Page 18 of The Bodyguard

But I was rude.

He did an excellent job today and despite wishing the world would disappear and he would rip off his clothes and then mine, I’m rethinking my initial reaction.

Maybe I won’t replace him.

Learning he was in the Middle East, fighting to protect his country, snapped me out my shame and silly attitude. I plan to apologize before he leaves.

I’m also stressed about Gina. Something feels off. It might be better if I tell her to find another job.

Working together has impacted our friendship more than I’ve been willing to acknowledge. Filming is intense and I guess I just hadn’t noticed how much we’ve grown apart.

In a nutshell, I’m her boss. The demands of my company are huge now, so the power balance is too large.

I hate it.

I want my friend back.

I’ve never been someone who had a lot of friends. Just one or two.

It was me, Gina, and Nicole. Then Nicole married the love of her life, a South African man, and moved across the world. She’s pregnant with their second child.

To say our lives are worlds apart in every way is an understatement. Neither of us hear from her anymore. Gina and I remained friends. She started working as an assistant, and I waitressed and went to audition after audition.

Then got offered the role of Charlotte and the rest is history.

Gina is my only friend outside of Hollywood. And it’s very hard to know if the new people I’ve met after becoming famous are real.

Nick, yes, but our friendship lacks substance. I can almost guarantee that if he needed to railroad me to get what he wanted, he would.

Michelle is my manager.

Briar is my personal assistant, but I probably trust her more than anyone.

It’s a dog-eat-dog world and I’m at the height of fame. The worst time to expect people to show their true colors.

I pull a bottle of wine out of the fridge and pour myself a glass. I sip the Californian Sauvignon Blanc and let the news sink in. I’m now a Golden Globe nominated actress.

Wow.

It hasn’t been announced yet, but if I had someone close I trusted, I’d tell them. Jack and Ryder obviously overheard.

This is the sort of thing I’d tell Gina—before she worked for me—and I suddenly feel alone and empty.

Ugh. My career might be amazing, but my personal life is a mess.

Maybe it’s just that I’m not making an effort. I swipe open my phone and hover over her name.

It doesn’t feel right.

I do not trust her.

Recently she’s made comments that lean toward a little nasty and envious. She was so supportive of me when I was waitressing, but now she acts like my family—she can’t stand seeing me succeed.

Telling her I’ve been nominated might just trigger her further. She’ll hear soon, but I don’t want her to be the first person I tell.

I put the phone down.

Man, I’m pretty sure you shouldn’t feel like this about your best friend.

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