Gambling For The Virgin:A Dark Billionaire Romance(127)

"I'm telling you, girl number 26 is a star waiting to fucking happen," I  say with total conviction. I put my hands up in the air, palms up, in a  gesture that says this is a no-brainer. "I don't even know why we're  still having this discussion."

"Is she a star, or does this have to do with the fact that she seemed to  be all over you during that audition?" Joel asks. "I mean, she only had  eyes for you. She never once looked in my direction or acknowledged my  existence. In fact, the entire room didn't exist to her-if it wasn't for  your presence."

I nearly roll my eyes. "Don't sound so jealous Joel," I laugh.

"Are you guys referring to Brittney?" Cheryl asks me, looking down at  her stack of papers. She looks up and eyes me suspiciously because I'm  not normally in these meetings. It's like she's known me long enough to  have a sixth sense or something. I know what she's thinking too. She's  looking at me like some overprotective mother hen. I have to play it  cool, like I really don't give a fuck about woman number 26, just to  keep her from giving me that fucking annoying sideways glance of hers.

"We also have those twins …  Bella and Ella …  that could make for some  interesting video shots and story lines," Joel chimes in. "That's every  guy's fantasy, isn't it?"

"The two brunettes? Speak for yourself. You think just because they're  twins with big tits that they'd be perfect for Illicit Entertainment?  That they're star material? Please. Give me a fucking break. They're  boring. They're predictable," I yawn.

"What's with you this week?" Cheryl asks. "You're acting different."

"Because I give a shit about who's cast this month? There's nothing  fucking different about me. Illicit Entertainment is my brainchild. Can  you blame me for wanting to make sure we cast a real star this month? We  have a lot fucking riding on our new technology. We've sunk millions  into it. We're taking this company into the next fucking century and  beyond-now's not the time to take our foot off the gas pedal."

This seems to make sense to her-or maybe she's still wrapping her head  around it all-but she shrugs her shoulders. She looks back at her  clipboard and reads through the audition list again.

"OK, so does this mean that women numbers 25 and 27-Ella and Bella-are out?" Cheryl asks.

"Why can't we just bring on all three?" Joel suggests. He clearly doesn't want to let those girls go.

I sigh and continue to make my case. "Of course it means they're out,  Cheryl. And Joel, if this were simply about bringing on more women-sure,  we could hire all three. Hell, we could hire a thousand in the next  hour! But let's remember what we set out to do with this audition. Are  you forgetting? The point was to find the industry's next big star-a  super star for our new platform! And a star isn't predictable. She has  an almost ethereal quality that hooks you in. Do you understand what I'm  saying here? She carries a unique, dynamic draw. She's sexy, but  confident. She's the woman who's just beyond your reach."

"Ok, we get it," Joel says. "She needs to be some creature of almost mythical status."

"No, that's not it," I continue. "It's real simple. This next star needs  to be Brittney. She showed us that she had it all during her audition.  The smoking hot body. The penetrating gaze. The fucking attitude. It's  the don't-fuck-with-me attitude. She was a woman on a mission, and we  can fulfill that mission. Look-let's hire her. You'll see what kind of  porn-star material that she is. And you'll feel ridiculous for ever  doubting me."

Joel nods at me in agreement, but Cheryl doesn't seem totally convinced yet.

"Why was she so laser focused on you, Ethan?" Cheryl says. "Doesn't that seem odd?"

"Cheryl, you're overanalyzing this," I say. "It's not fucking odd at  all. This is a porn audition we're talking about. She did what she  needed to do."

"Okay, I trust you," Cheryl nods.

I'm glad they finally agree, but do they really have a choice? Not if  they still want their jobs. It's nice to have them on the same page, but  at the end of the day, I don't need their approval. I look down at my  Apple watch. Not only has it been buzzing non-stop with emails from the  press regarding Illicit Escape announcement-it seems everyone and their  mother wants to give it a whirl-but my watch also shows me that it's  11:05. I'm five minutes late to my next meeting.

