Body Heat

by Mia Ford

  I need to get over Eric.

  He made it clear that he wanted me out of his life, I just need to get him out of my head and then I can move on. It’s just so hard when every night I think about that night. The one where he took me all night long.

  The one that I can’t get out of my mind.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Eric

  “Shut your mouth Eric; it doesn’t suit you!”

  Florence barks at me as I’m watching my leading lady walk towards me. Fuck it’s Valentina, she’s wearing a dress that belongs in a convent and her dark hair’s loose, but her blue eyes are unmistakable. Everything about her is, especially the way that she tastes.

  “What Ms. Nightingale, you going to make sure that I don’t touch my leading lady.”

  Too late for that, fuck why didn’t I click that it was her? There are not many women in LA with the same name. The one that I fucked in every part of my house is going to be my leading lady and the way that I treated her when she was

  She shakes her head, “I’ll do better than that. If you do. Then not only will you find yourself out of a job, but I’ll fucking quit.”

  “Come with me!” She points her finger and then leads me into the departure lounge. I assume so that Little Boo Peep, doesn’t hear what she has to say about her. Or rather what she has in mind to tell me to do. Keep as far as fucking away from her as possible.She closes the door behind me and then the light comes on. Then she starts to pace up and down, while I see a chair near the window with only a view of the airport and decide to slump in it. It’s as far away from her as possible.

  Florence paces up and down while I wait for her to spit it out. We both know where this conversation’s heading. Part of me feels as if it’s pointless. She’ll tell me to behave, I’ll say I’ll try, and then the next thing we’ll be back to having this same conversation all over again.

  Florence’s been in the industry a long time. She’s getting into her fifties. But still, tells people that she’s forty something. That something has been a line that she’s been using for years. The problem in Hollywood, as I found out from a tender age, is that you’re never forgiven for your bad behavior. Everyone gets to know about you, even people you’ve never worked with and the problem started when I began to get a reputation and unfortunately that passed on to Florence and in tail everyone that she was working with. They were dropping her like a bad habit. She’s lost a lot because of me, and I should be trying to behave myself, but it’s so fucking hard.

  The last stint I did was a movie that went straight to pay-per-view. Those are the lowest of the lows. One minute, life is good, and you’re being called to work with everyone and anyone, on movies left, right, and fucking center. The next, no one wants to know you.

  I found my comfort, coke. It suddenly became my best friend, and I was shooting up like there was no tomorrow. I went to rehab and got cleaned up, and for some reason going out drinking once in a while seemed like a better alternative. Besides alcohol’s a lot cheaper than coke.

  “Eric,” she smiles, but I can see the rage forming behind her dark eyes.

  “You want this job? Don’t you?”

  She’s crossing her arms over her overbearing chest asking me a question that she knows the answer too.

  “Sure.”

  Then I cross my legs and start to think about the way things used to be. Her sitting me down and telling me about all the offers on the table. I look at the large conference table in front of me. No papers.

  No offers.

  No contracts.

  I need to get Valentina act as if we’ve never met each other before. That’s the only way that this thing is going to work. She acts as if she doesn’t know me and vice-versa.

  “Well, don’t even think about looking at her like that unless it’s on set. Don’t even think about touching her unless you hear the words Action. She’s innocent. Just started out and you need to be a good boy. Do you think that you can do that?”

  I look up as I see images of Valentina’s pussy in front of me. Fuck, I need to get it together. Florence will know something’s wrong if I don’t do it and I’ll be out of the business for good. I’m too young for to retire.

  “Don’t fucking think. Just do as I say. You got it?”

  I nod my head, like a fucking choir boy.

  “You’ve got no money. No options and you’re not bringing me down again.”

  She shakes her head as she jumps off the table and nearly sprains her ankle doing it.

  “I’m not going down with you. If you even touch her and this job doesn’t go well. You’re on your own. I’m not having you do this to me again.”

  “I know Florence I…”

  “I said, don’t think Eric. Just do, and I mean it.”

  Then she walks out of the door, hobbling which means that she did hurt herself jumping off the table. I need to stop being a selfish prick. My dad ran off with mom’s insurance money, which was fine at the time because the money was rolling in. As soon as the money dried up and my reputation turned to mud, my so-called friends were no longer interested in hanging out with me. It was as if they thought that by hanging out with me, they would lose their jobs too. This industry’s crazy. Hanging out with successful people is key, and losers are not even an option if you want to survive. Florence has stuck by me, even when I became a junkie. I need to remind myself that every time I become an arrogant prick.

  “Are you coming, Eric?”

  I shake my head as a chill runs down my fucking spine. It’s the same one when Florence found me overdosed on the ground and with only a few minutes to live. She’s the one that brought me back to life. Right now, I don’t know what I’ll do without her. It’s as if she’s the mom that I’ve never had, and right now she wants to turn her back on me.

  Fuck it!

  I need to grow-up and stop acting like a dick. There’s only one problem. I don’t fucking know how.

