Page 7 of The Devil of Hollywood

“Anything?”

Belinda didn’t so much as pause or flinch through the grave possibilities.

“Is there a paper to sign away my soul? I have a pen.” She stood straighter. “Anything, Mr. Sinn. I’m ready, and I know the consequences if I mess this up. I won’t. I was made to be a star.”

“Alright. Let’s cover the basics. What I’m about to tell you, I’ll never repeat because they aren’t just rules. This is a lifestyle. It’s discipline. Torture. It is the foundation of who you will become. If this doesn’t come naturally, you’re not “it”.”

“I am “it”. I’m ready.”

I shrugged as if I wasn’t sure but continued. “First thing: legs stay closed. No affairs. No favors. Relationships only. You will have class. You will portray elegance.” She stood taller. Straighter. “You need a complete wardrobe change. No cleavage. Nothing shorter than the width of a dollar bill above your knees. No skintight clothes. If you show skin, it’s on the screen. That’s what keeps them coming back. You’ll wear natural colors for makeup. The smallest hint of highlights. Nails are to be just past your fingertips. You will go to Kimi, I’ll give you her information, and you will listen and do everything she says. No partying, unless it’s here where I can monitor you, and absolutely no drugs. Is that understood?”

Belinda nodded eagerly, keeping a serious expression.

“You have promise, but with the role you’re after, there is a lot tied to that responsibility. Me. It all comes down to you obeying everything I say. If you deviate from my rules, there will be no second chances. If I find out you lie to me about anything, you’re finished.”

“I’d never lie to you.”

“You better hope not. Everyone is replaceable. Beauty and talent are a dime a dozen in Hollywood. True stars that last the test of time have auras. They lead as an example. Your legacy is what I make of it.” I scanned her face seeing the want and need. The hunger I was looking for. “But only if you want it bad enough. Do you? Are you ready to follow my every command?

“Absolutely.”

“I hope you’re right.” I pulled out my wallet, withdrawing Kimi’s card and handing it over. “Prove to me I didn’t just make a mistake.”

“I swear you didn’t.”

My hand came up, and her breath hitched as if she were terrified that I was about to call it all off. “Last warning. Don’t hide anything from me. This goes hand-in-hand with lies. I have ears everywhere, Belinda. I know things you couldn’t imagine. Things you think are hidden in the dark. In the shadows of little hotels in desolate towns.”

Her brows drew in, and she swallowed hard.

“This devil deals in secrets. He pays to uncover hidden perversions. Your days at the “Lonely Lodge” with James Bryan are over. Kick him to the curb. He’s fucking three other women anyway. You’re better than some Hollywood has-been. From here on out, only the best, and only after you get approval from me. Is that understood?”

“Y-Yes.”

“Good. Because if you cross me, you may never find your way out of some small town again.”

“I’ll never, Mr. Sinn. N-Never again. Thank you.” She backstepped, spinning for her purse. “Thank you.”

The clicking of heels increased into a jog and faded, but it was heavier footsteps that had me glancing towards the entrance to my club. Belinda raced past my cousin, surprisingly giving him zero attention as she did. I couldn’t say that for him. He turned, following her departure, nodding in appreciation. Hell, maybe she would follow the rules. Not many dismissed a brickhouse of lean muscle. Quinton Pennington was handsome, built, successful. With his father being the second of five boys, outside of my own father who was the oldest, he wasn’t far off from being heir. He was the entire package, and he knew it.

“She looks familiar. Who was that?”

I pointed across my club, signaling for a drink to my bartender, Louise. In a few hours this place would be packed, and I wasn’t in the mood for it tonight.

“Belinda Peterson. Actress.”

“Peterson… Belinda… Fuck, I know that name.”

“Probably from the trailers of Homeland. They’re on every TV station right now. I can thank Rhett Rivera for that. Her fourth movie is about to drop, not that you’d remember her in any of those roles. I’m about to make her a star. Whether she makes anything of it will be up to her.”

Quinton let out a sound as he pulled out a chair from the table I was standing next to. I didn’t sit down. I couldn’t. Not with what I knew. Or… what I was going to do.

“If she’s your next big star, I take it she’s out of reach.”

“I hope so.”

“Can I try to test her?”

I laughed. “You can try. I don’t think you’ll stand a chance. She’ll be looking for a serious relationship. What about you? Are you interested?”