Page 89 of Heavy Shot

“That’s funny. You should write that down," he said, tapping her desk. "Fancy lunch?"

She glanced at the clock on her computer. "I'm having lunch with Jill today."

"Bumpwatch?"

She looked over her glasses at him. "Want to meet her? You can tell her your joke and see if she laughs."

"I think I’m good! I thought you were mad at her, hence the joking."

"I was. Kline's a jerk. I got over it."

Thad pursed his lips, then said, "You know you’ll be seeing a lot of the jerk for sweeps."

"I know. I Carl is still crying for joy over it, and he wants to scrap everything to play off the news that Kline’s in the running to be Bond. What a coup."

"Are you going to be okay?"

Rhiannon turned in her chair and looked at him. "I'm perfectly fine. Thank you for asking. Honestly, my personal feelings have absolutely no bearing on the rest of the world or this show. I wrote the part for him. The two of you work well together. It's good for everyone."

He nodded. "True enough. You know you don't have to be on the set while we're shooting his bit?"

She gave him a smirk. "Yes, I do. It's my script. I need to make sure you two don't mess it up." She sighed. "I'm fine, Thad. Really. I appreciate your concern, especially since he's your friend.You've been great, but I really am dealing just fine. I'm actually relieved that it's over. I've never been a jealous, neurotic, distrustful person, especially in a romantic relationship. He managed to cultivate the worst in me in a very short time and I'm glad to be free of it all. Okay?"

"Okay," he said, smiling. "So, does that mean you're ready to get back on the horse and start dating again?"

Rhiannon stared at him. "I'm still not going to date you. I'm not going to do you, either. The pictures will have to suffice."

"I know that. I didn't mean--say, is Jill single?"

"No. Now get out," she said, picking up her stapler and flippingit open. "Don't make me use this."

"You know I like it when you get rough," he teased, standing up.

"Out!" she cried, shooting staples in his direction. They fell short and skittered in the floor as Thad backed towards the door, so she began picking up things from her desk and whipping them at him, forcing him back until he nearly fell out her door into the hallway.

He recovered quickly and poked his head back in to crow, "You missed!" and stick his tongue at her. A second later a large paper clip hit him dead center of his forehead and ricocheted off to join the other detritus on the floor. "Ow! Hey, you could have put me eye out!"

"I wasn't aiming for your eye. Go away!"

Thad ducked another clip and pulled the door closed, then turned so quickly he nearly collided with a woman in the hall.

"Hello!" she cried, backing away, hands up in the air.

Rhiannon could just see as Thad straightened immediately and looked at first like he would chide the other person for being in the way, then recognized she wasn't crew and was going to chide her for being on set, then recognized at last who she was and shifted gears entirely. She barely held back a laugh.

"The lovely Jill Parker," he smiled, offering a hand, "I just managed to miss introducing myself at the Vanity Fair party after the Oscars.Thad James.You're here for Rhiannon?"

She shook his hand, chuckling, "Yes.Nice to meet you, though."

"Lovely to meet you, finally," he said, giving her a wink and hiking a thumb over his shoulder towards the door behind him. "Rhiannon's office is right there. Best to announce yourself, otherwise you may find yourself pelted by office supplies. She's vicious, that one."

"Only when provoked," Jill said sweetly before walking around him, calling Rhiannon's name all the same. "Hold your fire--it's just me."

Rhiannon opened the door, giving Jill a smile. "Hey! Come in," she said, swinging the door wide before narrowing her eyes at Thad, who was watching Jill walk inside. "And you stop ogling my visitor, Pervy."

"I am just admiring her ensemble."

“I have a new stylist.” Jill cooed.

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