The bathroom was filling with steam, and I gave him a tight smile as I pushed at his bare chest. “Let’s revisit this conversation later,” I suggested as I hopped down from the sink. My entire body protested the quick movement, but I bit back my groan of discomfort and kissed his chin. “My brain isn’t completely awake, and I think I need to concentrate hard for a discussion this important.”
He caught my hair in his hand and wrapped it around his wrist, tugging my head back so he could kiss me as deep and for as long as he wanted. Moaning, I melted against him, my nails biting into his chest and marking him yet again.
Lifting his head, he released my hair and swatted me on the ass. “Don’t think you’re getting out of this conversation that easily, baby. We will be talking about it again. Today, if I have my way.”
Rolling my eyes, I walked into the shower to the sound of his deep laugh as he left the bathroom.
I got to the studio only slightly late, which, for me, was considerably early. When I walked into the makeup artist’s room, her eyes grew round with surprise. “Are you that excited for the last day, dear?” the fifty-four-year-old woman who had been doing my hair and makeup for the past three years asked with a sad smile as I took my seat.
“Yes and no,” I answered honestly. Sue had heard me bitch enough about my character to know I wasn’t going to miss this show all that much once it was officially over. But she knew I would miss her and some of the other crew, although my fellow costars were definitely not on the list of people I wanted to hang out with in the future.
From the doorway, I heard a throat clearing, and I lifted my gaze to the mirror to find Jordan walking into the room. Sue turned, and I watched her eyes widen when she took in the sight of Jordan Moreitti.
“Sue, this is Jordan, my…” I bit my lip, unsure what exactly we were.
“Arella’s boyfriend,” he supplied, offering the woman his hand with that killer grin that never failed to make any member of the opposite sex weak in the knees. “Nice to meet you, Sue. Arella has told me so many good things about you over the years.”
He was right about that, at least. I had praised my makeup artist from the first time I’d met her. Sue was the best. She could make the blond wig I had to wear look so natural, and my makeup always transformed me into someone I didn’t even recognize. It was fascinating how a little makeup could make a person look so different when applied in certain ways. Sue had been working in the business since she was eighteen. She was so talented it was kind of scary the way she made me look so unlike my normal self.
Sue blushed, falling for Jordan effortlessly. It wasn’t that I was jealous of Sue. With her gray-kissed blond hair and rounded curves, she was not only decades older than him, but very much not Jordan’s type. Yet it irritated the hell out of me that he was turning on the charm and causing yet more of the female population to fall at his feet in worship. All while declaring himself my boyfriend.
Deciding to ignore him before I got pissed and started an argument with him, I pulled out my new phone and texted Palmer, asking her if she wanted to have lunch with me later.
Palmer: Wish I could. My mother wants to have a meeting.
I gritted my teeth, disliking Veronica Abbot even more. Usually when Palmer’s mom said she wanted to have a meeting, what she meant was she wanted to set up her daughter with some random guy she hoped would cure Palmer of her homosexuality.
Me: Call me later and tell me how that goes. Maybe we can get together this weekend.
Palmer: Defs, bestie. xo
Sue finally stopped gushing over Jordan and came over to do my hair. I sat back, but my stomach started growling, and I wished I’d asked Jordan to stop at my favorite coffee shop on the way to the studio earlier. My stomach felt empty, and the single cup of coffee I’d had back at Jordan’s apartment was not nearly enough to keep me functioning until lunchtime.
Jordan walked over to the makeup chair I was sitting in. Leaning back against the vanity where all Sue’s brushes and makeup were spread out, he crossed his arms over his chest and gave me a long appraisal.
“What?” I asked when he just stood there, watching me.
Sighing heavily, he pulled his phone from his pants pocket and started typing. “Skinny vanilla latte and a vanilla bean scone?”
My stomach growled, making him smirk without lifting his gaze from his screen. “My assistant will be here momentarily with your breakfast. I apologize I didn’t think to stop and feed you on the way.”
