by Dori Lavelle
My palms are sweaty, my throat dry to the point I can barely swallow. I don’t even ask Hector where Dax told him to drop me off. I’m assuming it will be at his place, where I’ve never been before. I allow myself to be surprised.
After what seems like the longest ride of my life, during which I become more and more nervous, the car finally stops and my door is opened. When I step out, it’s not Hector who is standing there, but Dax Pierce himself.
“Dax.” I get out of the car, but stumble back, almost tripping back into the limousine. He reaches for me at the last moment, his strong hand firm around my wrist. He pulls me even closer to his body and slams the door of the limousine shut. He smells of soap and the cologne that had lingered inside of the limousine.
I glance down at my arm, the one he’s holding. He releases me with a tentative smile.
“You look beautiful, Emma Stanton. It's been too long.”
“Yes,” I say, breathless.
He kisses me on both cheeks, leaving the places he touched glowing as though I have hot coals under my skin.
“Let’s go inside.”
I suddenly notice that we’re outside The LaClaire Restaurant, one of the most exclusive restaurants in Hollywood, owned by one of the wealthiest families in the world.
Dax rests a hand on my lower back and ushers me into the glass building. All the tables are empty except for one in a back room of the restaurant.
“It’s rather empty in here,” I say, as he pulls out a chair for me. I feel almost faint with nerves.
“I thought it would be nice to have a little privacy.”
“Yeah. Okay.” Our eyes meet from across the table, the moment disturbed only by the flickering candlelight. Sitting here with him, I feel as though I’m on another planet, not at all like the small-town girl from Mistport, the girl with big dreams I never thought would come true. He makes me feel so close to my dreams.
For a split second, I pretend I belong here with him, in this place, this moment.
He blinks and the magical moment shatters. “I’m sorry I didn’t keep my promise.”
“What promise was that?” My voice comes out in a whisper.
“I promised you wouldn’t be alone in Hollywood, that you would know someone here.”
I tilt my head to the side and my hair sweeps against my shoulders. “You owe me nothing, Dax.” The truth is, he has already given me more than I could ever have wished for. Dax Pierce introduced me to a dream I didn’t even know belonged to me. He awakened me to my destiny. “And you were a great help. You informed me about a lot of auditions.” Most communication had been through his personal assistant, but it still counts in my eyes.
He leans back and sizes me up, lips softened by the gentle curve of a smile. “I should have done more, but I didn’t expect so much work to get in the way.” He brings his fingertips together. “Forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive, really.” I moisten my dry lips. “It was me who made the decision to come here. You’re not my babysitter.”
Heat ripples under my skin in reaction to his deep, quiet gaze. He looks like he’s studying my face feature by feature.
A waiter appears at our table to take our orders and Dax shakes his head as though to pull himself out of his deep thoughts.
“The menus, sir.” The man hands us the leather-bound menus and folds his hands in front of him. He glances at me with a bright smile.
“I’ll order for both of us.” Dax picks up the menu and flips it open. He looks up again and instructs the waiter to bring us our food, a bottle of wine, and some sparkling water. It’s a good thing that he ordered for us. I’d be too nervous to choose any of the expensive dishes. I’d read in magazines about how expensive it is to eat at the LaClaire Restaurant, a place frequented by A-list celebrities. I probably wouldn’t even be able to afford a glass of water.
“Very well, Mr. Pierce.” The waiter moves away to fill our order.
“I hope the auditions were successful,” Dax says, continuing our earlier conversation.
“No—well, some.” I purse my lips. I wouldn’t want him to see me as a complete failure. “I got a part in a . . . a shampoo commercial.”
“I’m not surprised. You have beautiful hair.” His fingers stroke the soft table linen. How would they feel on me?
“Thanks.” I slide my gaze from him to hide the flush in my cheeks.
“Any other successes you’d like to share?”
I shake my head slowly. I hope he doesn’t see the disappointment in my eyes. So far I’d only been an extra in two minor movies that will never get my name out there.
