“Here’s the thing, Mallory.Is it still possible to replace the model?”I ask.
“What do you mean?You wanna back out of the project?”Her voice snaps, and a crease forms in her brow.
Oh no.Cold sweat breaks across my skin at her reaction.Her glare makes my heart race the way it does every time I see her.But this time feels different, like she could shoot me on the spot.
“I mean, I’ve seen the ad concept, and I have a friend who’s really keen to be the model.I thought she could step in.”My voice trails off as Mallory stares at me with a skeptical look.I fumble, then sigh.
“Okay, the truth is I’m having problems with Alan.So it would be awkward for me to do intimate scenes with him.”
Technically true, and not a lie.Oh God, help me.The flash of anger in her eyes eases.Her face softens, sympathy replacing the sharpness.My heart hammers as I wait.I straighten, and hold my breath, a sweat trickle down my back.
“You’re both my friends, and I get it.It’ll be tough, but we have a contract and everything’s set.”She takes both my hands and squeezes them.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to go through with it as planned.I can tweak the concept, but I’ve already convinced management, the studio, the producer—everyone—to include you as the model.I don’t think we can change it.I don’t want to, and I need you.”
“Isn’t there another way?”I ask, eyes stinging.
“I’m sorry.”She frowns, then softens again, maybe pitying my miserable face, and adds a gentler line.
“Listen, I hope you don’t bail.Work it out with Alan.He can be a snob, arrogant, and a jerk, but he knows best how to make success out of people.You’ll get there soon.I know it.”
She squeezes my hands while I fight not to cry.I stare at her forehead to keep the tears from falling because her concerned gaze makes me feel absurdly small.She still thinks this is just about Alan and my career, but the truth is I have no real choice.
“It’s okay.Thanks for hearing me out,” I say, letting out a small smile.
“I hope it all works out,” she replies, hugging me and patting my back.
“Mallory, we have to go,” Roger says, and she releases me.They leave, and Jessy and I stay behind with a few crew members in the studio.
I turn to Jessy and stare at him, dazed.My lips flatten into a frown as I struggle to hold back more tears today.I thought I could steer my fate, but the universe isn’t on my side.
* * *
“I don’t wanna give up,” I say from the sofa.
“Yeah, I know,” Jessy whispers.
Even though I keep saying I’m not gonna give up and that I’ll fight to get out of this project, my body language says the opposite; not even a kid would buy it.I’m curled up on the sofa with both knees pulled to my chest, my chin resting on top, and my hands running over my polished toes like I’m trying to ground myself.
I wish I had the strength to rewind everything, but all I get is regret coming too late.I already put my name down on those damn contracts, and now my whole life’s been one long chain of bad luck I can’t undo.
Jessy sits right next to me, pressing his fingers to his temples, fighting a migraine even after popping a pill, and on top of it all, Mike just called and asked him for ‘a break,’ which only makes everything worse.
“I still don’t get what the hell he means by taking a break.Like, what’s that supposed to be?”I ask, frowning at him.
“Wish I knew.He says he wants some space for a while.”Jessy shrugs, shaking his head like it makes no sense to him either.
“You’re taking space but you’re still exclusive?That’s bullshit.”I shoot him a look.
“Maybe.I really don’t know.”He slumps back, and we both go quiet again, stuck in our own thoughts, while guilt eats at me so hard my chest feels tight.This is all Alan messing with us, with Mike living under his roof and listening to him, and Alan dangling Jessy’s job like a knife over our heads if this project fails.
“You know what, you need to stand up to Alan, cancel the damn contract, hand back the car and the money,” Laird says as he steps in from the balcony, flicking out his cigarette.
“I already blew like thirty percent of it on clothes and other stuff,” I mumble, biting my lip, realizing I don’t even have enough left to cover a penalty.
“You can borrow from me.”Laird shrugs like it’s no big deal.
“No way.You need that money for Rackers Bite, I’m not screwing with your big project” I shake my head hard, because that’s his future, not a bank for me.
