arrangements.”

  “Well, call him back and tell him that Tres obviously grew a heart because the show is paying for our return to the city.”

  “What’s the catch?” Imani asked. “This doesn’t mean we have to take a camera crew with us?”

  “No, not at all,” he said, pulling her against his chest and kissing her forehead. “She said that you opened her eyes to what’s really important.”

  Imani raised her eyebrow quizzically. “She said that?” Her mind returned to their conversation and she wondered what game Tres was playing or if she had indeed changed her mind. It didn’t matter, she and Raymond were going to leave together so that he could check on what was important to him—his friend and his clinic. She pushed thoughts of her career out of her head and decided to focus on her man and the pain he was dealing with.

  “Are you packed?” he asked, breaking into Imani’s thoughts. “Tres said we can leave within the hour.”

  “I’m ready when you are.”

  “All right. I’ll grab my bags and come get yours,” he said. “Then we can head back to New York.”

  “Have you checked on Keith?”

  “I just spoke with Celeste and there hasn’t been much change,” he said. “I want to get back to New York and find out firsthand from his doctors what’s going on and what if anything I can do to help.”

  Imani squeezed his hand. “The first thing you’re going to have to do is stop thinking the worst.”

  “It’s hard,” he said. “Very hard.”

  She searched her mind for words, for something comforting to say. But this wasn’t a movie where the lines were written out and she could just pronounce words to save the day. Instead, she just hugged him tightly and gently kissed him on his cheek.

  Raymond held her, burying his face in her neck. “Thank you for doing this. But I want you to know that you can stay here. You don’t have to give up your chance to be a star and get your name out there.” His words were more for her benefit than his. Raymond couldn’t deny that this was one of the most stressful moments in his life.

  Imani scowled at him. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” she replied in a terse whisper. “I’ll be back with my bags and we can go.”

  He cupped her face in his hands. “Imani, you don’t know how much this means to me. I know what you’re giving up.”

  “And I know that I love you,” she said. “I’m not giving that up.” Imani dropped her head, not sure why she made her confession of love, but she did love Raymond, and the last thing she wanted was for him to think that leaving this show was a huge sacrifice for her.

  Would she lose some roles? Probably. But did that mean as much to her now as it did when she first joined the cast of Let’s Get Married ? Not at all.

  “Imani, thank you,” he said. Not exactly what she’d expected to hear after telling him that she loved him. Rather than start a discussion about what he did or didn’t say, Imani just headed to her room and grabbed her bags. She couldn’t help but wonder if she’d made a mistake confessing her love to him when he was in crisis.

  When she returned to Raymond’s room with her bags in tow, he took them from her hand and kissed her with a slow and deep passion that made her shiver with anticipation.

  Pulling back from her, he looked into her glossy eyes and said, “I love you, too.”

  “Raymond, just because—”

  “With everything that’s going on in my world right now, I don’t have time to bullshit you or play any games. I meant what I said and I didn’t say it because I felt as if I owed you something.”

  “Ray,” she said. “I’m glad you . . . Let’s get out of here.”

  He nodded, telling her that they
could talk about it later, and lifted their bags onto the rolling luggage cart.

  They headed to the elevator in silence. Imani didn’t know what to say and Raymond was deep in thought, hoping over and over that Keith would survive his injuries and he’d have a chance to see his friend before anything happened.

  When they arrived in the lobby, Tres was waiting there for them with the tickets in her hand. “Imani, I guess you haven’t changed your mind,” she said.

  “Why would I?” she replied when she snatched the tickets from her outstretched hand.

  “Because,” Tres said in a low voice, “you’re the one who’s going to lose a career. He’s going to be the toast of the town while you’re serving coffee at Starbucks.”

  Imani smiled and glanced over her shoulder at the camera crew preparing to film Tres handing the plane tickets off to the couple. “I’m not going to argue with you. You want me to make an ass of myself and I’m not going to do that. You should be proud,” Imani said. “This show was about two people falling in love, right? Well, that’s what happened.”

  “Well,” Tres said. “I hope you love your mediocre acting career as well.”

  “Tres,” one of the cameramen called out. “We’re ready.”

  She nodded at the cameraman and snatched the tickets back from Imani.

  Raymond crossed over to them with their luggage. “Thanks for doing this,” he said to Tres.

  She smiled brightly and handed Raymond an envelope, since Imani already had the tickets. “I hate to see you and Imani go, but I know your partner and friend is important to you. There’s a car waiting for you two out front,” she said as she stepped aside to let them walk to the door.

  Imani flashed her an appreciative look, but she didn’t say anything to Tres. Elliot stood in the background and waved to Imani and Raymond. Imani mouthed, “Thank you,” as she and Raymond headed outside.

  They got into the black Town Car and waited for the driver to pull off. Imani held Raymond’s hand as the driver started the car, and the film crew zoomed in on the car as it pulled away.