The waiter returns and places our drinks discreetly on the table. He’s about to open the bottle of wine when Dax stops him with a simple shake of the head. The waiter disappears again, leaving the bottle of wine.
“Don’t look so upset,” Dax says. “Sometimes one has to start small. As I said in Mistport, it’s only a matter of time before everyone sees your potential.”
That’s what he’d said, but he also said he’d try to get me into another one of his movies, and never brought it up again. Maybe he doubts my potential, after all.
“I appreciate your faith in me.” I force a smile.
“Maybe I can restore your faith in yourself.” A slow smile spreads across his face. “I actually have another reason for seeing you today. I have great news.” He deftly opens the bottle of white wine and pours us both a glass. “You’re on your way to being a star, Emma Stanton.”
“What?” I unglue my tongue from the top of my mouth. “What do you mean?”
“While in Europe, I had a talk with my production company about you. I convinced them to take you on as one of the characters in my next movie, Velvet Flame, the one I told you about a while ago. I’ll be involved as an actor and assistant producer.”
He stops talking when the waiter brings our meals. I’m frozen in my chair, unable to believe what he just told me. The aroma of my chicken cordon bleu tries to tempt my appetite, but I’m no longer in the mood for food, however expensive it may be. With the excitement swirling inside my belly, it would be hard to keep anything down.
I watch Dax shaking out his napkin, acting as though he hasn’t just told me a piece of life-changing news.
I reach for my glass of wine and swallow way too much of the alcohol. “Is it really true?” My eyes search his as I lower the glass back to the table next to my plate. “What kind of role? As an extra?”
“No, baby.” Dax picks up his knife and fork. “You’ll be one of the main characters, a supporting actress.”
My hand clutches my throat as I almost choke from my wine-scented saliva. “But without an audition?”
“It wasn’t easy, but I told them if they didn’t take you, I’m out. All you have to do is be yourself. Like last time.”
“You did that?” Tears threaten to come to my eyes but I blink them back. I don’t understand why he would do something like that for someone like me, someone he doesn’t even have a relationship with. Or he might be lying. But why would he?
“That’s how much I believe in you.” He starts to eat his food as if he lands roles for unknown actors all the time.
As excited as I am, I’m also terrified. What if I let him down? “Can you tell me more about the role?”
“You, Emma Stanton, are going to be my lover. How do you feel about that?” He frowns at my plate. “Aren’t you hungry?”
I shake my head, my mouth still open with shock.
Dax leans back in his chair, clearly satisfied with himself for knocking my socks off. “I knew you’d be surprised.” He lifts his glass of wine to his lips. Then his expression stills and he frowns. “Are you okay with the role?”
“Yes.” I take another drink of wine. My head is starting to swim, not from the alcohol, but from the news. “Of course I am. I don’t know what to say. Thank you, Dax.”
“Thank me when you’re a star.” He cuts into his steak. “I was a little nerv
ous about the look on your face. For a moment there I thought you might have a problem with being my lover.”
I release a giggle and drop my gaze. “Of course not.” I force myself to meet his eyes again. “Thank you for everything. I really appreciate it.”
During the rest of the meal, I manage to eat a few delicious bites, and Dax tells me more about the movie, which tells the story of a married couple starting a new life after being separated for a year by war. He soon brings the conversation to how I’m doing financially, a discussion which makes me uncomfortable.
“Let me help you out. I can pay some of your bills until you’re back on your feet.”
“No.” I shake my head, but I’m touched by his offer. “You have done so much for me already.”
Dax insists that he has enough money and he’d be happy to help, but I stand my ground. Accepting his offer would make me feel greedy. We’re not even a couple. I don’t know what we are.
Finally, he gives in and we talk about the countries he visited in Europe. I tell him that I’m determined to see Europe, that listening to his stories fills me with grand dreams of travel. Then dinner is over and we’re back inside his limo on our way to my apartment. He had insisted on dropping me off.