“Adam?” The only assistant I knew he had was Adam, who worked with him in Italy. I’d never spoken to the guy personally, but I had heard him in the background a few times whenever Jordan called me from work in the past.
“No,” Jordan told me as he pocketed his phone. “My replacement inherited Adam. I’m not happy that I have to get used to someone else, but so far, Taylor has kept my life pretty organized.”
“Taylor,” I repeated the name, trying to sit still so Sue could do her job without pulling me bald in the process, while also attempting to keep the sudden flare of jealousy out of my voice and off my face. That name was too unisex for me to know if it was a woman or a man. “You’ve been home like two minutes. When did you hire a new assistant?”
“I didn’t. My mother did it for me.” His phone buzzed with a new text, and he pulled it out. “I have a meeting in an hour or so for a potential project I want to work on, so she was on her way.” He lifted his gaze from the screen. “They are out of vanilla bean scones. Blueberry muffin?”
“Just the coffee is fine.” I turned my attention to my own phone in hopes of keeping my emotions out of my expression.
“You need to eat. Do you want a muffin or a breakfast sandwich?” When I kept my mouth closed, he growled something under his breath. “She’ll get both. I don’t want you to skip meals.”
While he went back to texting Taylor, I rolled my eyes. Sue saw the action in the mirror and grinned. “A man who wants to feed you,” she whispered and waggled her brows. “I would say that is a check on the pro list to keep him.”
“Trust me, there are plenty of con checks already,” I whispered back.
“What was that, babe?” Jordan asked, pocketing his phone once again.
“Nothing,” I told him, lowering my gaze to my phone. “You said you have a meeting for a project?”
“Yes, I can’t really talk about it just yet, but hopefully after today, I’ll be able to make a decision.” He snatched my phone from my hands. Sue was busy pinning my hair to my head so I couldn’t move to grab it back as he stepped a few feet away. His eyes skimmed over what was on my social feed before placing my phone in his suit jacket pocket. “But once I do make a decision, I would like to run a proposition by you.”
I lifted my brows curiously. “That depends. Are we talking a proposition that includes more evenings like last night, or me having to put on another stupid wig?”
His eyes darkened hungrily, but he quickly banked his need. “The former is a given. I don’t think we need to negotiate the terms of that aspect of our relationship. Do you?” I grinned as he gave the wig Sue was about to place on my head a disgusted glare. “The latter…I would never ask you to wear a wig when I love all that glossy dark hair, baby.”
“But it does involve a part in whatever project you’re contemplating?” He shrugged. “Huh. Well, I’m willing to give it consideration. I haven’t committed to a role in anything yet, but I have been offered several that require a decision in the next few weeks.”
Sue secured the wig in place, and I instantly wanted to start scratching my head. Thank God this was the last time I would ever have to put the damn thing on.
“I think I can outdo any contract you’ve already been offered,” he informed me with a wink.
“Oh, I’m sure you could,” I purred. “Let’s table this convo until you know more. Then we can discuss my demands, should I entertain your offer.”
“Fuck,” he groaned. “You just made the tediousness of con
tracts the sexiest thing ever. I’ll hand over every penny in my bank account right now if you say yes.”
A snort left me, causing Sue to laugh. “Why is that so funny?” the artist asked.
“He’s a freaking billionaire,” I informed her.
“Honey, if he’s offering you that kind of cash in front of witnesses, you should sign on the dotted line now. No matter what the part is.” Sue started brushing out the tangles in my hideous wig then stopped abruptly. “Except porn. Your parents would skin me alive if they knew I allowed you to agree to porn while I was in the same room.”
“It’s not porn,” Jordan growled. “And I would kill anyone who even suggested she do that shit.”
I tilted my head back, fighting a happy grin at the sight of the possessiveness in his dark eyes. “You’ve been awfully vocal about murdering people in the last twenty-four hours, Moreitti.”
