Page 55 of Finding Her Leading Man

Zara’s face shifted, gone was the aged beauty replaced by something jealous. Vindictive. She spun around and stomped back inside.

This was why he stayed out of the cutthroat side of Hollywood and Broadway. He had one client. He’d do anything for Grayson, includingnotsleeping with his fiancé.

Samantha turned, shook her head, and then kissed him again. “If you keep defending me from all the bullies on the playground, I’m going to spend all night thanking you instead of singing.”

He hooked his hands around her waist. “You can still thank me all night. Alone.”

“Ms. Nilsson, it’s time.” An older man with a gray mustache held the door open.

Samantha kissed Trevor one last time. “Showtime.”

* * *

It washard to sing a love song to the idiot who’d broken her heart. As the first chords of the song started, Samantha transformed back into the character again. She loved singing. Performing. Just not with Jasper.

Her eyes tracked to Trevor. With his hands in his pockets, he leaned against a pillar in the back of the room. He kept his gaze locked on her. That inherent strength helped her get through it. The song hit its climax, and she turned back to Jasper, determined to remain professional.

He watched her with annoyance. Then his expression shifted to something smug. He stepped closer as the music softened. When they harmonized the last note, his hand moved to her lower back.

Ugh, she hated that feeling like a snake crawling across her bare skin.

It didn’t even compare to Trevor.

Jasper leaned in and kissed her before she could dodge. His hand moved to her center back, keeping her pinned in place.

His lips were cold and unmoving. It was all for show…literally.

But it was more. It was unnecessary. It was Jasper being Jasper, which meant he was being a jerk and making a point. She gave him a harder shove.

The audience, full of producers, executives, and other actors clapped and cheered. She focused on the audience and remained professional when all she wanted to do was knee him in the groin. Even though she’d tried to shove him off a magic carpet two stories above the ground, making him impotent would be a sweeter finality to their relationship.

Taking his time, like he had all dang day to press those dead fish lips to hers, he released her.

She finally managed to wedge her hand between their bodies, and she pushed with as much strength as she had.

Jasper stumbled away a few steps.

She swiped the back of her hand across her mouth. “I can’t believe you did that,” she hissed.

He took a bow toward the crowd. “It was what they wanted. Bow, Samantha, before they think something is wrong.”

“Something is wrong. You!”

Jasper motioned for Samantha to walk first down the stairs of the makeshift stage. “You’re an amazing actress on stage, Sam. Don’t let that drama bleed into your personal life.”

The cocky man had one more second before she lost it. Screw her reputation.

The producer for their show stood at the bottom of the stairs, clapping. “Excellent! Excellent! I know you two have your problems, but I’m glad to see that you’re professional enough to know that work is work. I want you back in the show, Samantha. I forgot how amazing you are in this role.”

Trevor walked up, hands clenched by his side, his furious gaze locked on Jasper. Samantha tried to shift and block him. “That’s great,” she said to the producer, half of her attention on Trevor. “But, since you already released me, I think it might be better to work elsewhere.”

“ButAladdinis the biggest show out there right now.” The producer shook his head. “Think about it. I’m not going to let you do anything rash.” He eyed Trevor, who’d stopped right behind Samantha. “I’m not sure how this is any of your business, sir.”

Samantha waved a hand in Trevor’s direction. “He’s my agent for the time being. I’ll be in touch.” She turned around and put both hands on Trevor’s chest, giving him a light push. “Let’s go. I showed I could play nice. That will be ruined if you kick his butt now.”

“It’s charming you want to fight over a girl,” Jasper said. “And pointless, really. Plenty of women in the world. Believe me when I say they’re a bit less frigid than Samantha.”

Samantha’s mouth dropped open. Her grip on Trevor’s chest released. “What!” She tried to come back with something, but sincelying, cheating, pathetic losersounded more like a playground insult, she shut her mouth.

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