Outside my apartment building, he escorts me to the front door. I’m surprised when he follows me into the small lobby.
“I had a nice time.” I turn to face him, my hand clutching my purse.
“I did too. Here.” He gives me a black folder. “This is the script. You might want to look through it. Expect a call from someone named John Harrington in the next couple of days. And get as much rest as you can. Once filming starts, you’ll be working around the clock. Do you think you can do this?”
“I know I can. I won’t let you down, Dax Pierce.”
“Let’s stick to Dax, shall we, especially since you’re going to play my lover.”
I chew a corner of my lip. “Dax.” His name taste like warm honey on my tongue.
“Much better.” He takes a step away from me, but changes his mind and closes the distance between us. He reaches for the same wrist he’d held earlier.
“What are you doing?” My voice is a croak inside my throat.
His cool and smooth fingers slide over my bare arm, then curve under my chin as he moves his mouth to my ear. “I changed my mind about you auditioning for the part.” His lips sweep along my cheek until they reach mine. Fireworks go off inside my head as our lips meet in a warm, gentle kiss that heightens my senses. Then he pulls away and steps back, a thumb on his lips. “I was right. You are the perfect person for the role. It’s time the world sees what I see.”
Chapter Five
I should get out of the car. I need to, I want to, but I’m stuck. No, I’m freaking terrified.
Last week, Dax called to tell me that the movie production company wants me to audition after all, as it’s such an important role I’m interested in. Today, they want me to prove to them that I’m as good as Dax says I am.
I’ve been sitting inside my Toyota Prius for thirty minutes, trying to force myself to get out there, to take a chance. Normally, I’m a go-getter. But this is a serious role, not that of an extra. This role could make or break my career.
I have rehearsed for days, stayed up all night, looked at the script in between shifts at the restaurant. Thanks to my awesome memory, my mind has sucked up every word like a sponge. I live and breathe the role. If I don’t get it, it would feel as though a part of me is taken away. But I have no choice but to audition. I can’t let Dax or the production company down. It’s a small world and word gets around. Producers speak to other producers at dinner parties, galas, and award ceremonies. I wouldn’t want to be known as the girl who chickened out.
I take a deep breath, grab the handle, and push the door open. Outside, the air is hot, which makes me sweat even more, beads of it trickling down the length of my spine and my temples, moisture gathering in my armpits. I can’t wait to get back home after the audition to take a shower.
As I slam the door shut and lock the car, I think back to the night Dax invited me out to dinner, the night he kissed me, pretending it was an audition. Even though we’ve met one more time for lunch since then, he hasn’t mentioned the kiss, and it hasn’t happened again. I didn’t find the courage to bring it up, to ask whether there was something more behind the kiss.
So, every time the image comes up inside my mind, I kill it. There’s no point in dwelling on things that will never be, on setting myself up for heartbreak. Perhaps the kiss was a test to see if he feels something for me. Clearly he doesn’t, even though he had looked as if it had affected him.
The same night, I had called Christa to tell her about the kiss. I needed to talk to someone, but Christa had warned me to be careful, encouraging me not to read too much into it. She reminded me that Dax Pierce is known to be a womanizer, convinced that if anything happened between me and him, I would end up getting hurt. I hadn’t brought him up again whenever we talked on the phone.
The interior of the building is air-conditioned. As I enter the carpeted lobby I swear I feel my skin sighing with relief. The sweat evaporates from my skin.
A woman with bone straight, jet black hair is sitting behind a desk at the reception area. She stops typing on her computer and smiles up at me.
“Good afternoon,” she says in a polished voice with a slight British accent. “How may I help you?”
I push back my shoulders to appear more confident and lift my chin up just a fraction. “My name is Emma Stanton. I’m here to audition for Velvet Flame.”
“Miss Stanton, of course.” Her smile grows brighter. She has the whitest teeth I’ve seen on anyone. “Everyone is already expecting you. Follow the hallway and open the last door to your right.”
