Page 90 of Callback
She recovered quickly, snapping back into that menacing smirk. “Well, unfortunately for you, Jude quit the project yesterday. Whatever extracurriculars you two did will have absolutely zero sway on these guys.”
Ice cold chills slammed into my chest. Jude quit? Why the hell would he do that?
Layla tutted and shook her head. “Oh, I guess he failed to mention that during your week of playtime? Yeah. He’s gone.” Her voice hardened and transformed from raspy pin-up girl into bitchy broad. “He’s gone. You lose.”
I shook my head.He quit.Now if I got the part, no one would question if it was because of our relationship. A hoarse, melancholy chuckle pushed past my lips. “No,” I said, shaking my head. “I didn’t lose.” I blinked and met Layla’s confused glare. “You don’t get it,” I said. “That’s how much Jude believes in me. HeknowsI’m going to get the part, even without him being connected to the film.” I took a step closer to Layla, my confidence building. I didn’t care what this woman thought of me. I didn’t care what anyone else in the industry thought anymore.Iknew the truth. I was a good actress. The best who auditioned for Holly. And I was sick and tired of letting the Jacks and Laylas of Hollywood push me into the corner. “And let’s be honest, Layla,” I whispered. “Only one of us has slept her way to the top. And it sure as fuck isn’tme.”
Layla opened her mouth to respond, but I cut her off. “Oh, Jude told me everything. And I mean…everything.” Layla’s mouth hung open and the red line of lipstick contrasted the pale pink inside where the color didn’t reach. “You’re not only a terrible submissive and an awful person… but I’veseenyou act. And as bad as your personality is… your acting is even worse.” I smiled wider, diving my hand into my purse and pulling out Jude’s Rolex, slipping it over my wrist, holding it for comfort. For strength. “Let the best submissive win,” I finished.
Layla’s gaze dipped to the watch and the color drained from her already paling face. “Is that Jude’s watch?”
I winked at Layla and before I could answer, Ash popped his head out, nearly slamming into Layla with the door. “Layla,” he hissed, then quickly gained his composure with a deep breath. He nodded politely, but tension coiled between them.
“Hi, Ash. Have you missed me?”
“Missed you like a cold sore,” he grumbled. Ash stepped aside, holding the door open for her. My blazer was draped over his other arm. “Come on in, we’re ready for you.”
Layla glanced into the room and her shoulders visibly bunched around her ears. She pointed inside at the table. “Is that… Eve? From LnS?”
Ash’s grin widened. “Sure is. Richard and I thought we needed a female submissive on the casting committee. Someone who could help us determine the actress who really understood the submissive role within the community.”
Layla swallowed, her gaze drifting briefly to me, before landing back on Ash. Her lips tightened, puckered into a pout. She looked… nervous. Layla Hutson was fucking nervous.Good job, Ash.
“Good luck,” I said quietly, and Layla’s head snapped around to look at me from over her shoulder, glaring. “You’re going to need it.”
Instead of following Layla into the room, Ash exited into the hallway, handing me my blazer. “We’d like for you to stick around, if possible.” A smile creased his eyes and he held up two hands. “Officially, I can’t say anything yet.” Then, lowering his voice to a whisper, he grinned wider. “But unofficially, you got the part. There’s no way Layla can beat that performance in there.”
Holy hell. I knew I’d done well; knew I deserved that part, but for them to have made the decision so quickly? To finally be respected and seen for my talent? My eyes drifted closed as tingles traveled down my limbs. When I opened my eyes, Ash was smiling. “You were good.Reallyfucking good. Even Richard, who was your biggest critic last week, thought you were mesmerizing.”
“Thank you,” I said, my sinuses burning from beneath my flaming cheeks.
“You’re welcome.” He turned back for the room.
“Ash, wait!” I finally shook myself from the daze and yanked his sleeve back into the hallway. Amusement lit in his eyes and he patiently waited. “Jude… where’s…” my voice cracked and I tried again. “Layla said that he quit. Hecan’tquit!”
Ash’s smile dropped and that spark of excitement simmering behind his eyes quickly extinguished. “He did quit. Said something about not wanting his influence to be a part of the decision making.” Ash swallowed. “He wanted you to have the spotlight.”
“Oh, God.” I rubbed circles over my temples. “What have I done?”
Ash sighed. “When Jude falls, he falls hard. He’s willing to give up anything to make the woman he loves happy.”
The Rolex was heavy and thick on my bony wrist and I clutched it in my other hand. This part was his Rolex. And he gave it up for me. I gulped down a tear, forcing myself not to cry. Not here. Not in an audition. And certainly not when being offered the role of a lifetime. “I have to go find him.” I spun to take off out of the building, but Ash dashed in front of me, stopping me.
“Wait, wait,” he said, laughing. “First, you have to wait for us to call you back in there and officially offer you Holly.Thenyou’re going to go find Jude and get him to take back the role he deserves.”
“You’re right,” I nodded. “I have to… I have to do something.”
“Something drastic,” Ash said, his blue eyes bright as he regarded me warmly.
“I have to sell my wedding dress,” I whispered, thinking of Jude’s mom.
Ash frowned. “You have a wedding dress?”
“Never mind. Just… tell me where he is.”
“I will,” Ash said. “After you wait here and accept the part.”
