Page 5 of Kiss and Tell
“My stars! My sweet, sweet moneymakers! How are you two? Did you get to the car okay this morning, Wisteria?”
Like he sent the damned car for her instead of me. Bastard.
“Everything alright when you got here?”
Wisteria doesn’t say a word and instead plops down in one of the chairs in front of his desk with a heaviness that should tell him every fucking thing is not alright. Fucker couldn’t read subtext if it crawled up on his desk and bit him in the ass.
“Smile, Wisteria! This is an amazing time for you. For you both. There is nothing to be so glum about today!”
He gives her a big fake grin and leans forward like he might rush her if she doesn’t give him a smile in return.
“I didn’t…,” her voice is soft and thin.
“Expect to be this famous? Get used to it, babe. It’s not going away…not with headlines like these.”
He flings some magazines up on his desk causing her to jump in her seat. One of the books slides all the way across the table so we can read the headline, “New movie, new love… new last name: Rising star head over heels in love with Banner.”
“Oh my God! I…this…,” she sits forward and starts looking around at everyone in the room, “It’s wrong. I didn’t do any of this. I’m not…”
She looks at me, but I make sure to keep my gaze on the director. He laughs like it’s the best day of his life.
“Who cares who did it? Let’s ride the wave and use it for the good of this movie. This kind of publicity is priceless!”
She starts shaking her head but the fucking insensitive shit just keeps going.
“Priceless! How do you feel about nudity? Maybe we can grab a cover shoot if you all are found making out on a beach…with you topless.”
“What?!”
“Oh, don’t look like it’s certain death, baby. It’s just your tits. It’s how things are done in this town. You want to get ahead you flash the camera your tits. I’m not asking you to fuck him live on primetime. I just want you all caught in a compromising position a time or two.”
All the color drains from her face and she starts shaking her head as she looks over to her agent who isn’t even looking at her but down at her phone.
“I…,” she stands and tries to take a step back, but she’s not cleared the chairs just yet and ends up nearly falling. I have to take her by the arm to keep her from winding up in a heap on the floor. “I can’t…”
“Can you step out for a moment and let me speak to the director for just a moment?”
Instead of letting her go, I help her over to the door, still holding onto her elbow. I notice George is doing the same thing to her agent. I make sure she’s sitting in one of the small chairs outside the office before I quietly shut the door and turn to the man sitting behind the desk grinning like an idiot… until he finally takes a good look at my face and then the smile melts off his smug face. He’s just realized he’s about to meet the man they all whisper about but not a lot of people have seen.
Chapter Six
Wisteria
I’m trying to freakin’ breath through the worry and fear that claws at my stomach. Is Banner mad? He seemed mad when he came out to help me and Vel make it through the throng of people out front when we first got here. He didn’t really say anything to me either, except there at the end when he asked me to leave. Instead, he just stood there staring at the director like he was disgusted with the entire situation.
Disgusted with me.
He probably thinks I did this -or had it done- and he’s back to being repelled by me. My leg starts bouncing up and down with a speed that would astonish a marathon runner. It’s a habit I’ve had my whole life. A nervous tick that I have to work hard at hiding since it usually pisses most people off. Even now, Banner’s agent is giving me a weird look that clearly says I am shaking the floor with my jostling leg.
“Um, so…have they found a scene double to replace the old one yet?”
I ask both agents not really caring which one wants to answer me. His agent looks from me to my own agent and back at me again before answering me. “There isn’t going to be a double any longer.”
“Oh.”
Son of a bitch! They’re going to scrap the whole movie. He’s in there right now telling the director he’s not going to do the movie and they can find someone new to either take his place or just let the movie die.
My heart sinks and my leg doubles in intensity. My career is over and I’m going to have to go back home with my tail tucked between my legs. My stomach lurches and I fear I am going to toss my cookies when the door flies open causing everyone to jump. With my nerves strung so tight, I let out a squeak before I can control myself and pretend everything is just as it should be.