“Thanks.” Walking away, I wish I had not worn my strapless lucky dress today. I haven’t even started the audition and I can already feel the sweat sliding down my ribs. But it’s too late to turn back now. It’s either I get the role or I don’t and move on with my life.
Behind me, the phone rings at reception, and the woman picks up, the sound of her voice following me down the long hallway.
I give a small knock at the white, wooden door and take a deep breath. A male voice calls for me to enter.
I push open the door and I’m surprised to find that the entire studio looks like a bedroom, except for one side of the room which has a long conference table with three men and a woman sitting behind it, facing a king-sized bed that’s planted on one side of the room.
My heart rate picks up. I didn’t expect to find so many people who will assess my acting skills. I expected two people at the most.
You will get through this, Emma, I assure myself inwardly. Just do your best.
Everyone is surveying me from across the room. Sheets of papers are laid out in front of them, with pens and pencils on top of them.
I take two steps into the room, even though the only thing I feel like doing is turning around and bolting. But I won’t be a quitter, not this time. I am passionate about this role. I’m passionate about this career.
I only wish there was someone in the room that I knew. Even though I worked with Neon Production Company in Mistport, I don’t recognize any of the people. Last night, I called Dax to ask if he would be at the audition, but he said he wouldn’t as he had several interviews lined up for the day.
I try to recall the lines from the script, but suddenly my mind is blank. Shit. Am I about to mess this up? Am I about to embarrass Dax?
A tall man with blond gelled-back hair rises from the table and steps around it to come to me, his hand outstretched. “Emma Stanton. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Damien Harris, the assistant producer.” He squeezes my hand.
“Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Harris.”
“Call me Damien.” He smiles, revealing a gap between his front teeth. “And thank Dax Pierce. He’s the one who insisted you’d be a great fit for the role o
f Amy Berkeley.”
I release his hand and nod, ignoring the sweat in my armpits. Hopefully he doesn’t see that my dress is drenched at the sides. But I doubt I’m the first person to be nervous during an audition. Damien introduces me to everyone else in the room, who all have a part to play in bringing the movie to life.
“Since we have another audition planned for today, I think it’s best we get started.” Damien returns to his seat behind the conference table and picks up a pen. “Emma, why don’t you go and sit on the bed.”
My gaze drifts to the bed and I purse my lips. “Okay.” I take a few steps toward the bed and settle on the edge, my legs pressed tight together. I wait for the next instructions. I still can’t remember any lines from the script and it’s making me sick with nerves.
“It’s okay, Emma. Try to relax. This will be a quick audition. Normally, we would ask a candidate to say a few lines, but today we want you to act the role out for us. I hope you understand.”
“Of course, I do.” I place my hands next to me on the bed, on top of the white cotton sheets. “What do you want me to do?”
“This is going to be one of the sex scenes from the movie and we want you to try and make it as natural as possible. We want to feel the passion.”
I nod. But I don’t understand how they expect me to act out a sex scene without a partner. Just as the thought crosses my mind, the door opens and to my surprise Dax walks in. I have never been happier to see anyone.
Damien rubs his hands together. “Perfect. Thank you, Dax, for making it at the last minute. This is a crucial scene and it’ll determine the chemistry between you and Emma.”
“It’s fine, Damien. I was able to reschedule one of my interviews. But I can’t stay long.”
“Don’t worry. This won’t take long.”
Dax crosses the room and comes over to the bed to join me. He offers me his hand for a handshake. The moment our skins come into contact, my senses leap to life. It’s amazing how one touch from him makes my senses go wild.
The audition starts immediately, with Damien telling us what we should do, how we should position ourselves in the scene. The woman at the table stands up and comes to throw back the covers on the bed. She asks me to get under the covers and make myself comfortable, pretend it’s a bed I sleep in every night. She coaches me for only a few more seconds before walking back to the table.