Chapter 11

Kane

I bang on Alberta’s dressing room. The woman is such a bitch. Ever since I shot down her advances after Ryan first implemented his no sex policy—and I was still trying to stick to it—she’s done nothing but try to make my life difficult. But seeing the way she treated Sasha earlier was too much. Even if we did just agree that we can’t have sex anymore, that we have to keep things professional, I still want to look out for her. I really do like her, and not just because she has a banging body. I want her to be successful. And bitch-face Alberta seems to be trying to throw a wrench in that.

Alberta pulls the door open, and after her initial look of shock at seeing me, she schools her expression into one of seduction. Or at least I think that’s what she’s doing because it sure isn’t working on me.

I wrinkle my brow at her in confusion when she reaches up and runs her fingers down my chest. “Why, Kane, to what do I owe this pleasure?”

If she thinks this is about pleasure, she’s sorely mistaken. I take her hand from my chest and push it aside, then push past her into her dressing room. “I’m here to talk to you about Sasha.”

“Ugh,” Alberta sighs dramatically, shutting the door and crossing her arms across her chest, looking uncannily like her petulant spoiled brat of a character. “What about her?”

“I saw the scene you shot with her. You weren’t fooling anyone with those thinly veiled threats. You need to back off.”

Alberta huffs. “Whatever. If little darling Sasha can’t handle the heat then she needs to get a new job. This isn’t daycare. We aren’t here to make her life all sunshine and rainbows.”

Her comment is ridiculous, especially because she’s just as young, if not younger than Sasha. But apparently she doesn’t see it like that.

“You need to remember, Kane, that we’re the stars of the show. You and me. Not some little upstart who think she can just waltz in here and try to seduce her way into the limelight.”

“What the fuck, Alberta? You’re kidding me right now, aren’t you? First of all, Sasha did not seduce her way onto this show. She’s extremely talented and got the part because she was the right person for the job.”

Rolling her eyes, Alberta takes a step closer. “You’re the one kidding me here, Kane,” she says, mimicking my tone in a supremely annoying childish fashion. Like, really, how old is this girl anyway? “Don’t even try to deny it. Everyone is talking about it. How her audition was so over the top, how she practically threw herself at you, and then there was the table read this morning. What was that about?”

“Chemistry, Alberta,” I say through gritted teeth. “It’s why they hire actors to play opposite each other.”

She scoffs. “You aren’t seriously going to try to convince people that you aren’t attracted to her in a totally unprofessional way? Everyone, and I mean everyone, knows you better than that. You sleep with anything with two legs.”

Except her. The words aren’t said, but I can practically feel her hurling them at me across the space between us. That’s what all this is about. Petty jealousy. I want to roll my eyes, but I need to make sure that this bitch doesn’t go do something really stupid.

“Look, Alberta, you need to just stay away from Sasha. Do your job. Be a professional. But leave her alone.”

She stomps her foot, and I wonder again if she isn’t too far off from the character she plays. “I won’t be replaced! Especially not by her.”

Trying to remain calm, I lower my voice. “Everyone can be replaced, Alberta. Don’t think you’re above that or that you’re anything special that the casting directors can’t find more of at any audition. All they have to do is look in the tabloids to find someone else just like you. Someone with a pretty face and a reputation for getting in trouble. The media eats that up—and that makes the show even more popular. Don’t think for a minute that there aren’t a hundred other girls out there who can fit that bill—maybe even better than you do.”

I can practically see the tirade gathering steam in Alberta, so I do the only smart thing. I turn to leave. But not before throwing one more caution over my shoulder.

“Stay away from her. That’s my last warning.”

I stride down the hall to my own dressing room, surprised by how angry I am on Sasha’s behalf. It’s totally unexpected. But I can’t deny it. It’s there. I want to defend her. I want to watch out for her and protect her from Alberta’s cunning ways.

I don’t know why the fuck I thought Alberta would be sensible. The woman is beyond reason.

Pacing the floor of my dressing room, I feel all this unspent energy coursing through my veins. First, the fact that Sasha says we can’t have sex again. And yeah, I get it. Her career is more important than me getting my rocks off. But that doesn’t make it any easier.

And now this shit with Alberta. I need to blow off some steam. Take the edge off.

Grabbing my wallet and my jacket, I head out the door. I know exactly where to go.