Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 23865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
I know it’s risky for me to refuse the role unless he’s the leading man. It might ruin my acting career before it has the chance to really take off, but I’m not willing to sacrifice my future happiness for a job—no matter how badly I want it. Deep in my gut, I have the feeling that kissing anyone but Austin on screen would be a decision I’d regret for the rest of my life. This is why I’d dug my heels in and refused to listen to reason. Now I just have to hope that my gamble has paid off. “But did it work?”
“Shockingly enough, it did! But only because I devised a brilliant plan to make it a fait accompli for the studio,” she brags.
I lower the papers to my lap and narrow my eyes at her. “Plan? What plan?”
“I believe that’s where I come in,” a masculine voice declares. I swivel in my seat and find Tyson Allen Grant walking towards me. I quickly rise to my feet, stunned to see him. Although Sarah works for his company, she’s a junior agent whose client list is full of actors and actresses like me who don’t have a lot of credits to their name. But her boss is a whole different story. He only represents the hottest stars...like Austin Hayes.
“Mr. Grant,” I gasp. I wish I’d known he was going to be here. I would’ve spent more time on my hair and makeup so I looked my best.
He flashes me a grin and nods at Sarah before moving around her desk to claim the chair behind it. Then he rolls forward and leans an elbow on the desk, propping his chin under a fist as he scans me from head to toe. There’s masculine appreciation in his eyes, but it seems...distant somehow. When he speaks, there isn’t a hint of flirtation in his tone. “Sarah came to me before speaking with the studio. She explained your reservations about accepting a role with a love interest unless you’re cast opposite the actor of your choice. Demands like this would normally result in you being unofficially black-balled by all of the major production studios. Following that, of course we’d be forced to drop you as a client.”
“I—” I can’t get any more words out, not that I even know what I want to say.
Tyson waives off my concern. “Lucky for you, this isn’t the usual situation. Your request lines up with something I’ve wanted for a client of mine who also happens to be a close friend. It presented me with a golden opportunity, and I’m not the kind of guy who lets those pass him by.”
Sarah takes over the explanation. “Tyson pitched the script to Austin, along with our proposed pairing of the two of you in the leading roles. The studio jumped at the chance to have him on board in a starring role for the project, and they got the contracts back to us within mere hours.”
“Of course they did. They want Austin’s signature on the dotted line before he has the chance to back out of the deal,” Tyson adds.
I drop back down on my seat and twist my hands together. “Did he sign? Am I going to be his co-star in The First Time?”
“He hasn’t signed yet, but”—he lifts his arm to check the Patek Philippe watch strapped to his wrist—“I expect that to change any minute now.”
“He’s coming here? Now?” I squeak, wishing even more that I’d taken extra time with my appearance. My gaze darts to the doorway as I wonder if I have enough time to pop into the bathroom down the hall and freshen up. My eyes widen when I spot Austin stalking down the hallway. He looks even better in person than he does on the big screen, and that’s saying a lot since he’s well known for being the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome.
It’s a good thing I’m sitting down because I’m not sure my legs would’ve held me up when Austin walks into Sarah’s office. That’s how big of an impact he has on me. I tilt my head back to take him in. He’s at least fourteen inches taller than me, with a lean athletic build. His dark hair looks like it’s a couple of weeks overdue for a cut, but that could be because of the movie he’s currently filming. His skin is tan, like he enjoys spending as much of his free time outside as he can. And his dark eyes, full of intensity, are zeroed in on me as though I’m the only person in the room.
Chapter 3
Austin
I feel as though a brick house has been lifted off of my chest when I spot Nicole. She’s sitting in a chair in front of the desk, staring up at me with her wide, blue eyes. Her curly, white-blonde locks are wild as they frame her round face. Her cute little nose has a dusting of pink over it and her cupid’s bow mouth is forming a little O.