My stomach shifts like the ocean, threatening to expel its contents all over my angry foe, and for one insane moment, I consider doing just that.
But that’s not how I aim to win this war, and to be clear, I do intend to win.
And when I’m done with Natasha, she’s going to regret ever thinking she could step to me.
I move past her, down the stairs to the first floor, locating Jacek. Thankfully, my queasiness abates, and I’m able to speak without throwing up on him.
“May I have a word with you?” I ask, flashing my sweetest grin.
He looks around as though he’s anxious someone will see us talking.
“Just walk with me a minute,” I urge. “I promise to make it worth your while.”
“Don’t you belong to Toxic?”
“I belong to no one, but in case you’re worried I’ll try to ply you with my feminine charms, that’s not what this is about. So come with me now, or stay here, but I promise that what I have to say could change everything for you.”
“Everything?”
“Are you coming or not?”
He pushes off the couch. “Fine.”
Most of the Hunks have gone to Pumps, the local gym, but there are a few milling around, and they’re all giving us dirty looks.
I pull up a picture of Cassie Hoffman and hand my phone to Jacek. “What do you think?”
“She’s in that show…the one with the aliens…”
“She’s been in a lot of shows. Over fifty.”
He hands my phone back. “So?”
“How would you like to date her?”
Stopping, he looks at me, his expression full of distrust. “Huh?”
“Do you know what I do for a living?” I ask him.
“You’re Satan.”
I chuckle. “To some, yes, but to others, I’m who builds their careers.”
“How so?”
“I’m a publicist and she’s my client.”
“Oh…does she have a crush on me? Are you, like, a pimp? A pimpess?”
“Nope. She didn’t even know who you were until this morning when I sent her your bio.”
“Wait, you sent her my bio? Why?”
“I’ll tell you, but you have to promise to keep it a secret, and if you don’t, every other Hunk will benefit from me aboard the bus but you.”
“Yeah, fine.”
“I’ve made it my mission to bring Cassie to B-list status, but in order to do that, I need to get people talking about her. I need to make her interesting. I need you.”