He placed his hands on the armrests of my chair and bent down until his lips were almost touching mine. “Shall we revisit the hit list I’m still tempted to start, beautiful?”
I kissed him quickly before putting my hand over his heart. Feeling how hard it was beating against his ribs melted me. I loved that, with an innocent kiss, I could affect him so powerfully. “No one who you think should be on that list matters to me, so you should stop considering a life of crime and just kiss me. Because I don’t want to think about my life with you behind bars.”
“I’m going to assume I’m in the right place since you are here, Mr. Moreitti. Considering you didn’t give me very detailed directions on where you would be in this maze,” a husky female voice muttered before Jordan could kiss me.
He straightened, and the look of annoyance on his face made my disappointment that he didn’t kiss me ease. “Her drink better be made correctly, or you’ll be going back,” he said coolly as he crossed to the door and took the drink carrier from her. Pulling a venti cup free, he offered it to me.
I glanced at the order sticker on the side of the cup, saw that it had been ordered exactly the way I liked, and took a sip. With Jordan no longer blocking my view of his new assistant, I gave her a quick once-over.
Dressed in a chic pantsuit that was molded to her curvy ass, with her short hair styled on the top and shaved on the sides, she was hot as hell.
Jealousy growing by the second, I took another drink of my coffee and discreetly watched Taylor. I noted that the way she looked at Jordan was with anything but interest. Considering the flippant way she’d greeted him, I was almost convinced she didn’t even like him all that much. But when her light-brown gaze landed on me, interest flared. That had me openly appraising her.
She pushed the sleeves of her blazer up to her elbows, and I took in the tattoo along her forearm, causing my heart to lift with excitement.
The colorful heart within a heart, along with the heartbeat and the script “two hearts beating as one,” was something I’d seen before. I’d gone with Palmer when she’d gotten almost that exact same tattoo.
My jealousy over Jordan having a hot female assistant evaporated, and I gave her a warm smile. “Thank you, Taylor. This is perfect.”
“Of course, Miss Stevenson. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Actually…” I grabbed Jordan’s jacket and tugged him closer so I could take my phone back. “Are you single?” I asked casually as I brought up Palmer’s contact information.
“The fuck does that matter?” Jordan snarled, crushing the paper bag Taylor had just handed over. “You’re not single, so her being single isn’t an issue.”
I bit my lip to keep the grin off my face. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so ecstatically happy that he was showing signs of being just as jealous as I was, but I loved it.
“I’m single,” Taylor informed me with a ghost of a smirk teasing her lips.
“Perfect.” I hit connect and lifted the phone to my ear, waiting for my best friend to pick up.
“I told you I have a meeting with my mother,” Palmer bitched. I knew just from that sentence alone that her mom had already said something to hurt her feelings. “I’ll call you back.”
“I’m looking at your soul mate right this second,” I told her, and as expected, she shut up. “She has the same tattoo on her wrist that is on your hip.”
“She does?” Taylor was beside me in the next instant, causing Jordan to snap at her. But when I shot him a glare, he closed his mouth and pulled my food from the bag he’d crushed. The muffin was a sad pile of crumbs, but the breakfast sandwich was thankfully intact.
“You have my attention,” Palmer said after a brief pause.
“She’s hot as fuck, Palms. I mean, damn.” Taylor beamed at me while Jordan growled something about finding a new assistant ASAP. “That’s okay, babe,” I told him with a mock glare. “You fire her, and I’ll hire her as my own.”
His jaw turned to granite. “I take it back. She’s the perfect assistant for me.”
“No, no. I think she would fit me perfectly,” I argued. “She’s easy on the eyes and orders the best coffee. I’ve been meaning to get an assistant. Perhaps then I’ll have more time for personal things. Like having a boyfriend.”
“Are you actually playing tug-of-war over me right now?” Taylor asked with amusement thick in her voice.