"You'll have to excuse me," I say. I push my chair back and stand up. I  fix my suit coat and straighten my silk tie. "This has been productive,  don't you think? It's going to be a great month."

I walk out the door and continue down the hall when I feel the presence  of someone behind me. I can hear what sounds like a woman's heels  clicking against the hard floor. I turn around and see Cheryl. She  stops, and for a wordless moment, looks at me with her hands on her  hips, and her lips scrunched. I haven't seen her strike this kind of  pose in a while.

"Do you have something you need to say to me?" she asks. I can practically see her shoe tapping against the floor in irritation.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask.

"Come on Ethan. I've known you forever," she says with a look of  exasperation. It's a look that says she didn't believe a word I said  during our meeting.

"I really don't know what you're talking about," I maintain with a  shrug. "Does this have anything to do with our meeting just now? Because  everything is fine. I mean it. You have to believe me Cher-"

"You better watch yourself," she says, cutting me off. Her brows are  knitted in seriousness. It reminds me of an angry caterpillar.

"Now you're acting like the crazy one," I say, throwing my hands up. "I  mean come on. Do you even hear yourself right now? I don't know what  kind of story you've been spinning in your head, but-"

"Stop it, Ethan. I've known you for too damn long. Since when have you  ever cared so much about hiring a particular porn actress for this  company?"

"Well, I-" I begin, before she cuts me off.

"I'll give you the answer, Ethan-it's never," she says. "Not once. So  why now? Who the hell cares if we hire Ella and Bella with the big tits,  versus some skinny blonde that can hold your gaze?"

"She's not just some skinny blonde," I say. "I see a certain quality in her. A star quality."

"Oh come on!" Cheryl laughs. "Are you serious? Some woman with a perfect  body and who only has eyes for you makes you lose your head all of a  sudden? I can see it in your face. You personally like this one."

"What a joke-I do not! This is pure business," I reply.

"I'll say this again because I care, Ethan," Cheryl says. "Watch yourself. This is-"

"You're treating me like you're either my mother or a jealous lover."

"Stop, Ethan," she continues. "And let me finish. This is a business of sex and flesh."

"Don't you think I realize that?"

"Well, in this business, you can't let your emotions get in the way. You can't be blinded by it all"

And with that, I watch as Cheryl turns around and walks down the  opposite end of the hall without looking back. As I stand there, her  words echo in my head.

Am I allowing my emotions to get the best of me?





96





Brittney





I walk into the corporate headquarters of Illicit Entertainment. The  outside of the building is white and non-descript. In fact, if I didn't  have the address in my hands, I wouldn't have believed this was the  right place. But the interior of the building is a different story. The  open-floor concept of the main room is sleek and modern. The lobby is  outfitted with black leather furniture, and glass-topped tables. It all  fits. I mean, a company getting ready to unveil the next big thing in  porn technology should look like this, I think to myself.         

     



 

"Well, isn't this fancy," Walter says in his slight English accent,  whistling. "Look over here-there's even a giant interactive LCD screen  that makes it look like you're standing under a waterfall."

"I've never seen you look so star-struck before," I laugh.

"C'mon, you have to admit-this has to be one of the most tech savvy  buildings in the city-just look at these sensors," Walter says.

"Is there a directory somewhere?" I ask. "This place is massive. How are we going to find her?"

"Over here. Let's see …  A, B, C-Cheryl. There she is. Second floor,"  Walter says, with his finger hovering over the list of names.

We leave the lobby and step inside of the elevator. Ads for upcoming  Illicit Entertainment movies with titles like Pussypocalypse, Two Girls  One Bed, 40 Girls and 40 Nights, and Panty Dropper in Paradise adorn the  walls.

"They're creative," I say. "I'll give them that much."

"I guess that's one way to put it," Walter shrugs.

The elevator chimes open on the second floor, and to our right, we find a  woman sitting at her desk. She looks to be in her early 40s with golden  brown, wavy hair. This must be Cheryl.