“Don’t come in here!” she yelped. “I’m naked.”
I paused at the door. That was the worst excuse she could give me. Her being naked would only make me want to barge in faster. I pushed it open slowly, letting the creak signal my presence. “What’s going on?”
A muffled protest came in response, but it wasn’t from her. It was a deeper voice. A man’s.
Jealousy got the best of me, and I strode in.
“What the—oh, fuck.” I paused midstep, the words falling out of my mouth. I took in the scene, not entirely sure what I was seeing. Evie stood there holding a pair of pantyhose, with Glenn Thornton tied to a chair, his mouth gagged with...more pantyhose? He glared at me and continued fighting his restraints.
“Evie...what is going on?”
“I told you not to come in.” She crossed her arms. “Why didn’t you respect me when I said I was naked?”
I stared, unable to take my eyes off the man she had tied up with what looked like just more nylon stockings. How many pairs did she have? Were they really that strong? “But you weren’t. You were... Whatwereyou doing?” The words came slowly, my brain struggling to process the scene.
Glenn rolled his head until the gag loosened, then spit it out. “She was trying to kill me.”
Chapter 12
Sebastian
The Twist
Six months prior
“Show me how badly you want the movie.”
I tapped my fingers on my knees, beginning my pitch. “Well,Simon Sayshas always made money. I’d like to bring it back but give it an upgrade. Better writers, larger budget. Bigger kills, bigger thrills. All of it. We toss out the last few movies’ lore and go back to basics, but with a modern look.”
“I see. And how are you getting the funding?” A slow grin spread across the producer’s lips, stretching his loose skin. He watched me from across the hotel room, his lips curled in a smug smile, happy that I’d been reduced to begging. I pressed my lips together tightly, looking down at my hands and clenching them. Looking back up, I exhaled then stood and removed my shirt.
“I don’t know, how am I, Thornton?”
He ran his tongue across his lips, and I shuddered.
“Good boy.” Thornton turned and poured himself another drink, then reached for a second glass, filling one for me. Pulling a small prescription bottle out of his robe pocket, he shook it like a rattle then opened it, pulling out one small pill. “I just need something to help me get started.” He laughed as he took the medication with his drink. Setting the bottle down beside the whiskey, he grabbed my glass and walked over to me, staring me down. Pushing the glass against my lips, it was clear I didn’t have a choice but to drink. I took it from him and swallowed hard. This man had a lot of pull in the industry. This wasn’t our first meeting in a hotel like this. I could take him if I wanted to. And, Thornton did like being man-handled a little—but if I fought back, he’d tell everyone. Every person who I spent time with to get what I wanted would stop calling me. No, they’d start calling each other, canceling auditions, publicity tours, contracts. I could stand up right now and leave this room with no violence at all, and I’d never work again. With that knowledge, I brought the drink to my lips and sipped the whiskey slowly.
He ran his eyes up and down my body. “Relax, take off your shoes, stay awhile.”
This part never got easier.
Once we got going, I could turn my mind off and just—thrust. But the lead-up was always torture.
How badly did I want this movie made?
Very.
I didn’t care what they wrote. I just wanted to step back into the franchise that had started my career. With a big budget, we could doSimon Saysjustice and make so much money, and I could become a household name.
I leaned down and unlaced my boots, kicking them off. The moment my feet were free, Thornton dropped to his knees, reaching for me. I froze as he took my foot, lifted it to his face, and inhaled deeply. I bit back a grimace. I put the thoughts of what I was about to do out of my mind. Once I slid the condom on, I could close my eyes and pretend I was elsewhere.
This is just work, Sebastian. Clock in and clock out.
Heather’s words echoed in my brain, taking me back to the first time she sent me into a hotel suite with a producer.
Fucking agents, man.
“Do you have something for me?” I asked, brushing him off.
