Page 11 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
“I can’t wait to see you when you come out of hair and wardrobe. The shoot’s outfit is going to look spectacular on you.” He kissed his fingertips before fanning them open. “Magnificent.”
“Thank you.”
“When we’re all wrapped up here, I’m going to take you out for a couple drinks. We can get to know each other better, and I can let you in on the behind the scenes scoop of being in this industry. Give you a leg up on your competition.”
“Oh,” I said. There wasn’t any other word or sound that came to mind. Just “oh”. He hadn’t asked me out. He’d told me that I was going out with him. If I’d had hackles, they’d be raised. “You know, I appreciate your offer, Samuel, but this isn’t a good time for me. I’m going from shoot to shoot and have never been this busy before. I need to take care of myself, and alcohol isn’t really an option. Neither are dates. I have to be strict.”
Samuel waved his hand dismissively. “One night won’t hurt you. Come on. Don’t play hard to get.”
I forced the smile to remain on my face, even though I wanted to glare at him. “I am not playing hard to get.”
Samuel chuckled. “Well, that’s what I would call it. Just two drinks. Hell, you could order soda water if you want to.”
I sighed. The guy wasn’t taking no for an answer. I cupped my chin in my hands and looked him up and down. He fluffed his feathers like a peacock and clenched his jaw in that way actors do in the movies to look more masculine. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “So you’re after a date, then?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“What do you think you have to offer me?”
Samuel cocked his head to the side. “What?”
“What do you have to offer me? Clearly, you want a date with me for your own selfish reasons. What benefit is there for me to go out with you?” I batted my eyelashes, daring him to say something else demeaning and ignorant. “I’m just curious.”
“I’d be doing you a favor.”
I smiled. “By gracing me with your presence, I presume?”
“I have tips and tricks you can use to climb the ladder.”
“I have an agent for that.”
Samuel’s eyes narrowed. “I can assure you that this is not a conversation your agent would recommend you have, Lina. This could be damaging to your career, in and of itself.”
I shrugged. “And going on a date would be damaging to my morals. Thanks, but no thanks, Samuel. I’ll see you on set in forty-five minutes. Hopefully, with all that talent of yours, you can make me look as good in photographs as I apparently do in person.”
Asshole.
5
CALLUM
I had just draped my suit jacket over the back of my chair when there was a knock on my office door.
“Come in,” I called.
The door opened, and my boss, Frank Burgess, stepped inside and let the door fall closed behind him. “Good afternoon, Cal.”
“Afternoon.” I nodded in greeting.
Frank gestured at one of the chairs across from mine at my desk. “Mind if I sit for a moment?”
“Be my guest,” I said.
He took his seat, and I settled in behind my desk. The suit he was wearing today was light gray, and he’d paired it with a pale blue tie. His white hair and moustache gave him the look of a very important, very sophisticated man. From experience, I knew both characteristics were true. He was a good boss and a smart man.
“I was happy to hear you won in court this morning. I didn’t think there was a chance you’d pull it off.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence,” I mused.