  She whispers, “Just get your head out of the gutter for both our sakes. We need this to finish with no issues. Then you’ll be back on top. I promise you. I know you can do it. I have faith in you. Even if you don’t have faith in yourself.”

  Then with those words, the door slams shut and I’m alone with my thoughts, and that is my worst enemy. Thoughts and I don’t go together it always lands me in big fucking trouble.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Valentina

  I don’t know what to do; I feel completely lost as I came to the departure lounge and the agent and Eric just moved out of the way. I can’t lose this job, and I had nothing else to wear. I didn’t know whether to come casual in a pair of jeans and a shirt or wear a dress.

  Wearing the only decent dress from back home, maybe wasn’t the best choice. It’s long, floral and extremely old-fashioned, but then before I came to the Big Apple, it was a nice dress. Something that I would often go out and feel nice. I needed something to calm down me down before getting here.

  I don’t drink.

  I certainly don’t smoke.

  So, I came as me and maybe that’s something that I shouldn’t have done as they made a quick disappearance the moment that they saw me. Luckily, they don’t disappear for long as Florence my agent comes by my side.

  “You’re shaking are you okay?”

  I nod my head, lying something that I’m not good at doing either. Maybe this isn’t the type of thing that I should be doing, going away with one of the hottest men in Hollywood for a movie that I know nothing about. Not only that but the last time I saw him he was calling a taxi from his house and making sure that I was as far away from him as possible.

  I wonder if she knows?

  God, I bet they were in the room laughing at me. I want to go back to my room. Back to the bar and get on my hands and knees and beg Janice to take me back.

  “Valentina. This is your first movie right?”

  Again, I nod my head. She’s looking at me with a smile, but there’s something about her eyes that tell me t
hat she’s tough and has a reputation of not taking crap from anyone. Not that she would get it from me.

  “Did you pack everything that you need for the trip? It’s just that you look as if you’re going on a summer vacation.”

  “This is all I have,” I say quietly as my eyes dart from her to the room that she was in with Eric a few minutes ago.

  Isn’t he coming back out?

  “Well, as soon as we get there, we’ll need to go shopping. You can’t go around Aspen like that.”

  Maybe she can see the tears building in my eyes because her last comment cut like a knife.

  Florence shakes her head, “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s a pretty dress. It’s just not for the cold weather.”

  I look at her in her fur coat, boots, and pants and decide that maybe I should have asked Harper if she had anything, because when I was leaving home. I was thinking that I was going to LA and I’ll never need a coat. Not for now and I couldn’t afford to buy one. I came with the most decent things that I have in my closet and judging by the look on her face I can tell that it doesn’t add up to much.

  She’s about to say something else when Eric is by her side.

  “Florence, are you going to introduce us?”

  She nods her head, “Sorry. Eric this is Valentina, you’ll be working together on the movie. Aren’t you excited?”

  Her eyes dart between the two of us, as Eric and I lock eyes. I want him to say that he knows me. I spent a memorable night with him, has he forgotten all about it?

  “Nice to meet you, Valentina. I hope that we can work well together.”

  Did he go to polite school in the meantime? The dirty mouthed bad boy seems to have left the airport.

  “Ah, that’s sweet, she’s starstruck,” Florence comments as she takes my hand and leads me away from him. The man that I can’t get out of my mind has forgotten everything about me. I never knew that we'd be working together. For some reason, I never saw his name on the script which has been in my bag from the moment I got it only yesterday. I was too busy worrying about being on set and not looking the part. Now, I feel like a fool, thinking I meant something to him. He called the taxi and didn’t even say good-bye, that should have been clear enough for me.

  But as Florence is talking the only thing I’m thinking is I wish that my real agent was here. She’s a small timer who couldn’t afford to fly. Florence said that she'd take care of everything which my agent said was nice of her. I need to focus, but it’s so hard when the man that I’ve been crazy about for too many years is not even giving me the time of day.

  ***

  “I’m in the bathroom,” I whisper thinking that I need to hear a friendly voice. Someone who does care about me and will help me focus for the next two weeks.

  “Valentina I can hardly hear you.”

  I nod, “I know, but I’m in the bathroom. We’re at the airport, and we’ll be taking off soon.”

  “Good! That means it’s happening. I was a bit worried when you said that your agent couldn’t meet you. It just sounded a bit suspect. But you could have just sent me a message. What’s up?”

  “Eric’s here!”

  “Eric who?”

  Is she serious?

  “Eric Turner. You know the guy who’s posters that I keep in my room. The one that I slept with on my birthday. The one…”

  “I get the picture, Valentina. So, what if he’s there. Just pretend that you just met him and get on set.”

  She doesn't understand what I’m saying to her, so I decide to stop whispering because I’m not making myself clear not one bit.

  “He’s the main character. The one that I’m going to be starting with.”

  “Shut up!”

  She blurts out and then she screams as if she’s won the jackpot at Bingo.

  “I know, but he’s pretending that he doesn’t know me. I hate him. I do. How can he do this to me? It’s so damn humiliating.”

