Page 66 of Courting Trouble
But the impact was the same as it would have been if she’d run on the court screaming it. Delilah was panicked. Her heart lurched. ‘She knows about the movie?’
Cassie shrugged lightly. ‘I’m not exactly sure how. But it doesn’t really matter.’
Delilah laughed. ‘How can it not matter? What if she tells someone? What if it gets back that Ashley lied about me beingable to play? Because it’smylie now. They’ll drop me, Cassie. They’ll recast, and that’s it. My career’s over before it even starts.’
Cassie shook her head, brushing a strand of hair back from her face. ‘No. If this gets back to anyone, what they’ll see is that you worked for this. You didn’t just rest on talent. You fought to become the role. That’s exactly what anyone playing Tamsin Rowe needs to be. A fighter.’
Delilah bit her lip, fighting the tremor in her voice. ‘But I don’t have anything else. This film is it. If I lose this, I’m done. I won’t get another chance.’
Cassie stepped closer, her voice softening. ‘Look at me. You’re OK.’
‘But…’
‘You’re better now. Good enough now. You do know that, don’t you?’ Cassie asked.
‘Not professional level.’
‘You were never supposed to be,’ Cassie pointed out.
‘Yeah, I know. I guess I just wanted to be able to be… I don’t know. Undeniable?’
Cassie frowned. ‘If I passed you by on the court now, not knowing who you were, I’d think you’d been casually playing for all your life. And that’s what you needed. You got there.’
Delilah let out a shaky breath, the knot in her chest loosening only slightly. ‘I want to believe you.’
Cassie gave her a small, steady smile. ‘Then trust me. Petra’s nothing but noise.’
Delilah nodded, trying to draw strength from that confidence.
Then, because the universe couldn’t give her a fucking chance to breathe, like,ever, Delilah heard footsteps crunching towards her. She turned to see a casually dressed woman—jeans, sneakers, and a loose jacket—phone in hand, eyes sharp and alert, standing at the entrance to the court.
‘Hi,’ the woman said brightly, ‘Delilah Day? I’m withScreenScope. Mind if I ask you a few questions?’
Sixty-Six
Cassie stood just beyond the baseline, her gaze flicking between Delilah and the journalist. Delilah’s posture was rigid, braced.
‘You’re clearly busy. I’ll be quick,’ the journalist promised. ‘There’s been talk about a Tamsin Row biopic in development. I’ve been told that you were chosen to play her. Care to say anything?’
Delilah didn’t move. No flicker of acknowledgement, no whispered denial, just silence. She looked locked solid.
Cassie stepped forward, placing herself deliberately between Delilah and the journalist. She squared her shoulders and forced calm into her voice. ‘There’s no comment from Delilah. We’re focusing on training here. No interviews today.’
The journalist’s lips curved into a thin, knowing smile. ‘I only want a quick word.’
Cassie’s eyes narrowed. ‘It’s a no. You need to respect that.’
The journalist shrugged, but the smile never quite left her face. ‘Alright. Maybe I could talk toyou? You’re Cassie Thorne, right? Former player? Are you training her, or is it more of a research thing?’
Cassie’s patience wore thin. ‘Look, this isn’t a press event. I’m asking you to leave. Now.’
The journalist hesitated, then reluctantly lowered her phone. ‘OK.’ Cassie stayed rooted, watching her leave.
As the journalist walked back off down the path, Cassie was suddenly burning with rage. She’d seriously had enough of Petra’s shit. She just needed confirmation that her anger was justified.
She turned to Delilah. ‘Wait here.’
Delilah managed to unlock enough to nod.
