Chapter 36

Rachel POV

Rachel's Bedroom

"Jenny is going to be the costar."

I wasn't sure what I had expected Tyler to say, but that definitely wasn't it.

Silence stretched between us on the line. I wasn't in any hurry to fill it as I had no idea what to say in response to the bombshell Tyler had gotten his mistress a part in my movie! What was he thinking?

"Are you angry? I know you don't like Jenny very much."

Was I angry?

I tried to examine my emotions from an outside perspective. There was definitely some anger in me towards the woman who had driven me to demand a rejection from my mate.

Jenny had made me believe she was having Tyler's baby only for me to find out it was a lie. The irony of us both having used a pregnancy scam to win Tyler wasn't lost on me. I hated she reminded me of my weakest moment, too.

I hated a lot about Jenny Wayland the Model.

"I don't know if I'm angry," I answered honestly, "Why did you get her a part in my movie?"

"It isn't your movie. It's a movie featuring your song. Jenny wants to branch out into acting and this film is low budget, no special effects, and we have most of the control over it. It's the perfect platform to launch her acting career."

Tyler sounded much more like himself as he explained his business rationale. I thought we should talk business more often if it was going to result in such clear communication.

"You manage Jenny's career?"

I knew Tyler was familiar with Jenny through his work, but I didn't know he was directly responsible for her work. I couldn't think of a single time he had talked about Moonrise Entertainment handling models. I supposed it would make sense for them to work with models who wanted to expand into acting.

But Jenny had only just decided to go into acting.

"I do not manage Jenny. She is a friend. A long-standing friend. She asked me for my help with expanding her portfolio to include acting. I agreed because I owe her."

What did Tyler owe Jenny Wayland?

Jenny got more out of being photographed as Tyler Wright's love interest than Tyler got out of having her handy to wear on his arm.

Models were not in short supply. He could have taken another woman. What made Jenny special? I definitely couldn't say she had a great personality.

Jenny was as far from winning Miss Congeniality as I was from being crowned Miss America.

"What do you mean you owe her? Why?"

Tyler seemed to hesitate and I went on the attack immediately. He wasn't going to hide any part of his relationship with this woman from me. Not if he wanted to have any chance of earning me back in his life as a friend or as a mate.

"Tyler, I will not tolerate you hiding a relationship with another woman. I don't care if she's human. I know I said I would be fine with the human women. I was wrong. I admit I was wrong. What do you owe that woman?"

"She willingly takes heat from the media for me. You see her in the pictures and you may think she enjoys it, but ask yourself: how would you feel if you were being painted as a kept woman when you had no other connection to the man in the pictures than standing beside him?"

If we had been talking about any other woman, I would have understood what Tyler was saying.

No woman wanted to be talked about badly.

Except Jenny Wayland lived and breathed for attention and, from what I knew of her, it didn't matter whether the attention was positive or negative.

"I don't think she's as concerned about the press as you believe. She seems to like attention."

"She's paid to seem to like attention. Jenny has to make a living for herself, Rachel. No one else is footing her bills."

"What does that mean?"

I had never wanted to be trapped at home without a career of my own. My goal had always been to make a life for myself with my music. Tyler had been the one to insist I stay home. He'd only agreed to let me attend college because I'd already been accepted before meeting him.

"You just got your first job, Rachel. Patrick was a worthless sack of shit, but he did keep you fed and clothed. Jenny started working as a teenager to avoid being on the streets."

I snorted, "Tyler, I have a hard time believing Jenny was a street kid. Doesn't she come from money? She certainly acts like someone who comes from privilege."

Tyler snapped back, "Are you saying you're going to believe what you want? Because I'm telling you the truth. I had Jenny's background run before I got involved with her. She was in foster care until she was declared an emancipated minor once she started making money as a model."

I might not believe the picture he painted of Jenny, but I could easily believe Tyler ordered a background check on the woman.

Tyler hated surprises. He'd made his opinion on them clear from the first day I'd moved in with him and made a cake to celebrate our new home. I'd been so proud of that cake. Tyler refused to eat a single slice. He'd told me we had nothing to celebrate.

"Fine. She puts up with the press for you. You got her a part in the movie I'm working with you on. Now we're basically doing the film as a group project, right? What does your father think about that? Is Jenny a better mate option than me because she's so good with the press?"

I knew it was a low blow. John Wright would never approve of his son being with a human.

"Don't be ridiculous. You asked what I did with my day. I answered. You're mad because I helped Jenny and you don't like her. What was the point of us talking again?"

Tyler was being reasonable and I hated him for it. The idea I was behaving no better than a jealous shrew set my teeth on edge.

Determined to rise above, I admitted, "I'm the one who's wrong here. This time? I am wrong. Jenny deserves to be given career help if you can give it to her. She's been a good friend to you. My personal feelings about her shouldn't be part of the conversation. I just wanted to prove we could have a conversation like normal friends. I guess I didn't do such a good job, did I?"

"I don't know," Tyler said, "You could say you're working with a handicap. I don't seem to make it easy on you. I knew you weren't fond of Jenny. I am sorry she lied about---about being pregnant. It is completely impossible. I would never share my bed with another woman."

"Because Wynd is devoted to Rayne?"

I didn't know what made me ask. We were both partially ruled by our wolves. All werewolves had to cater to the desires of their inner wolf. I couldn't blame Tyler for taking his wolf's feelings into consideration.

"Yes. And because I don't want another woman in my bed either. Is it so hard to believe I don't want to be unfaithful?"

"You don't want to be unfaithful to your mate or you don't want to be unfaithful to me, Tyler?"

"I don't understand what you want from me! How is there a difference? What is it you want me to say?"

Tyler sounded furious and I found I was a little angry myself.

Anger was better than many other emotions I'd experienced because of Tyler. I would take the heat of anger over the flush of embarrassment or the bitterness of jealousy.

"I want you to understand I am a person, not just your mate. You don't think about me as a person. Or me period. Tyler, there's nothing I want you to say to me specifically to make things better or right between us. I just want you to want me, Rachel Flores, not just Rayne for Wynd or your fated mate for the sake of being with your fated mate."

"You talk too much, Rachel."

I gasped in shock. Tyler was acting as if he were having a conversation with me the same as any other conversation in our past. He wasn't trying to understand me at all. He was trying to placate me enough to get me to come back to him.

"That sounds like a reason to stop talking to you. Good luck getting some sleep, Tyler. I wish you the best."

"Take a nap when you need one, Rachel. I'll talk to you again soon."

"No, you won't," I declared, determined to screen his calls in the future.

"Yes, I will," Tyler said with full confidence in his voice, "We just need to take a little time. To think about things. I'll think about you. Specifically you, Rachel Flores."

I hung up before replying.

Tyler was being condescending at best and outright mocking me at worst. I didn't wish him ill---but I did think I'd be okay if he missed a few more nights of sleep because he couldn't get to me.