Page 84 of The Small-Town Seduction Plan

I get to my feet. My heart is pounding, and I’m pretty sure there’s a 50/50 chance I’m burning everything I’ve built to the ground, but there’s a reckless certainty surging in my veins.

I’ve been playing these games for too damn long. Duke was right. There’s no way for me to win– not by their rules.

“What are you saying?” Max rises too, his smile fading fast. “You’re not going to do the movie?”

“Nope.”

“Whoa, let’s just talk about this for a minute,” one of the other agents jumps in, looking panicked. “If this is about the money, this is just an opening offer. I’m sure we can get them up, what, twenty percent?” she looks to Max.

“Thirty, plus a cut of merchandizing,” he says immediately. “You know I’ve got your back, Avery.”

“Do you?” I demand. “Be honest, have you even made a single call to Madeline’s people about her movie?”

Max’s gaze flicks away.

Busted.

“Well, that explains a lot.” I pick up my handbag.

“You want to think about this,” Max says, an edge to his voice. “We brought you this role on a damn platter. If you walk away from this opportunity…”

“You’ll what? Fire me as your client?” I ask, flicking a glance back at him. “Go ahead.”

And I start walking.

But I barely make it to the elevators before the panic sets in. I stab blindly at the buttons, and swoop down to the lobby just about as fast as my heart is sinking in my chest.

What the hell have I just done?

Never mind that I’m the one who was begging to be cast in the Annihilation movies just a few short months ago. Now I have zero representation, no work on the horizon, and, oh yeah, I’ve barely recovered from a very public, national humiliation that would make any serious film-maker think twice before ever even taking a meeting with me!

And for what, my principles?

I sure picked a great time to even discover I had some!

I freak out all the way back to my apartment. I’m not ready to give up on my acting career, I can’t. But I don’t see a way forward. If all they want from me is to play the hot chick in the tight outfit, then there’s already an expiry date ticking closer, and no amount of Pilates and dermatology is going to make a difference!

Should I just say “fuck it”, and take the gig, and count myself lucky to even have the opportunity? Grit my teeth, and charm more assholes like Brady, and accept that nobody will ever see me in any other light?

I thought I could change the narrative, but maybe I never had a chance.

I trudge through the lobby, and up the stairs. But when I turn the corner to my unit, I find a surprise waiting for me, sitting sprawled out on the floor outside my door.

Duke.

I stop dead. He’s scruffy and unshaven, and he looks like hell, but I’ve never been more glad to see anyone in my life.

He gets to his feet, and gives me a tender smile. “Surprise, baby.”

And I burst into tears.

22

AVERY

“It’s OK, baby.” Duke holds me tightly, as I proceed to smear mascara and snot all over his shirt. “I’m here now. Everything’s going to be OK.”

I just cry harder, all the emotion and stress of the past twenty-four hours crashing down on me at once. “I’m sorry,” I sniffle, through gulping sobs, hating myself for breaking down. “I know I’m acting crazy and making a mess of everything and I should never have yelled at you like that?—”

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