Page 9 of Billionaire's Second Chance

Their hands remained on the desk, and their eyes darted everywhere except toward mine.

“Perfect. I'm done wasting my time here, and I've decided. Lily Rae will play Rose,” I declared and left before I even saw their reactions.

3

Ava

Hanginginabold,blue font for all who cared to read it, TrueFit Gym's catchphrase,Fitness for everyone,was, at best, a farce. The gym's clientele included only the LA elite, from social media celebrities to heavyweight politicians. Only those who could afford the overpriced fees were, in fact, welcome.

There was another class of people that frequented this particular gym. Those hoping to rub shoulders with the elite. They turned up even more regularly than the 'elites,' walking in early on Monday mornings and staying late on weekends. And then there was me—their personal trainer.

I didn’t mind any of them. This was just a job to keep food on my table until my big break.

Every morning, when I walked past those sliding glass doors, I avoided wanton glares from sweaty egocentrics working out, each feeling sexier than the last.

I eyed the treadmill as I walked in. Beginning each session with a little run to build up steam always got the job done. It was almost poetic. Running so fast yet going nowhere, just like my life these past three years. So much effort, yet so little outcome.

My phone beeped. Greg. I lodged my air pods before taking the call.

“Hey, Ava. You home?”

“Nah, I’m at the gym,” I said. “You can come over, you know?”

“Doubling as your agent and unopposed best friend is all the exercise I need,” he joked.

“You wish. What’s up?”

“Just checking in to see how my favorite girl is doing,” he grinned over the phone.

I leaned against one of the treadmills. “Admit it. You miss me already.”

“Not really. I was just worried you would be bored to death without me.”

I looked around the gym. A stunning redhead took the treadmill next to mine. I followed her with my eyes. If I had this body, I wouldn’t be sweating in the gym daily.

“You here?” Greg's voice filled my ears.

“Yeah. Maybe you wouldn’t be so lonely all the time if you got a girlfriend,” I teased him.

An awkward silence followed. It was unlike Greg to leave awkward silences unless he was trying to keep himself from spilling something else.

“Spit it out already. What’s wrong?” I nudged him.

He forced a dry cough.

“Spit what out? There’s nothing. How are you?” He avoided the question.

“Greg?” I scoffed.

“We didn’t get the part,” he muttered quietly.

I wasn't surprised. But I was hurt.

“I’m sorry, Ava," Greg continued talking while I stared blankly into space. "I really believed we would score this time. But I did get you signed up for a Bluefront Studios gig. Who knows, this could be the big break we have been waiting for—"

“Who did?” I asked bluntly. “Who got the role?”

“That’s not so important, Ava. Let’s throw ourselves into the next big thing. We—”

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