I laughed. “Maybe. So, how about it? Want to work for the crazy actress? I come with a sexy BFF.”
Jordan growled menacingly and stepped in front of me, blocking my view of Taylor. “I’ll double your salary.”
“Done,” she accepted without hesitation. “Sorry, Miss Stevenson.”
“It’s fine. At least I got you a raise.” Palmer made an annoyed sound in my ear, reminding me that she was still waiting. “So, lunch?”
Thirteen
Jordan
Watching Arella work was one of my favorite things. I’d done it before in the past. Right after she started on this drama, I would stop by the studio to take her to dinner. I always came a little early so I could watch her filming a scene or two. The way she brought her character alive always gave me goose bumps.
The director knew my father, so he didn’t give me any issues when Taylor and I stood off to the side watching. But when I spotted the man walking in, I realized time had gotten away from me. I was supposed to meet Garon across the lot in the executive offices over an hour ago, but watching my girl had made everything else escape my mind.
Garon Steel was one of several executives that owned Strive Studios. They were the third-largest production company in the business, and they mostly did television shows. But for almost a year now, Garon had been approaching me with an offer to come on board and for the two of us to take Strive in a new direction. He wanted to do a series of female villain action movies.
The idea had grown on me, and when he’d sent me a rough draft of the script for the first movie, I’d finally decided to take a meeting with him. If I did, however, I knew exactly who should play the sexy little villainess. No one could pull off that feisty, sassy-mouthed vixen better than Arella.
The only issue was, she would be working with Garon.
Although he was her uncle, there had been no connection between her family and the man for her entire life, from what I understood. Cole Steel had turned his back on his son and ex-wife for whatever reason, and when he’d passed, he’d left everything to Lana and her children. I hadn’t even seen Garon or his mother at Cole’s funeral.
Arella worked for Strive with this drama, but she’d never had any dealings with her estranged uncle. Would she agree to take the role I knew would be perfect for her if it meant having to be around the man her family seemed to detest?
If she didn’t, I would turn his offer down flat. But if she did agree, then I would put all the money the project needed into it.
Garon strutted toward me, and I was reminded of what a cocky bastard he could be. He had the same honey-brown eyes as his father and half-sister. The suit he wore was tailored to his lean frame. His hair was on the sh
aggy side, but stylish. I figured he dyed it, because he was at least five years older than Lana, and there wasn’t a single gray hair on his head. I was several inches taller than the man, but he walked like the world had to look up to him.
As he neared, he stuck out his hand, and I shook it. Other than that greeting, we remained quiet as we turned our focus to the scene currently being filmed a few yards away.
When the director finally called “Cut,” Garon cleared his throat.
“She’s incredible, I’ll give her that,” he praised, then lifted his arm toward the door. “Shall we?”
I glanced over at Arella, who was busy speaking to the director. The man was listening intently to whatever she was suggesting and nodding along with his assistant. Taylor was nearby, watching in fascination and more than a little awestruck by what she was getting to see firsthand.
“Taylor,” I called to her. She snapped to attention and rushed over to me.
“Sir?”
I nodded toward Arella. “Whatever she needs, make sure she gets it. I’m going to take this meeting alone.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I mean it. Whatever she needs.” She promised she would stay close, and I followed Garon out the exit.
“How did you like the script I sent you?” the older man asked as we made the walk across the lot toward the executive offices.
“It has room for improvement, but for the most part, it kept my attention.” We passed a few security guards in golf carts and several people with headsets attached to their ears. The place was bustling. Arella’s show might have been ending, but there were many other projects the production company was filming.
“I’ve been talking to Montez about directing,” he tossed out casually as he opened the door to the building.
My eyes widened. Scott Montez was an Oscar-winning director, and he had a knack for action films. Every production company in the business wanted him to direct their movies. Getting him wouldn’t come cheap, but for this project, it would be worth it.
Needing Arella Page 10