Page 11 of Rescued Heart

Frances

Good morning, sweetheart. Accountability check to see if you’ve done your devotion this morning? Keep yourself in the Word and don’t listen to what people say online. They don’t know the truth. Keep shining for Him. Hope you’re feeling okay. Praying.

Bianca hugged her phone to her chest. She could use all the prayers. First, get her makeup touched up. No stitches. Easy enough. Next, she had to do damage control on her and Carter’s supposed relationship, spreading news about the movie. Then she’d squeeze in some Bible reading…

Her phone buzzed with another text. But it wasn’t from Frances.

Unknown

Lady B, call me.

She blocked the sender’s number and shoved her phone into her pocket. Third, get Nathan to stop trying to contact her. He knew the truth about her, but he allowed his lawyer’s lies to save him.

Eddie’s face from when he’d told her the truth about her injury popped into her head.

She exhaled.

Lastly, she’d figure out how to stop that firefighter from sneaking into her mind.

She pushed out the doors of the warehouse they had been filming in, and the afternoon light made her squint.

Heels click-clacked on the concrete behind her. “Bianca, wait.”

Bianca turned to find Grace jogging toward her.

Grace heaved in a breath. “Sorry about Leo in there. He’s a little stressed over some behind-the-scenes details about the movie’s finances.” Grace pushed up her glasses. “Never take his mood personally. He can’ttrulybe upset with you for having to get stitches after someone attacked you.”

“Doesn’t help when the media missed the memo about me being attacked. Apparently, I slipped off my heels that night because I’d had too much to drink and rammed into a window. Not exactly good publicity for a family film.” Bianca held on to her smile as she passed some extras, who waved at her. “Unfortunately, there are a few details that didn’t get accomplished at the masquerade auction.”

Grace juggled her phone and notebook in her hand as they took the steps to the makeup trailer. “Yes, the staged photos of you and Carter. I have a suggestion about that. I would have run it by your agent, but she hasn’t returned my calls.”

Bianca’s smile slipped. “She’s probably busy with her other clients.” Hercurrentclients. Alexis had forbidden Bianca from signing this movie contract. No, it wasn’t a great upfront contract. More hoops than benefits. But it wasn’t like Bianca had any other options.

Before Grace could reply, a tall woman in ripped jeans and a navy tank top, her brown hair pulled back into two messy buns, stepped out of the trailer.

Grace cleared her throat. “This is Riley. Your replacement makeup artist.”

The woman stiffened. “You’re Bia Pearl.”

Bianca clasped her hands together. “And you’re exactly who I need.”

Grace pointed at Bianca’s hairline. “The director’s hypersensitive about her stitches. I suggested giving her character a haircut, but that was also ignored.”

Riley frowned. “Stitches? They happened on set?”

“No, thank goodness. That might shut production down for hours.” Grace took the door handle from Riley and motioned for her and Bianca to enter. “Bianca had to be rescued by a firefighter at the local mayor’s campaign auction. Surprised you haven’t heard. It’s all over the news.”

Bianca failed to hold the sigh in as she eased into the chair that she had previously sat in this morning.

Riley shrugged one shoulder. “Been a little busy getting here.”

Grace spun the chair Bianca sat in to face her. “You’re probably wishing Carter could’ve been the one to rescue you. But the reason I wanted to talk with you…” She sent a side glance to Riley, who had moved over by her makeup table. “What if you don’t suddenly try to plaster Carter as your fake boyfriend on your social media?”

Bianca gripped the armrest of the chair. Pretending on- and off-screen was the package deal. “No choice in that, I’m afraid.”

Grace pressed her lips together. “Because your contract says that you and Carter must jointly promote the movie. However, it doesn’t give a timeline, and after your apparently ex-agent texted me to stop calling her about you…”

Bianca’s gaze snapped up to Grace, who winced.

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