Filthy Beast(51)

I sigh and Laney groans. “Either I’m exhausted or that was super lame. Either way, night night, fuck buddies.” She waves and heads off.

“Hey, we’re not--!” I call out, but she just slams her door shut.

“Not fuck buddies?” Jackson asks, coming up behind me.

“No,” I say, not able to stop myself from smiling.

“Damn. I guess we’re just the fuck part, then.”

“Cut it out. Come on, let’s go to work.”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

I head over to the door and he slaps my ass as I walk by.

“Asshole,” I say.

“Don’t pretend like you don’t love it,” he says, kissing my neck, and I can’t help but smile.

Maybe this can work. Like he said, he can do anything. If he can convince Holly to take this script, she might actually back off.

And then what? I don’t know. But I want to find out.





25





Jackson





I read the script as Penelope does my makeup for the upcoming scene. It’s an action sequence plus a pretty cool stunt, one we’ve been practicing for the last few days, so I’m pretty amped for it.

But I can’t stop thinking about Tara. I should be concentrating on the very dangerous thing I’m about to do in like an hour, but that seems totally unimportant compared to trying to get Holly to take this script.

I actually don’t think it’s going to be that hard. The script is good, a little rough since it was written in a single night, but still good. It’s basically a female James Bond, featuring a strong ass female lead. I don’t know how the studios will feel about that, but I think they’ll be open to it. Superheroes are huge, and Wonder Woman is pretty popular.

I can already see how I’ll sell it to Holly. I just have to hope that she’s really as career-obsessed as I think she is. And that she’ll actually honor her deal.

Otherwise, I don’t know what I’ll do. Maybe I’ll wire myself and try to get her to admit to her plan. That way I can use the tape to blackmail her in reverse. But no, that’s super convoluted and complicated. This plan is so much simpler, and it has the added bonus of really getting Holly off my back. If she has another movie to do, I don’t have to worry about her hanging around after this one is finished filming.

I don’t want to work with her again. And I’m definitely not working on this new Laney script.

Penelope finishes my makeup and I thank her. As she’s leaving, Holly comes in to get her hair done, and we’re alone for a second. I figure this is the perfect opportunity.

“You look happy,” she says to me, sitting down in front of the mirror.

“I guess I am,” I say.

“Why’s that?”

I shrug a little. “Mickey sent me over a script this morning. It’s pretty good.”

She perks up. “What is it?”

“By the same girl that wrote this movie,” I say. “But I don’t know. I don’t think the part is right for me.”

“What’s the part?” she asks.

“It’s the main male character, but this movie is like a female James Bond. So I’d be like… arm candy, or some shit. Not really my thing.”

She raises an eyebrow. “A female James Bond?”

“Sure. All action and strong female empowerment and shit. It’s a really good script, just not really my thing, I guess.”

“Huh,” she says, looking into the mirror and clearly thinking. “Sounds interesting.”

I have to keep it cool. If I push too hard, she’ll get suspicious.

“Too bad I have to turn it down. Mickey thought it would be good for me to get my face out there in a movie like this.” I stand up from my chair and turn toward the door.

“Mickey thinks it’s good?” she asks me.

I pause and nod at her. “Yeah, he likes it.”

“He has a good reputation,” she muses. “I’ve been thinking about new representation, you know.”

“Mickey might be taking on new clients,” I say with a shrug. “I can get you a meeting, if you want.”

“You’d do that?” she asks.

I hesitate. “Sure,” I say. “Look, you’re a talented actress. I don’t like this situation we’re in, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still be professional.”

She looks a little surprised and I don’t blame her. She probably expects me to fucking hate her, like I genuinely do, but fortunately I’m a good actor, too.

“That’d be great,” she says to me. “Would you mind… would you mind sending me that script?”

Jackpot. I nod slowly. “I will,” I say. “And I’ll get you a meeting with Mickey.”