Page 1 of Born for Starlight

Chapter One

Three people sat on this sleek little plane with me, as we headed to Santa Barbara. I was looking forward to the next four days modeling Fabrice’s new line, if it weren’t for all of Marty’s rules. I loved my agent, but he was a giant hardass about every single one of them, and everybody had bets going on how many I’d break, and how fast.

Traitors.

Marty had his phone out already, thumbs moving fast over the screen, jaw set the way it got when he was fighting on behalf of a client.

Grant reached over and pushed two fingers against the back of Marty’s phone. “Put it away. You know phones are supposed to be off up here.”

“There won’t be a signal soon, I’ve gotta make hay while the sun shines.” Marty continued to text.

Milo didn’t look up from the makeup case open across his lap. “You’re not calling anyone, Marty. You’re just being annoying with your phone.”

“As a matter of fact, I’m texting Fabrice.” Marty said, thumbs flying. “She just told me that Angelica’s trailer’s air conditioning is broken and it won’t be fixed for two days. Air conditioning was part of the contract, I’m telling her that’s not acceptable.”

I looked over at him and shook my head. “Marty, it’s April. I don’t need air conditioning.”

“Those trailers get hot. And if I let her slip on one thing in the contract, she’ll start fucking us over on other things.”

“Be nice.”

Marty gave me a look. The Bulldog Look. It was the same one that had gotten me out of two bad contracts and an issue with one very bad photographer. He kept it ready to use all the time, and I needed to be grateful.

“Do you want to trade jobs?” He growled the question.

“God, no. You’d be terrible at mine.”

“I’d be a delight at your job. I would make a marvelous Angelica Drakos.” he objected.

“You’d make everyone cry inside an hour.”

“Only the ones who deserved it.” He went back to typing, but he wasn’t mumbling as loudly now at whatever Fabrice had written back.

Milo held up two lip colors, one in each hand, studying them against the window with an intensity that made me want to giggle. Finally, he held one up as a winner.

“For day one, I’m leaning rose over berry. Fabrice’s lighting usually runs warm, and berry’s going to read muddy under it.”

“Whatever you think. You’re the genius.”

“You’re just agreeing with me, you’re not voicing an opinion.”

“Would you listen tom me?”

He laughed. “Nope. Now onto eye shadows.” I looked over at his palette, and it made me dizzy. “This is going to depend on the clothes, good thing Fabrice sent me pics of the outfits.”

“Shouldn’t you have done this before now?” