Page 15 of All That Glitters

Being here has become my own personal torture chamber, knowing Empire is right across the hall sleeping in her bed. Or not sleeping, like me.

I slide into the driver’s seat with the leather warming my ass. It’s still early in the day, but already, the sun is glaring; it’s gonna be a hot one. An even better reason for me to leave and stay gone; heat equals Empire in skimpy bathing suits in the pool. If she leaves her room—

I blast the AC, press my foot on the gas, and get the hell out of dodge. The woman tempts me in ways I should not be tempted. The need for distance eclipses my worry for her. Today is going to be an office day from start to finish, and I refuse to head home early, no matter what happens.

Not without a severe emergency.

Navigating the hills, I take the curves way too fast until the road evens out and I join the hoard of others trying to get to their destination on time.

Most of them probably left their houses hours earlier to make sure to beat the clock.

I’m just too pissed off to wait in traffic.

Today, I’ve got to focus on the rest of my work and not a certain young starlet with no acting credits to her name. Except the first face I see, already waiting for me in my office, is the producer who wants to hire her for Wretched. Parker Heath turns in the black leather chair and grins at me over the back. The coffee turns sour in my stomach.

He’s got the kind of smirk designed to get under your skin. Curly hair swoops away from his large forehead in a widow’s peak. The dominant trait is only further emphasized by his square jaw and vulgar white teeth from thousands of dollars of bleaching.

“Marcus Ortega, it’s damn good to see you,” he starts out.

“You saw me three days ago,” I say through gritted teeth. Not as white as his, nor as prominent.

“A brief glance of your beautiful mug and nothing but.” His retort is flippant, and it bothers me more than his face.

Not one I missed, I thought to myself, watching him get comfortable, leaning back in the chair and crossing one leg to rest his ankle over the opposite knee. I hadn’t liked him when we were boys, either, but circumstances throw people together against their will.

I hadn’t had a choice about dealing with him then.

And if I want to keep cushy, if I want Empire to succeed, then I have no choice but to deal with him now.

“What are you doing here?”

It’s an effort not to curse him out, but here, it’s professionalism all the way, even if Parker knows me well. He planned this and will get away with it because he is one of the most well-known producers in the biz. Anyone looking at the situation from the outside would see me as the rude one and not him.

“I’m here to talk about Empire,” he continues smoothly.

I grumble under my breath. “I can’t get away for a fucking second, I swear to God.”

“Who did you think I wanted to talk about? You?” He barks out a laugh. “Get real. She’s the one I want, and a personal visit of this nature only shows you how badly.” He cranes forward, shifting, his elbows on his thighs. “Marcus—”

“At least let me sit down.”

“Seems to me you’ve got a lot on your mind.” He sounds downright chipper, as much as a seasoned and bitter bastard like Parker can. “Just tell me if she wants to do the movie, and I’ll be on my way to let you do whatever it is you do all day.” He glances around the office, clearly dissatisfied with what he sees.

I drop my store-bought coffee on the desk and drop hard into the swivel seat.

“I’m telling you what, Ortega. This is going to be her big break, if she decides to say yes,” he continues without waiting for me to answer. “I feel it in my bones. This movie is huge. The potential, the writing, the dialogue…” He trails off.

Parker isn’t the type who likes to hear the word no, and he makes it his business to never let anyone speak it around him. If he wants this movie to happen, then it will, point blank. He won’t care how it happens or who he has to stomp on the way to get it finished. Whatever it takes.

“I’m not sure if she’s willing to take the part or not.” It’s the only bit of honesty I’ll offer him today, especially considering the impromptu drop in. “She’s expressed a few hesitations about the sexuality of the part.”

I don’t like to be fucking surprised, and Parker knows it. He wants something from me, though, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to grab it.

He stares at me wide eyed before his face breaks out in a wide grin. “What do you mean, you’re not sure if she’ll take it? How can you not be sure?” he asks.

“I mean she is taking time to consider it all the angles before she makes a decision.” My gaze hardens the longer I look at him. “Trust me when I tell you that you’ll have an answer by the end of the week.”

I’ll get it even if I have to drag it out of her.

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