Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 23865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
She graduated high school only a few months ago and had some bit spots in a few TV shows and commercials. This would be a break out role for her.
I hit play and something inside me roars to life. I’ve never felt anything like it. It feels like…possession.
My eyes go to her CV again. She’s rep’d by…TAG Management. Can I get a double WHAT THE FUCK?
TAG—Tyson Allen Grant Management. Her agent works for Ty? I’m reminded of the way he specifically brought her to my attention. Is he trying to boost her career because he wants her? The question causes rage to explode, practically making my head spin. Too fucking bad. She is mine.
I snatch my phone from the table and stab at it until Ty’s phone is ringing. “I knew it,” he says in lieu of a greeting. His voice is smug.
“Knew what?” I grit through clenched teeth.
“She’s yours.” There is laughter in his voice, and it just pisses me off further.
“Damn fucking straight,” I snap. “Lock her in for the role, Ty. Don’t give her any other fucking choice.”
Chapter 2
Nicole
I can’t remember ever being more nervous than I am right now. Meeting with Sarah about representing me hadn’t fazed me this much, and neither did my very first Hollywood audition. But knowing I’m up for the starring role in a major motion picture film? And there’s a chance that Austin Hayes might make it his first ever starring role in a romantic movie? Nervous doesn’t come close to describing how I feel.
I’m pressing my hand against my thigh in an attempt to stop my leg from bouncing when the receptionist calls my name, “Nicole Callahan?”
“That’s me,” I answer as I jump to my feet.
“Sarah’s ready to see you now.”
She points me in the direction of my agent’s office, but I already know where to go since I’ve met with her about a dozen times since I signed on with TAG Management. Each time, the girl manning the front desk acts like she’s never seen me before. I refuse to let her catty behavior get to me, not when I’m lucky enough to be a client while she’s stuck working behind a desk at TAG. Especially when I’m so close to making two of my dreams come true—landing a role that’ll make me the envy of every Hollywood starlet and meeting the guy I’ve had a crush on all through high school. I swear, he ruined me for other boys.
I rap my knuckles against her partially open door before walking inside. She usually waves me towards one of the seats in front of her desk, but this time she jumps up and rushes over to give me a hug when she sees me. “Nicole! I’m so glad you were able to come in today.”
I barely hold back a snort. There isn’t even the tiniest chance that I wouldn’t do whatever it took to meet with Sarah any time she calls. I’m too new to showbiz to pass up opportunities without at least hearing all the details. “You know I’m always available for you.”
“That might be true today”—she pauses to pick up a folder from her desk—“but in the very near future it’ll be me coming to you because you’ll be too busy to make the trip to my office.”
My eyes are glued to the green folder in her hand. I learned early on that Sarah uses a color-coded filing system. All of my rejections have been in red folders, but each time I received an offer the details have come out of a green one. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Yup.” My legs feel like rubber, making her grin when I drop down into a chair. “They want you for the female lead in The First Time.”
She sits across from me and holds the file out for me. I grab it and open to the first page of the contract. My eyes go wide when I see my name at the top, and I can’t catch my breath when I see the dollar amount they’re offering me for the role of a lifetime. She gives me time to read through the entire thing without interrupting me. I’m tempted to sign on the bottom line without asking any questions, but there is one pesky detail that I absolutely must know before I can accept. “What about my little request?”
“Is that what you call it? A little request?” Sarah laughs and shakes her head. “Saying that you wouldn’t take a role that most studios wouldn’t even consider giving to a newbie like you is more like a gigantic requirement, if you ask me.”
“I know, you made your point of view quite clear when we talked about it during my last appointment.” We’d gone round and round about it, with Sarah doing her best to convince me that it would ruin my career. But I don’t just have a major crush on Austin; I respect the line he’d drawn in the sand when it comes to refusing roles which would put him in a compromising position. There’s also the fact that I can’t imagine kissing anyone but Austin, even if it’s just because we’re pretending to be other people who fall in love with each other. His lips are the only ones I want to feel pressed against mine.