Page 23 of Beauty and the Beach

Thinking of you, he replied back immediately.

Her toes curled and she smiled. I wish I wasn’t so tired.

What are you doing tomorrow?

Making a face, Ana texted back. I might be able to slip away for dinner.

“There you are,” Don said coming up behind her.

Ana fumbled and nearly dropped her phone. He sat down on the bench next to her, so close she could smell old marijuana smoke on his clothes and he reeked of sweat and alcohol.

“What am I going to do with you?” he asked leaning in close to her ear.

Shuddering in revulsion, she shifted away. Her phone buzzed but she ignored it.

“Who’s that?”

“My boyfriend,” Ana said, wishing Makoa was here right now.

“Boyfriend?” Don scowled. “I thought you said when you took this job, you were unattached.”

“I was. I’m not anymore.”

“Is he the reason you were screwing up tonight?”

“No,” she lied. “Don’t worry about me, Don. I’ve got this.”

“You better. Maud can take over, if this is too rough. You’ll have to take her part of Clio. It’s a smaller role and there will be a cut in pay.”

"I signed a contract," she said coldly.

"And that contract said if you can't do the part, you would be replaced."

Ana surged to her feet. “I can do this.”

Don stood as well. “Show me. If I don’t see an improvement tomorrow, you’re switching parts with Maud.”

Gritting her teeth, Ana forced herself to nod. "I'm just a little confused with all the last minute changes. What was so wrong with the original script?"

"That's not for you to understand. I'm the director." Don's voice rose. "You do what I tell you do. It's my ass on the line here. My reputation. We need to stand out and that requires tweaking the performance. I make those calls. Me."

Ana backed up a few steps.

"Your job is to look pretty and shake your tits at the audience. If you can manage to do that without falling out of your fin and drowning, I'll let you be Clio."

"I'm Eros," she said, fists clenching. He was staring at her chest.

"I like that fire. Keep it up." Don reached for her and she scooted away.

"What? I just want to hug it out. I don't want us to be mad at each other. I was just trying to inspire you to a greater performance."

"I'm not mad. My ride is here." Ana was hoping those headlights turning into the theater parking lot was her Uber. At this point, she'd get in the car even if it was a local drug dealer making a house call to Don.

"We'll discuss this more tomorrow. If you fuck up once, you're going to be switching parts with Maud. Perfect. Do you understand me?" Don swatted her on the ass because she didn't move fast enough.

"I'll be better than perfect," she said between her teeth, rushing towards the car. She didn't care if it was her Uber or not. Whoever was in that car was going to get her the hell out of here before she either killed Don or burst into tears.

Luckily, Don didn't follow her through the parking lot, and it was her driver in the car after all. She slipped into the back seat and rubbed her butt where it still stung a bit. If Don thought he could intimidate her into losing her part, it had the opposite effect.

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