Page 14 of Broken Rules

A photo replaced her smiling face, and now the idea of taking another bite was unthinkable.I sat up, leaving the bowl on the coffee table, staring at Clyde Harris and Eric Danvers as they stood together in front of the Sunrise Pictures sign spanning the gates in front of their studio.

I had seen photos of Danvers, mostly while I researched potential directors for this project.It was incredible how perception could change.Now, knowing what I knew, his smile was slimy, his eyes cold.He had the face of somebody I’d like to punch.Some people were like that.They had punchable faces.

She’s going to be upset about this.It was a surprising thought, coming out of nowhere while I imagined the satisfaction of my fist connecting with his square chin.Some people just begged for it.

Instead of looking for something else to put on, I switched off the television and stared at the ceiling.I had planned to recuperate a little today once the Zoom call ended.We were about to hit the ground runningwithno brakes, and it felt necessary to unwind before doing that to get my head in a good place.

It seemed like the world had other plans for me.I pulled up Summer’s contact in my phone on my way back to the kitchen, where I left my bowl in the refrigerator to eat later.I didn’t want to waste it, even if I couldn’t stomach the thought of swallowing another bite when imagining the damage I could do to Eric Danvers’ face.

I wasn’t expecting the unfamiliar female voice that chirped, “You’ve reached Summer Strawbridge’s phone.”

It threw me off for a second, but I replied, “Who is this?I need to speak to Summer.”

“This is her assistant, Claudia.Is this Mr.Landry?It’s nice to meet you.”

“Same here, Claudia.”She sounded cute, but she was wasting my time.“Can I speak to Summer?”

There was a little not-so-quiet murmuring going on in the background.It was the sort of murmuring that told me the person doing it was unhappy.Now I understood why I got handed off to the assistant.When she saw my name on the phone, Summer probably told Claudia to take it.

“Tell her I thought she had more guts,” I added, raising my voice in the hope she would hear me.“I didn’t think she’d hide behind an assistant.”

Not three seconds passed.“What the hell kind of bullshit is that supposed to mean?”Summer spat into the phone.I didn’t even mind her cussing me out when she was so easy to provoke.

“Oh, so you are available,” I replied.“I wanted to know?—”

“I am doing the work of three or four different people right now,” she informed me.“And we’re starting rehearsals in three days.And you’re calling to pick a fight?”

“No, that’s not why I called.I was hoping for a status report.”

“If you want a status report, you’re going to have to come to the studio to get one.I’m wading through a mountain of work.Maybe you can help me,” she added with a derisive snort.

I shouldn’t give her what she wants.I don’t jump every time she snaps her fingers.That was true, but it was also true that the girl could be a real bitch who knew how to push buttons I wasn’t aware existed.Challenging me to come down and meet with her, very clearly accusing me of being unable to handle the workandin front of her assistant, no less.

So much for my relaxing day.

“I’ll be there in fifteen,” I announced.“Prepare yourself to carve a few minutes out of your busy schedule for me.”

* * *

She wasn’t kiddingabout the mountain of work.There were storyboards propped up against the walls.A huge corkboard covered with photos, headshots, renderings of set pieces in the middle of being built for some of our later shots.For the time being, we would focus on exterior shots, which comprised a solid percentage of the script.

And in the middle of the storm stood Summer.It didn’t seem to matter that she played soft, soothing music or was burning incense that made my nose wrinkle in distaste.None of it seemed to soothe her almost frantic energy as she hustled back and forth, switching storyboards before standing back with her hands clasped on top of her head.Her long, auburn locks were free of their usual bun and hung halfway to her waist, flowing like a shimmering waterfall down her back.

What I would do to imagine those smooth, silky strands wrapped around my fist as I fuck her from behind.Fuck, Lex, get your shit together.

“Please, tell me you found the tea.”She turned, hope etched across her face, but that hope dried up when she saw me standing in the doorway instead of her assistant.“Oh…” She sighed.

It was not the best or warmest greeting I’d ever received, but par for the course.“You weren’t expecting me?”I asked, plastering on a smile I did not feel.How could she be so damn brittle and prickly and still turn me on the way she did?

“I thought you were Claudia,” she replied, turning back to her work.“I sent her out to find a specific tea I like to drink when I’m feeling stressed.I told her to grab every single package she might find.”

“I didn’t know you had an assistant working with you.”

Her shoulders lifted.“Is there something wrong with that?”

“Not at all.I’m glad you have somebody to help out.”I was starting to forget why I had called her in the first place.I could’ve kicked myself for being a stupid ass.She didn’t need to be coddled.Hell, if I tried, she’d sooner bite my head off.

“You are obviously very busy.”I approached slowly, studying the storyboards outlining key scenes, presenting the way Summer had envisioned the script.They weren’t highly detailed, but they were good.“Who drew these?“

---