He smiled his warm, calming smile. “Everything okay, Marley?”
It meant something that the doctor remembered that she preferred the name Marley. “Everyone here seems nice.”
“Best team in the world,” Dr. Abernathy said. “We’ll take good care of you. Here, lie down.”
She lay back. The anesthesiologist came close and did something with her IV. “Your nails are so perfectly shaped,” she said. “Do you get them done professionally?”
“Yes,” Marley said. She was getting sleepy. “They told me I couldn’t have polish today.”
“Yeah, it interferes with one of the machines. With yourundertones, you can probably wear bright colors. What shades do you prefer?”
“I have to wear nudes for work,” Marley mumbled. “Nikhil would like me in colors, though. I should do that for him.”
And everything went dark.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Nikhil
Nikhil was exhausted, and his day wasn’t anywhere close to being done yet. The lead stunt coordinator, Caroline, showed up for the first time today, and she and his trainer Reggie spent the whole day watching him like a hawk to make sure his strength training was up to snuff before she started teaching him the fight sequences. He was pretty sure he failed their inspection because his mind clearly wasn’t in the game today. Honestly, he was lucky he didn’t injure himself.
But at around three o’clock, he breathed a giant sigh of relief when a text from Shayne came, saying that Marley was out of surgery and in recovery and that everything had gone well. The doctor said she’d likely be able to go home tonight. Thank goodness.
On his way out of the gym, he got a call from Esther. He got into his car to answer. Or rather, his mom’s car. He’d been using it since he got to town because she never went anywhere.
“Babycakes, did you get the promotion schedule I emailed you? I got them to agree to Canadian outlets instead of New York, so you won’t have to travel as much. You will have to go to LA, though. Lydia will be taking care of all your travel arrangements.”
“Oh. Okay.” He hadn’t seen Lydia today… or even heard from her, which was unusual.
“I’m making them go through me first for everything now. Same rule for you: no more demands without checking with me first—I mean it. Something is fishy… I don’t like how they’re spinning you and Serena.”
“Do you think the studio is behind those rumors that we’re dating?”
“I wouldn’t put it past them. They denied it… but if it smells like a porcupine, it usually is a porcupine. You smile and nod when the studio asks you to do something. Let me be the one to push back. I smoothed over this last one, but you’re on thin ice.”
“What are you talking about? What last one?”
“You insisting that you’ll only work with that shopgirl stylist, even though she has no availability to actually work.”
That was barely a demand at all. It was blatantly unfair. Other emerging stars could do anything—be complete divas, go all asshole-method-actor and treat everyone like shit, and even get bottle service at a different club each night—and they would be called the next It Boy. They didn’t need to be warned to behave. “Marley is havingsurgery. That’s why she’s not available.” Well, she had surgery. Thank God it went fine.
“Yeah, and there are plenty of other pretty girls who can make your hot body look even more smoking. Even ones you haven’t scared off yet. I agree that one’s a miracle worker. I saw the video. But this is yourcareeron the line. You’re going to need to be accommodating. Everything is dependent on these next six weeks before filming. Don’t let your infatuation with this shopgirl get in the way of making your dreams come true.”
“I’m not infatuated with Marley. She’s an old friend.”
“Sure thing, babycakes. I want to be on the receiving end of that expression one day. I’m not surprised that lip-licking video went viral.”
Wait… what? “What lip-licking video?”
Esther sighed. “I know I warned you not to search yourself on socials, but you actually listened to me? Do more of that eye fucking on the press tour and the people will love you. Anyway, I must bolt… I’ve got a meeting at the Chateau Marmont. Ta-ta, babycakes!” Esther disconnected the call.
Nikhil stared at his phone. Had he gone viral? He held his breath before searching his name on social media.
Welp. There it was. The top post, with tens of thousands of likes and shares, was a clip from one of the interviews he’d done at the junket. When he’d been losing his cool and suddenly had an unexpected glimpse of some spectacular cleavage.
Had he really licked his lips while looking at Marley’s breasts? Ugh. Had Marley seen this? That was doubtful, since she’d been in surgery all morning. He read the top comments.
My Kingdom for a man that looks at me the way Nik Sharma looks at whatever is to the right of the camera!
