Libby

“Where in the fuck is the model?” Thomas yells, barging into the room, his eyes focused on his watch. “Has anyone seen the goddamn model? We’re scheduled to start in thirty minutes.”

His attention goes from his wrist to me, like I have the answer to his missing model problem.

I shrug and point to the open door leading to another room. “Don’t ask me,” I answer. “I’m already in charge of one drama queen, and he’s in that room getting spray tanned … oiled up … glittered … something along those lines.”

“Screw you, Libby,” Knox yells from the room. “I’m getting dressed, not fucking glittered.” He lets out a chuckle. “If you don’t believe me, you’re more than welcome to come see for yourself.”

I swear I’m seriously working for one of the biggest man-whores in the industry.

Thomas starts nervously pacing in front of me. He’s a control freak who expects everything to always go according to plan. He’s the best in the business and is business all the time, Monday through Sunday, twenty-four-seven. It’s like hitting gold getting him to crack a smile. He’s not married, has no children, even though he’s drifting into his late fifties. His receding hairline and stray grays tell me his job takes a toll on him. He’s the one who discovered The Grave Diggers and worked his ass off to get them signed to a label. Then he went on to give other people, like Knox, the ticket to fame.

I open my mouth, ready to volunteer to hunt down this MIA model, but the sound of Thomas’ phone ringing stops me.

“Tell me you found her,” he barks into the speaker. Sweat starts to form at the base of his forehead. “You’ve got to be kidding me? Yeah … fine … I’ll figure it out, as usual.” He ends the call and tosses the phone on the table in front of me, curse words flying from his lips.

I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth, my nervous habit, and wait for him to tell me what’s next. “So … no model?” I finally ask.

“No model. Apparently, she can’t make it in today. She cancelled because she has some audition for a movie role that’s a better opportunity.”

“Should we reschedule for tomorrow?”

He scrubs his hands over his face. “Everything is already a go for today. The director is the best of the best and did this as a favor to me. He’s leaving the country tomorrow and won’t be back for another week.” He stops his pacing and looks straight at me.

Shit. Stare-downs are never a good thing.

I bring myself up from the couch, fully ready to scurry off and find some bullshit errand to run. He stops me before I get the chance.

“Libby will be filling in for the model today,” he calls out.

I freeze.

What the?

Knox dips his head out the doorway and looks at me, a grin on his face. “Sorry Thomas, but I don’t think Libby is going to want to do that considering what happens in this video.”

He’s absolutely right.

“We’ll cut down the sex a bit and make it work,” Thomas argues. “That way, today won’t be a total waste, and we won’t have to wait another week to get the video done. We need everything released on schedule.”

I shake my head violently. “Uh no, Libby isn’t going to fill in,” I fire back. “I’m an assistant, not some video vixen.”

I read what this video consists of.

It’s sex. All sex.

Correction: it’s supposed to look like sex.

And there’s no way in hell I’m fake-fucking my boss.

“Exactly, you’re an assistant,” Thomas argues, grabbing his phone from the table. His mood has changed from pissed off to chipper now that he’s decided to ruin my life. “And your assistance is needed today.” He gives me a reassuring look. “Don’t worry. I can see the look on your face. You think we’re shooting porn, but that’s way off. Everything will be PG and tastefully done.”

“Don’t you have a back-up?” I ask, my voice almost pleading. I’m reaching for anything to prevent me from doing this. Hell, I’ll even go pick up some random girl off the street. “Surely there wasn’t only one woman who auditioned for this part.” There was probably a line out the door for women who wanted to be his love interest.

“It’ll take hours to call in a replacement. You’re here now.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “You’ll be getting paid for this. Five grand.” He grins, like that should immediately change my mind. “Not too shabby, huh? Hair and makeup will be in to get you in a few minutes.”

He walks out of the room without waiting for a response from me.

Thomas isn’t dumb. He knew to throw in the fact that I’ll be getting paid a decent chunk of change.

Knox walks into the room – not glittered up or looking much different than when we left this morning. The only difference is he’s now wearing a white t-shirt and dark jeans. It seems to be his signature look. It’s basic yet sexy. I also know all of those articles of clothing don’t stay on throughout the entire video.

“Oh come on,” he says, giving me a mischievous smile. “It won’t kill you to act like you’re attracted to me for five minutes.”

“Sorry to burst your ego, homeboy, but yes it will. Not every girl wants to have sex with you,” I argue.

He rests against the wall and crosses his arms. “So are you one of those girls?” I nervously nod while he pushes himself forward to come my way, getting so close I can feel his breath against mine. Is he trying to get me worked up so I say yes? “You’re telling me if I asked you right now, no strings attached, to fuck, you’d turn around and walk away?”

My chest tightens as he stares down at me and grins. He’s fully aware of the reaction he’s pulling out of me.

I stumble back, hitting the arm of the couch. Shit. He crowds in closer.

“Damn straight,” I say, trying to keep my voice straight. “I’d actually kick you in the balls and then turn around and walk away.”

He puts his hands up and retreats backward. “Okay then. Let the games begin.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I shout.

He shrugs and disappears from the room.

Jackass.