Finding Lloyd Sinders wasn’t difficult. A crowd of older businessmen formed around the man wherever he went. Despite the fact that Mr. Sinders didn’t go out much these days, or perhaps because of it, he always attracted a group of admirers who wanted to learn from him, to be associated with him. That was the case now, too. Rome watched for a few moments as Ella’s dad told a story, getting a few chuckles out of the others. He held a flute of champagne in one hand, which seemed out of place. Sinders was more of a hard liquor man, but since Juliet wasn’t serving whiskey at her art show, the current beverage was about the best Sinders could do.
He noticed Rome looking at him before the story finished. Sinders’s face didn’t register the alarm Rome knew the man felt. While Sinders may have worked in the movie industry a long time, he wasn’t an actor. Still, Rome had to give him some credit for his ability to see one of the last people on earth he wanted to talk to and not make a face.
After the story was finished, the crowd naturally dispersed a bit. Rome got rid of the rest of them simply by taking a few steps toward Sinders. When the others realized who it was that wanted to talk to the man they all admired, they made excuses to scatter, though Rome wouldn’t be surprised if a few of them didn’t stay close enough to attempt to overhear at least part of the conversation.
Lloyd Sinders was a handsome man and had been highly sought after by many a starlet in Hollywood back in the day. Now, when Rome stared at his haggard expression, he could see a vast difference in his appearance from pictures he’d seen that were taken right before Ella’s alleged demise and now. It was clear he was struggling with the death of his daughter. That wasn’t a bad thing for Rome, not with what he planned to propose. First, he had to figure out what to say to this man that he’d been brought up to hate, a man he hated still.
“Mr. Verona,” Sinders began before taking a drink out of the flute. “I’m surprised to see you here.”
“Why is that? I helped Juliet begin this business.” He had his hands in the pockets of his suit pants, trying to seem nonchalant.
Sinders shrugged. “I don’t know. Henry is here. I just assumed… the two of you wouldn’t want to be in the same place if possible.”
Rome tried not to smirk. Clearly, Sinders didn’t know about the contract then. He held onto that for a bit longer. “How have you been?”
Lloyd dropped his eyes to the floor and slowly shook his head. “I don’t have to tell you,” he said, finally meeting Rome’s eyes. “Miserable.”
It was impossible for Rome not to feel bad for the guy, even though he thoroughly believed Sinders had brought all of this on himself. At this point, there was no chance Ella’s father had any idea that she was actually alive.
Rome took a deep breath and said, “I can understand that.”
He shook his head. “I wish I had handled things differently. I had no idea she would….” He stopped, and though Rome gave him an opportunity to finish the sentence, he didn’t, likely because there was no reason to.
“Listen, Lloyd, I’m going to be straight with you. I hold you responsible for what happened with Ella. I know that my parents are not without blame, but if you hadn’t tried to control her… it would’ve ended differently.”
“You still would’ve been kidnapped by your own parents and taken off to Europe,” he said defensively.
“True, but I also still would’ve escaped and made my way back here--just a lot more quickly. I don’t want to argue with you, nor do I want to point fingers. I just want to offer you an opportunity to do something that would make Ella very happy, if she were here to see it.”
Lloyd’s attention was piqued. “What’s that?”
“I’m sure you’re aware that Henry Caron has purchased my dad’s production company.” Lloyd nodded. He’d have to know that. Monty Verona had been his biggest rival for decades. “Are you also aware that part of that deal included me having to complete ten movies for Henry?”
It was clear from Lloyd’s reaction that he did not know that. “Why would he do that?”
“Vengeance,” Rome said, trying to keep his anger in check. “He is angry at me and blames me for what happened to Ella. So… he’s having me make these horrible movies in an effort to ruin my career.”
“But… weren’t you just nominated for an Academy Award?”
“Yes, but that was before. Now, I just wrapped up a movie called Cop with a Side of Robot, and I’m currently working on a zombie unicorn flick that is just as much a disaster as it sounds.”
Lloyd’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
“Unfortunately, yes. I think you can prevent that from happening, though. And if you do, I can make sure your wife gets that Vinune.”
His forehead creased as he considered what Rome was saying. “Why do I need you to get the Vinune? I can just buy it.”
Rome shook his head before he even finished the statement. “Juliet Montague started this business with a loan from me. Henry might think he has her in the palm of his hand, but he doesn’t. I do. If I tell her not to accept your bids on that painting, she won’t.”
“Would she do that? Turn down the highest bid?”
“She’d drum up a higher bid, I guarantee it. But if I’m the highest bidder… you don’t have to worry about it.”
“And what do you want me to do? Buy your father’s production company from Henry?”
“Not the whole company. Just my contract.”
He understood now. Lloyd Sinders ran his hand down his chin in thought. “You realize that painting is currently going for over twelve million dollars, don’t you? Is getting this contract worth that much to you?”
“It is. And more. Besides, Mr. Sinders, Ella would want you to do this. You know she would.”
He dropped his head again. Not for the first time, Rome considered telling him the truth, but it wasn’t his story to tell, so he kept his mouth closed. Eventually, Sinders looked up. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Great. I’ll get the painting.” They shook on it, and finally, Rome felt as if he and Ella had a plan to free him of the ridiculous contract. Even if it took every last penny he had left in the world, it would be worth it.