“Exactly. What a smart girl you are.” Chris grinned. “And this is a pretty cheap deal that works out to your advantage.”
“Huh?”
“I’m not asking you to be my girlfriend, sweetie. I just want a little distraction while I’m on the shoot, and it’s too much trouble to call a pro. I had to pull some strings not to end up busted on my last shoot for that kind of thing. There are certain… agreements that will get violated if I get caught again. Besides, I’d prefer someone who doesn’t do it for a living. It’s more enticing that way.”
Selena rolled her eyes and stepped away from Chris. Her hands curled into fists, and she continued to take deep, even breaths. Chris had moved from punchable face to “Man Who Needed A Tire Iron to the Crotch,” but she suspected living out that fantasy would end with her not only fired but also in jail. The immediate problem was getting the bastard out of her room before she committed a major felony.
“Get out,” she said quietly. “I’m not going to sleep with you for my job, and I’m never going to sleep with you for any reason.”
Chris’s brows knitted together in an expression of genuine surprise. “Oh. I get it.” He looked disappointed. “It’s a shame to have a nice body like that and play for the other side.”
“Other side?” Selena blinked, confused.
“Not that I have anything against it.” Chris shrugged. “It sucks when a lesbian is a hot. It’s like, a waste, you know?”
Selena groaned and scrubbed a hand down her face. “I’m not going to screw you because I’m a lesbian. I’m not one. I like men, but I’d become a lesbian if you were the last man on Earth. I’m not going to screw you because you’re obnoxious, arrogant piece of trash whose ego vastly outstrips his alleged talent.” She paused before adding, “And I know you use a body double for sex scenes, Mr. Fake Butt.”
Chris staggered back, his eyes wide. “Who told you that? There are NDAs! No, that’s not true. Nothing but lies. It’s my butt!” He shook a finger at her. “You tell anyone that, you stupid little bitch, and I’ll sue you to take whatever ten-year-old piece of crap car you have at your tiny pathetic apartment.” His lips twisted into a snarling grimace. “You think you can do better than me, you bitch? You’re nothing. You’re a piece of furniture compared to me. An end table.”
She almost laughed. No one had ever called her a table before.
“Keep going, Chris.” Selena scoffed. “You’re exactly what I thought.”
“What are you going to do? Sue me?” Chris sneered at her. “You’re nothing.”
Selena raised her hand and curled it into a fist. “I’m strongly considering punching you in the nose. It’ll be kind of hard to be in commercials or your show if you’ve got a broken nose.” She nodded over at the nightstand. “If my fist doesn’t work, I could use that. Let’s see which is harder, your head or a piece of furniture.”
Despite being larger, Chris stumbled backward, swallowing. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Just keep trying me.” Selena inclined her head toward the door. “Let’s keep this professional, asshole. I’ll get you the crap that is in your rider and work on those permits, and you can go to your room and take care of yourself.”
“I don’t even need to get you fired, you incompetent bitch.” Chris stomped toward the door and threw it open. “I only need to wait until you screw up and Bill fires you. But don’t worry. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you don’t get a new job.”
Selena flipped him off. “Keep trying.”
Chris slammed the door shut behind him. Selena sighed and dropped to her knees, her heart pounding. The adrenaline of the moment had already ebbed, taking some of her bravery with it. She’d taken some self-defense courses, so she was confident she could at least keep him off her long enough to get away, but that didn’t do anything about the fact that she’d now not only alienated the director but also the talent. If she didn’t get the permit situation handled, she was done.
Her phone rang in her pocket. She reached toward it slowly, her stomach churning. There had to be more bad luck coming.
Selena pulled the phone out and blinked, surprised at the caller ID and unsure whether it represented good or bad luck. “Max?”
“Did I catch you at a bad time?” he asked.
If Selena hadn’t already been on her knees, they might have gone weak and forced her down. There was something about his deep voice that ran right through her all the way to her center. She’d never reacted to a man like that in her life. They probably taught him seductive phone call techniques at Hot Mobster school.
“Uh, no.” Selena tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled, the confrontation with Chris all but forgotten. “Um, what did you need?”
“I wanted to take you up on your offer.”
“Offer?”
“A date,” Max said. “I know it’s short notice, but what about tonight, if you have time? I’m assuming you weren’t planning on wandering around the forest at night.”
“No, that would be stupid.” Selena forced a chuckle. She didn’t want to admit she’d considered the possibility, but it might not be so crazy if she took along a large man to help protect her. Maybe he worked for a different mob family than the one responsible for her troubles, assuming any of that actually explained what was going on.
She thought it over. The night might end with her getting shot in the back of the head in the forest, but at least she’d have dinner with a hot guy first and would die somewhere beautiful rather than a hotel room.
“Is it okay if I don’t dress up?” Selena asked. “I didn’t bring much but a casual wardrobe. I think I might have a decent skirt.”
“It’s okay. You’re
