Page 42 of Billionaire's Second Chance

“How?” Ava's weary eyes searched mine.

“She never asked me for a role. All she wanted was for me to love her. A relationship with me." I stopped walking. "But when the rest of my crew didn’t let me pick you for the lead role, I slammed Lily's name on them. The project is close to my heart. I wanted someone I knew well. Someone I could control. Not some random actress who would mess it all up.”

Ava's face quickly changed from humble to angry.

"Did you just say you wanted someone you could control?" She placed her arms on her hips and stared at me wide-eyed.

Keep calm, Damon. Calm and honest.

"I know how it sounds, Ava," I began. "But if you're in my place, you'd understand. I wanted someone with raw talent like you. The next best option was someone I could control."

Her cheeks flushed red. She stared at me in disbelief. "Is this what you tried to do with me the other night at your house? Gain control?"

She couldn't be more wrong about that. My stomach twisted in knots. I looked around, hoping to see Sandy or anyone else, who'd interrupt us, so I didn't have to say anything else. Being honest was not my strong suit.

"Not at all," I muttered, looking away from her. "If anything, I wanted to redeem myself. I don't want to see resentment in your eyes, Ava."

"By sleeping with me? Again?" Her voice escalated, as did her brows.

I looked around again. No one was around.

"Can we continue this conversation somewhere else," I suggested.

She scoffed but followed me silently to a tent at the end of the set. Three tables overflowing with hot food, snacks, and drinks waited for us. She stood near the entrance while I filled a few plates with various foods and placed them on an empty table. Next, I filled two glasses with cold water and served them beside each plate.

"Dinner is served," I smiled and bowed politely, welcoming her to the table.

Ava walked cautiously toward me, forcing her face to remain serious. But her eyes were smiling. I bet she enjoyed the sight of me serving her.

"Look," I began calmly. "I understand how I must look to you. But the truth is you don't know me. And I don't know you. Can we at least agree on that?"

"You are right about that," she nodded.

"So, let's fix that!" I rejoiced. "Tell me about Ava Sage. The good, the bad, and the ugly."

She sipped some water and chewed quietly for a moment before agreeing to my request. Then she wiped her lips with a napkin, placed her hands on the table, and looked straight at me.

"Before I do all that," she said. "Why the sudden interest in me? What is this about, Damon?"

I twisted in my seat under the uncomfortable grip of honesty and vulnerability.

"It's about me, Hollywood's most wanted Player, turning a new leaf," I blurted. "My old ways have done nothing but damage me and everyone around me."

Ava's eyes remained still and cold. But tiny creases in the corners of her lips tried coming to the surface.

"The only thing you need to know about me, Damon, is that I've worked too hard to be here. And I can't risk you or anyone else ruining it" Ava's voice sounded deep and firm.

"Absolutely! I wouldn't dare," I confirmed. "But I already knew that. Tell me something else. Something I don't know about you. What's your family like? Where did you grow up?"

Now she twisted in her seat. I wanted to see beyond those walls she had built. I wanted her to be vulnerable and honest to match my newly found state.

She took another sip of water, and her lips parted. "I grew up in Savannah, Georgia. My parents divorced when I was nine, and that trauma opened up the world of acting for me. I'd play pretend that I had a totally different family. My dolls would be my sisters, and we'd have a loving mom and dad at a pretend dinner table each night."

She paused to search my eyes for signs of boredom. I wanted to hear more.

"Go on," I urged her. "Were you an only child?"

"Yes. But I had many imaginary siblings and friends. I always had a dog, which is something I've been missing here in LA," she reminisced. "And then I found solace in books."

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