Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“None of your business,” Andi replied, tugging on my arm to let Mila go.
Before I could retort, Amber leaned over me. “You should have your arm and face looked at, Nicholas. That coffee was hot.”
Mila gasped, going white again. “Oh, I am so sorry!”
Terrified she was about to faint again, I shook my head, reassuring her. “It’s nothing,” I grunted as Andi stood, helping Mila up. I rose to my feet, my hands outstretched, worried Mila would fall again. But Andi wrapped an arm around her, leading her to the end of the large table and away from me.
“Nicholas,” Amber said, her voice and stance every inch the director in control. “Go to medical. I can’t have your face marred for filming.”
“But—”
She cut me off. “Her agent has her. She probably forgot to eat or was overly nervous. I’m sure she’s fine. I’ll come get you when she is ready to talk to everyone.”
I had no choice but to leave, but everything in me hated it.
I headed to medical to get some salve, then to my trailer, where I pulled on a fresh shirt. I wasn’t surprised when I hurried back to find the room empty. I sought out Amber, who told me that Mila’s agent had taken her back to the hotel. “She’ll be back tomorrow. We’re doing some read-throughs today.” She handed me my coffee-covered script and a clean one. “You might need this one.”
I followed her to the table to start work, but my mind wasn’t on it.
All I could think of was how pale Mila had looked in my arms. The fear that had been in her eyes before she passed out.
I couldn’t explain why, but I needed to find her.
This time, I wasn’t giving up.
We received word that the meeting was rescheduled for the next day. The cast sat together, talking, discussing various aspects of some of the scenes, ideas we had. Lacey was calm, Bradley unconcerned, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Mila. All the facts I had discovered.
She was not only the author, but the woman from the pool, as well as the little gofer. Three very different personalities, yet the same. The author had a strong voice and was determined. The woman in the pool was soft and sexy. The gofer shy and eager to please. But through all the voices, there was a sweetness. A timidness I suspected was the real Mila. But why would she hide who she was?
The fear I had seen in her eyes before she passed out haunted me. The way it affected me was unsettling. I swore I felt her anxiety.
“…you coming?”
I blinked at the sound of Bradley’s voice addressing me.
“Sorry?” I asked.
“We’re going for a drink. You coming with?”
“I’ll pass, thanks. I, ah, have plans.”
He clapped me on the shoulder. “Have fun. It was an interesting day. We’ll see if the lady has a case of the vapors again tomorrow.”
I felt a flash of anger at his words. “Hey, have some respect. She could be ill.”
He held up his hands. “Just a comment. It was an unusual way to meet someone.”
“Since we don’t know what happened, maybe you should keep your mouth shut.”
He frowned. “Wow, I had no idea you were so touchy on the subject.”
“She deserves more than to be joked about.”
He paused, then picked up his script. “Didn’t mean to offend.”
He walked away, and I glared at his retreating figure. I headed to my trailer, glancing in the mirror. There was a red splotch on the side of one cheek, but it would fade. My shirt had protected my chest, and my arm was fine. Still a little warm to the touch, but fine.
I couldn’t explain my anger. Why the thought of Mila being teased over what happened upset me. I also didn’t understand my worry. I didn’t know the woman. Not really.
Why her health was so troubling to me was unclear, yet my concern was real.
I paced my room, unable to settle that evening. I walked the grounds, hoping for a glimpse of Mila or Andi. I tried the front desk again, but not even the name Archer got me anywhere. I sat in the lobby, watching the various people around, recognizing some of them from the set. My patience was rewarded when Andi stepped from the elevator. I followed her to the front desk, getting as close as possible to overhear her conversation.
“Can you make sure the dinner for 1401 is delivered by eight? And put a DND on her line, please. No visitors either.”
“Of course. Anything else?”
“No.”
I slipped around the corner as Andi turned and headed toward the front door. I waited until I saw her climb into a waiting car, then I headed upstairs, dropping by my room for a minute before heading to the fourteenth floor. I was certain I knew who was getting dinner at eight.