  “No, it’s not. It’s perfect. Because you need to focus. You’ve been given the opportunity of a lifetime. Fuck him! Oops, you already did that, but it doesn’t matter because you’re an unknown star who’s going to be known. Just remember that. Don’t even dare get distracted you hear me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” I drop my purse and salute her in the bathroom.

  “I mean it, Valentina. You need to make sure that you do well and that’s the only reason you’re going to Aspen for the role. Not for Eric Turner.”

  I sigh as I sit down on the toilet and think about what she’s saying, but she has no idea how hard this is going to be.

  “Florence did say that I’m star struck.”

  “Exactly! Stick with that, don’t get wet if he touches you. This is a job, and you need to remain as professional as possible. I wish I were there with you.”

  I sigh, “You’re not the only one. My voice of reason.”

  She laughs, “You’re voice of sanity. I bet you’re going crazy right now thinking about him. Seriously, he’s not worth it. He probably had some other poor soul in his room that night after you left. He’s a womanizer, and that’s the only thing on his mind.”

  “Women?”

  She screams, “Sex! He just wants sex, and you want a job. One that will lead the way. Even if this movie’s not a blockbuster, just put on your best performance, and it’ll set a path for you. Trust me.”

  “Sure.”

  “Valentina, are you listening or still thinking about him?”

  I’m just about to lie and say that I feel as if my heart’s been pulled in so many different directions in the space of thirty minutes.

  “Eric wants to pretend that he doesn’t know me and it hurts. Maybe I’m not cut out for acting. Because I don’t think that I can pretend.”

  “Do you want to end up going back home?”

  I stand up at the mere thought of it.

  “That’s not an option.”

  She sighs, “Exactly, so put on your best acting talent both on and off screen. What happened with you and Eric is a thing of the past. It doesn’t bother you, and you’re there to perform. Do that, and everything will fall into place. You just need to believe that it’s possible. I believe in you, Valentina. Just trust me on this one. You know it makes sense.”

  I nod, “You’re right.”

  And before I could say another word, someone came into the bathroom.

  Shoot!

  I quickly hang up and then send her a text telling her that someone’s come in. And then when I hear my name being called out, “Valentina?”

  I quickly flush the toilet and smile with such confidence, “Coming!”

  That it surprises me and I realize that maybe I’m cut out for acting after all. If Eric wants to pretend that he doesn’t know me. Then it’s not an issue because I need this job. So damn bad and I’m going to make sure that nothing stands in my way. I had a childhood crush. I need to get over it, starting today.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Eric

  “Thanks, peeps! That’s a wrap of the final scene!” the director shouts as I leave the cabin. The last few days have been painful, every time I look at Valentina she’s as cold as ice. I don’t blame her, I’ve done a good job of keeping my distance, and she should do the same.

  The fucking crazy part about it, is that I thought that by ignoring her, I’ll be able to focus on working. But instead it’s driving me crazy not knowing what’s going through her mind. She doesn’t look at me, let alone speak to me unless she hears the words, ‘Camera, Lights, Action’ or even just the word, ‘Go!’

  Once we wrap up this movie, I’m going to head straight to the car showroom and buy myself a new Merc. not on credit, cash and there’s nothing that’s going to stop me doing it. I can tell that this movie’s going to be big. No fucking huge and I don’t want anything standing in the way. No matter how hot Valentina looks at the best of times.

  Florence is confident that everything’s going well and she’s left us to our own devices, which is c
razy considering before she wouldn’t leave Valentina and me in the same room. Maybe she trusts me. Either way, she knows that I have too much to loose to even think about fucking this whole thing up and I have no intention of doing that. Not again.

  “Eric, we’re having a little party in the cabin later if you’re interested?”

  Kevin one of the cameramen asks me as I’m just about to jump on the bus to go to the hotel. One thing that Florence warned me about before she left was drinking; I promised that I wouldn’t touch the stuff. Not for her good, but my own.

  “Not sure. We’ve got a pretty tight schedule tomorrow.”

  He shakes his head, “No, we need to check everything tomorrow and then we’re shooting the day after. The team wants to review it all. Anyway, it’s up to you. But I just thought that you would want to come. Everyone’s coming.”

  “Everyone?”

  What I want to know is if Valentina’s coming?

  But I don’t ask him that, no one knows about our rendezvous before we came on set and I want to keep it that way.

  Maybe I should talk to her and figure out what’s going on in her mind, considering this is her first big screen movie she seems to be doing well. She’s talented that's for sure. I feel as if I’m the newbie and I should be getting advice from her as to what to do next.

  “Everyone!”

  He pats me on the back, and I wonder if he knows. Fuck! I’m so fucking paranoid, and I need to stop doing that. So, what if he knows. It doesn’t mean a thing. I should have a conversation with her. That would be the decent thing to do, seeing as she was a fan. I bet she stopped being one the moment I ignored her on the first day.

  “Sure. I’ll come. What time and where?”

  “Really?”

  I laugh, “Why do you say that?”

  He tilts his head to the side and says, “Well some of the guys were thinking that you’re a bit full of yourself because you never want to go out for a drink or anything. So, at least I can prove them wrong.”