Chapter Twenty-One
The next morning, they woke still entangled in each other’s arms, which was a big difference to their previous sexual encounters, where Rico had always end up spread out on the other side of the bed having stolen most of the covers.
Maybe it helped that they were in a much smaller bed.
Or maybe she should just stop questioning when things went well for her, especially when he rolled over and gently kissed her on the lips, then danced his fingertips down the side of her body, looking into her eyes and whispering, “Will you be my girlfriend?”
Despite him having told her he was willing to change for her, and that they could give things a go, she still hadn’t been expecting this question quite so soon.
Her heart skipped a couple of beats and her eyes gazed back into his with loving excitement.
She immediately nodded. “Yes,” she murmured. “Yes, of course I will.”
Rico smiled happily and leaned in for another kiss, this time allowing his lips to linger a little while longer on hers as she softly returned it.
“Do you mind… would you mind if we kept it a secret for a while though?” he asked nervously, obviously worried about upsetting her. “It’s not that I’m ashamed of you or anything, it’s just…”
He trailed off, but she rushed in and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “No, no, it’s totally fine, I get it. I was going to suggest that anyway. It’s just…things are complicated at the moment, right? Maybe it’d be best to wait until we finish the shoot. I wouldn’t want either of us to…get into trouble or…for loads of rumors to fly round.”
“There’s probably already rumors flying round,” he chuckled and rolled over onto his back before reluctantly sitting up in bed, knowing they both had to get ready. “We’ve been seen together on several dates…as well as chatting a lot on set.”
“Mm, true.”
“But let’s just keep them guessing for now.”
“More fun that way,” she smirked and got up, beginning to get ready for her audition.
“Exactly,” he laughed. “We’ll announce it after filming has finished.”
Once they were both ready, Rico gave her a ride to Francis Romero’s offices. She was only expecting to be twenty minutes or so, so he said he’d wait for her, then they could go and get some food together afterwards, both of them having skipped breakfast as they’d slept in a little later than planned.
“Sounds great,” she smiled, the two of them sharing a kiss just before she went inside. Rico waved her off then waited by his bike, taking his phone out. Ashleigh watched him for a moment, then took the elevator to the twelfth floor where Francis’s office was located.
A secretary showed her through.
She felt sick with nerves, but she knew she was well prepared. She could do this.
As the closed the door behind her, she glanced around the room. There were a couple of desks in there overlooking the window, and a couch against the wall, on which Francis was currently sat, studying a script.
He looked up as she came in and smiled warmly, his eyes roaming up and down her body.
“Ashleigh. You look absolutely ravishing as always. Come over here.”
His comment made her shudder but she walked over and sat down on the couch next to him, keeping her distance although he was patting the space even closer and trying to get her to move up.
“How are you?” he asked.
“Uh…good thanks, yeah. Shall we begin?” She just wanted to get this over with now. Although she wanted the part, she was starting to wonder whether she’d be able to handle an entire shoot with Francis again. Whenever she spent any time with him, he made her want to puke.
“Very well, yes…” He stared at her legs instead of her face as he responded.
She shuffled back a bit, ready to read her lines with him, and he began reading the other parts in the script.
That all went fine and without a hitch. They went over it twice, with him giving her a couple of notes to see whether she could switch up her acting style and try things differently. She did her best to accommodate. It was all going pretty well, and she was starting to forget the uncomfortable situations they’d been in previously. He was actually acting professional for once, and she felt like she was in a genuine audition.
Next, he got her to stand up and deliver the song. Once again, it all went well. She didn’t mess up any of the words, and sang it perfectly, just as she had hoped.
Francis was smiling by the end of it, and he applauded her.
“That was truly wonderful,” he gushed. “You really do have a talent.”
She blushed a bit, genuinely pleased by the compliments this time, and relieved.
“I presume you’re still interested in the part?” he asked then.
“Definitely,” she nodded, a little out of breath from the singing and the adrenaline.
“You want a long career in Hollywood?”
“I do… I would like that very much.”
“You’re the type of girl who knows what’s good for her career,” he continued, but his tone had changed now, and his eyes had darkened, the expression on his face becoming predatory and creepy. She had seen that look too many times before and it brought a chill to her. She felt the atmosphere change in the room. “I want you to do something for me.”
Ashleigh swallowed and looked at him, still standing there in front of him as he looked up at her, and even though she was taller than him at this very moment, she still felt like he wielded all the power. “What is it?” she croaked.
“There’s something you can do…right now…something you can do…that will absolutely solidify your chances of being hired for this role, Ashleigh…” The whole time he was speaking, he was staring right up at her intently, his dark, beady eyes boring through into her very soul, and now, he slowly began to undo the buckle and belt on his pants.
Ashleigh’s eyes widened, and of course, she knew exactly what was happening here and what he was asking of her.
And in that moment, she didn’t think of her career or getting the job. All she could think of was how utterly horrified and disgusted she was.
“No!” she spluttered in shock and disbelief. “No, I won’t do that!”
And with that, she stormed from the room, slamming the door behind her and rushing downstairs, her heart pounding, almost feeling like she was going to be sick, or burst into tears, or perhaps both.