Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Suddenly, I heard rushed footsteps behind me. I turned around, not pleased to see Sheri following me. “Can I help you?” I asked as she caught up to me.
She regarded me, looking irritated. She was a beautiful woman. Long, dark hair, tall and willowy. But her eyes were cold, and when she frowned, she wasn’t as pretty. She looked hard and unkind. I blinked and, in an instant, she changed again, a wide smile on her face. But it wasn’t friendly. It was calculating and hostile.
“I know you,” she said slowly.
“I don’t think so.” I tried to distract her. “I was watching your performance. You are so gifted,” I praised.
“Of course I am.” She waved dismissively, as if my compliment was her due. She tapped her chin, her long nails blood red. “Yes. I do know you. You-you’re the catering girl.” She looked shocked. Discontented. “He refused me for a catering girl?”
Something in her voice made me stiffen. “Excuse me, I’m not sure to whom you’re referring—”
She interrupted me. “Don’t be stupid. I’m talking about Oliver.”
I ignored her. “I’m an accountant.”
She burst out laughing. It was odd. Nothing on her face moved when she laughed. When I chuckled, lines appeared around my eyes and mouth. Wrinkles showed on my forehead. Everything on her remained smooth. It was a bit frightening.
“An accountant? That’s even worse! Why would he want someone like you when he could have me? I mean, I’m me, and you’re—” She stopped talking, flicking her fingers my way as if I was a small gnat bothering her. “Just a girl from a boring little town. A nobody.”
I wanted to roll my eyes at her ego. I remembered what Oliver had said. How she liked to tear people down to make herself feel better.
“Accounting is an honest career,” I pointed out. “And I’m excellent at it.” I crossed my arms. “And people in my life don’t consider me boring.”
“Really,” she drawled. “How…remarkable.” Her tone said it was anything but. “Maybe he wasn’t thinking clearly. I should talk to him again.”
I saw red. The gall of her. And I was done with being polite.
“I wouldn’t resort to begging,” I advised. “You might look, ah, even more desperate. As for picking me, perhaps he has some taste. Honor. Oliver is a complex man. He prefers intelligence over manufactured beauty.”
She flushed a dull red, and her hands curled into fists. “You little bitch,” she seethed. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”
I was done. “You started it, lady. Stay away from Oliver. He’s not interested.”
I turned and hurried away, climbing in my car and locking the door. She stamped her foot like a toddler and yelled something that sounded like “We’ll see.” I ignored her and drove away, trying not to laugh as the mud under my tires flew up and sprayed her.
Then I groaned. I had done exactly what he told me not to do. I should have kept walking and ignored her.
I needed to call him and let him know what I’d said. I had a feeling he would pay for my mouthing off.
I shook my head.
What had I done?
19
OLIVER
Iwas exhausted—both mentally and physically. After Kassie left, Sheri seemed livid when she reappeared from wherever she had wandered to. She had to go to wardrobe because of an issue she refused to discuss, pushing back filming. When she showed up again, her performance was off and she snapped at everyone—especially me. I had no idea what had pissed her off again, but I held my tongue until one particularly waspish comment was directed my way about my lack of professionalism and talent.
I had crossed my arms, fed up and ready to be done. “What the fuck is your problem with me, Sheri?”
She tossed her hair. “You overstepped your mark—again.”
I looked down, shaking my head. “I’m on my mark. I have been every take. You’re the one who keeps fucking up the scene.”
She threw up her hands, looking so appalled it was almost amusing. She made sure her voice was loud enough to be heard by everyone in the vicinity. “You keep picking on me! I can’t work like this!” Then she burst into tears and ran from the set.
It was her best performance to date.
I frowned in confusion. Davis dropped his head in defeat, and Carl slapped me on the shoulder. “Damn.”
“I didn’t do anything,” I protested. “She was unprofessional first. I was pointing out her mistake.”
He lowered his voice. “Snakes don’t like to be cornered.”
“Fuck,” I muttered as Davis came over.
He met my gaze. I shook my head before he could speak. “Don’t ask me to apologize. She pushed and pushed me.”
“I’m aware. But I need you to get along the rest of the shoot. It’s imperative for both of us.”
I withheld my sigh. I knew what he was saying. I was still earning my way back. One word from him to Annie and I was a dead man walking. I had to swallow my pride.