Page 54 of Jason
Chapter Sixteen
Mallory was packinga bag when Inez walked into her room, blinking at the light, having just awakened.She looked at the clothes on Mallory’s bed, then at Mallory.“What are you doing?”
“I’m on my way back to Maine.”
Inez picked up a pair of heels.“What happened to athleisure wear?”
“I get a better response in heels,” Mallory said with a saucy little wink.She did not do saucy little winks as a rule, but she was riding high from Jason’s call.He needed her.
Inez looked at her clothes.“What about the director job?”
“Oh.I emailed Kelly and told her I couldn’t make a decision right now.She said she understood, but to please call her if I change my mind.”
Inez stared at her.“You’re really, seriously, giving up the chance at a job you’ve been trying to get for years?”
Mallory didn’t look at Inez.“Now is not a good time, that’s all.”
She could feel the waves of disapproval coming off Inez.“How long will you be gone?”
“Umm…not sure.”Mallory looked up.“But he made me a deal.I get to direct some scenes.”She grinned.
Inez’s eyes widened with surprise.“You amaze me, Mallory.I never thought you, of all people, would be the type to manipulate that situation.”She laughed.
Mallory’s stomach sank.“Excuse me?”
“What?Are you going to tell me it’s a coincidence that your sex life picked up and now you’re suddenly directing?”
“It’s not like that,” Mallory said defensively.“Cass has disappeared and we have to start production.If we don’t, we lose money.”
“Sure,” Inez said, still grinning.
Her attitude annoyed Mallory.Inez knew her better than anyone and knew that was not how Mallory did things.“You don’t have to be so jaded,” she said curtly.
“You don’t have to be naïve,” Inez shot back.
Mallory glared at her roommate as she walked out of her room.“That’s not why!”she shouted after her.God, she hoped that was not why.
“I always tell you straight!”Inez shouted back.
Ned was at the King Harbor airport to pick Mallory up.“You’re back,” he announced.
“I am.”
“You going to the estate?”he asked as he tossed her bag into the back.
“To the Bickmore,” she said.
Ned’s thick brows rose to his hairline.“Fancy,” he said.He barreled into town in the white windowless van and up the drive of the Bickmore, coming to such an abrupt halt that Mallory nearly pitched through the windshield.
“Thanks,” Mallory said with a bit of a side-eye for his driving.As she climbed out of the van, a bellman hurried out to take her suitcase before she realized what he was doing.She followed him to the counter and dug in her backpack for her wallet.“I believe I should have a reservation—”
“Yes, Ms.Price, we were expecting you.”
Well, well, Jason could take care of things like this after all.She was smiling when she opened her wallet.“I’ve got a card right here.”
“That’s not necessary, Ms.Price,” the man said.“All is arranged.You’re on the Blackthorne account.”He smiled and handed her the key.“The same room as before.Mr.Blackthorne asked that you go directly to his room when you are settled.He’s working there.”
“Okay.Thanks.”Mallory turned around for her bag, but the bellman had already whisked it away.
