“You’re not stupid, pretty boy, you know exactly what it means.”
“No, I want to hear you say it. If you’re going to talk shit,at least have the balls to say it to my face,” he says, stepping closer to me and looking down at me in a way that has my fight or flight ready to go.
“You are the walking, talking definition of hypocrisy.” I could laugh, or cry, or both over how ridiculous this situation is.
“When the fuck have I been a hypocrite?” He’s raising his voice now. My temper feels like kindling, and his voice is the flame. I’m about to light this guy up if this guy doesn’t watch it.
“You want me to say it toyour face?” I ask, putting emphasis on the last part of the sentence.
“Congratulations, you heard what I said. Do you want a gold medal?”This fucker.
“You know what I want? I want you to just shut up and recognize how privileged you are. You’re a nepo baby. If your last name wasn’t Everett, you wouldn’t get even half the opportunities you’ve had. You owe everything you’ve got to that name, so don’t you dare tell me I haven’t earned my success when you have no idea what it’s like to actually earn it,” I seethe. My breath is coming quickly, and my limbs are shaky.
Part of me wants to stop, but now that I’ve started, I’m like a kettle with all the steam pouring out in a high-pitched scream. There’s no stopping this. I’m too angry, I’m too keyed up, and Roman did this to me.
Roman looks like he’s got another snarky comment loaded up, so I cut him off before he gets a chance to start.
“And while we’re on the subject of hypocrisy, the fact that you’re telling me I should say something to your face is a joke, Roman, a fucking joke.” My hands are waving around wildly now to illustrate how much of a fucking joke it is.
“Well, go ahead and let me in on it, Sparky,” he growls.
I ignore the taunt of the new nickname and steamrollahead, refusing to back down now. “I heard you.” Disgust paints my voice.
“Heard me what? You’re going to need to use descriptive words.”
“Don’t play dumb, Roman. I heard you at the chemistry read. ‘She’s going to be a waste of our time… she brings nothing…’ does any of that ring a bell?”
Roman looks angry for a moment, but I can see when the realization dawns on his face. He has the good sense to look slightly remorseful, but I don’t care, I light into him anyways.
“So yeah, congratulations to me,” I quote his earlier words to toss back into his face. “I heard you, and yeah, I’ll take that gold medal if it’s still up for grabs.”
His expression turns cold, any sign of regret gone. “Jesus Christ, are you done yet?”
“Yes... No... I don’t know, but you’re pissing me off. If anyone owes someone an apology, it’s you.” My thoughts are frenzied.
He’s quiet for a minute, and the only sound I hear is the thundering of my heart. “So let’s get this straight. You eavesdropped on a private conversation, and you want an apology because your feelings got hurt by the consequences of your own actions?” He scoffs.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Leave it to you to sail completely past the point.” It’s becoming increasingly clear that we’re heading nowhere with this. I want to be away from him before I really do slap him again. “You know what? I’m done with this conversation.” I don’t give him time to respond, and turn on my heels to head toward where the parking lot is.
“Can’t finish what you start?” Roman calls after me.
I don’t bother to turn and face him. “Finish this,” I say, flipping him the bird as I walk away.
Chapter Fourteen
ROMAN
Red is all I see long after my leggy new co-star leaves. My nostrils flare as I try to pull in breath after breath. This was not how that was supposed to go. I jokingly poked her a few times, and that’s what happened? Calling me a nepo baby and saying it’s the only reason I’ve gotten to where I am? She can go to hell.
Admittedly, it isn’t great that she overheard me before the chemistry read. I was in a mood and acted like a dick. But this is how she chose to handle it? She was out of line. Unacceptably so.
Everything in me is screaming to go home and light up a cigarette, or head out to the nearest bar and pound back a few drinks. Unfortunately, I’m stuck at the studio for another hour before my next meeting, where I’m supposed to sign theDarkness Risingfranchise casting agreement. Something about starring in two additional sequels. In any case, it’s a good thing I’ve got some time to cool down before I go in there.
Except I don’t cool down. I can’t. Hearing what I fear people think about me come out of the mouth of my gorgeousnew co-star? It fucking burns. I want people to see me for myself. Not my fucking name. Swallowing down the acid that claws its way up my throat, I stare at the waves softly spilling over the edge of the fountain. Stupidly, my nose starts to burn, and my vision blurs for a fraction of a second before I blink it away. Maybe that’s all I’ll ever be seen as. A nepo baby.
The sadness I was feeling a moment ago is chased away by something more comfortable and familiar. She wants to call me a nepo baby? That’s fucking fine. I’ll show her how big of a nepo baby I can be.
In a haze of anger, I pull out my phone and hit dial on the contact.
