wasn’t due for his last session of filming until four, so he was no doubt getting changed and would be heading for makeup. If I hurried, I’d be able to catch him.
I turned sideways to shuffle past Ashlee, returning her friendly smile with one of my own. She reminded me so much of Jody, such a bubbly sweetie-pie. I made a mental note to call my little sister tomorrow. I hadn’t spoken to her in a couple of weeks. We were both so caught up with our hectic lives. At least I’d get to see her in a month or so. She was flying home for Thanksgiving. I couldn’t wait.
My steps slowed as I neared Sean’s room. I was lifting my hand to knock on his door when I caught a female voice inside.
“Travis McKinnon is a powerful man, Sean. You don’t say stuff like that to him.”
Rhonda. I recognized her voice immediately. I glanced behind me to make sure no one else was around and then pressed my ear to the door.
“...okay? I’ve lost all respect for the guy.”
“It’s not about respect. It’s about protecting your career. If he does what he says, I won’t be able to resurrect you from that. You got me? If he decides to destroy you, he will.”
What? Fear coiled around my spine as I wondered what exactly Travis the Jackass had said to my boyfriend.
“What was I supposed to do? He treated her like shit right in front of me. I’m just expected to stand by and let it happen?”
“Yes! That’s exactly what you should have done. She’s a big girl; she can stand up for herself.”
Sean let out a scoff that only made me love him more. He stood up for me after I left the storage room! My lips quivered into a shaky smile.
“Look, if you don’t like it, tell her to find another job.”
“I don’t want to. I hardly get to see her as it is. Besides, I love working with her.”
“Then be more careful, okay? Your career is more important than some girl.”
“She’s not just some girl.”
“Oh don’t get all romantic on me now. If you really don’t want to give her up, keep her hidden. No more dragging her into closets for make-out sessions. This isn’t high school. This is your life...your future.”
His silent beat after her sharp statement had me worried. Whatever Travis said must have been a very believable threat.
“You can’t have anyone here finding out about your little affair, and keep her out of the public eye, as well. Travis cannot get wind of you two together...and I’m not just saying that for your sake. You know he wasn’t bullshitting. He may be brilliant and talented, but he’s a first-class asshole. If you care about that little gofer, you’ll keep her a secret.”
I heard movement in the room and jumped back from the door before it opened.
“I’ll check in with you again next week. Have a think about that movie. It’d be a three-week shoot in May next year. Definitely worth considering. I’ll send you the script as soon as I get it.”
Rhonda bustled out of the room. I pressed myself against the wall, but she saw me anyway.
“Hi, Rhonda,” I greet her softly.
She eyed me up with a stone-cold glare. I raised my chin, pulling up to my full height. Like hell I was going to let her intimidate me. Her look of warning didn’t bounce off me the way it usually would. I absorbed it like a punch to the face. When she finally turned and clipped away, a shaky breath whistled out between my teeth.
Sean’s door flew back, and I jumped as he appeared in the hallway.
“Oh, hey.” His smile was sad. His gaze brushed over me before landing on the floor.
“I just wanted to come by and check...about tonight, but I take it that’s not happening anymore?” I crossed my arms, holding in the hurt.
“I want it to, but...” His jaw worked to the side. “It was bad, baby.”
“Can you tell me about it?”
“Not here.” He shook his head. “I got to get to makeup.”
“Yeah, I know. I need to go, too.”
His blue gaze caught me, traveling over my face. His sad smile dropped
I turned sideways to shuffle past Ashlee, returning her friendly smile with one of my own. She reminded me so much of Jody, such a bubbly sweetie-pie. I made a mental note to call my little sister tomorrow. I hadn’t spoken to her in a couple of weeks. We were both so caught up with our hectic lives. At least I’d get to see her in a month or so. She was flying home for Thanksgiving. I couldn’t wait.
My steps slowed as I neared Sean’s room. I was lifting my hand to knock on his door when I caught a female voice inside.
“Travis McKinnon is a powerful man, Sean. You don’t say stuff like that to him.”
Rhonda. I recognized her voice immediately. I glanced behind me to make sure no one else was around and then pressed my ear to the door.
“...okay? I’ve lost all respect for the guy.”
“It’s not about respect. It’s about protecting your career. If he does what he says, I won’t be able to resurrect you from that. You got me? If he decides to destroy you, he will.”
What? Fear coiled around my spine as I wondered what exactly Travis the Jackass had said to my boyfriend.
“What was I supposed to do? He treated her like shit right in front of me. I’m just expected to stand by and let it happen?”
“Yes! That’s exactly what you should have done. She’s a big girl; she can stand up for herself.”
Sean let out a scoff that only made me love him more. He stood up for me after I left the storage room! My lips quivered into a shaky smile.
“Look, if you don’t like it, tell her to find another job.”
“I don’t want to. I hardly get to see her as it is. Besides, I love working with her.”
“Then be more careful, okay? Your career is more important than some girl.”
“She’s not just some girl.”
“Oh don’t get all romantic on me now. If you really don’t want to give her up, keep her hidden. No more dragging her into closets for make-out sessions. This isn’t high school. This is your life...your future.”
His silent beat after her sharp statement had me worried. Whatever Travis said must have been a very believable threat.
“You can’t have anyone here finding out about your little affair, and keep her out of the public eye, as well. Travis cannot get wind of you two together...and I’m not just saying that for your sake. You know he wasn’t bullshitting. He may be brilliant and talented, but he’s a first-class asshole. If you care about that little gofer, you’ll keep her a secret.”
I heard movement in the room and jumped back from the door before it opened.
“I’ll check in with you again next week. Have a think about that movie. It’d be a three-week shoot in May next year. Definitely worth considering. I’ll send you the script as soon as I get it.”
Rhonda bustled out of the room. I pressed myself against the wall, but she saw me anyway.
“Hi, Rhonda,” I greet her softly.
She eyed me up with a stone-cold glare. I raised my chin, pulling up to my full height. Like hell I was going to let her intimidate me. Her look of warning didn’t bounce off me the way it usually would. I absorbed it like a punch to the face. When she finally turned and clipped away, a shaky breath whistled out between my teeth.
Sean’s door flew back, and I jumped as he appeared in the hallway.
“Oh, hey.” His smile was sad. His gaze brushed over me before landing on the floor.
“I just wanted to come by and check...about tonight, but I take it that’s not happening anymore?” I crossed my arms, holding in the hurt.
“I want it to, but...” His jaw worked to the side. “It was bad, baby.”
“Can you tell me about it?”
“Not here.” He shook his head. “I got to get to makeup.”
“Yeah, I know. I need to go, too.”
His blue gaze caught me, traveling over my face. His sad smile dropped
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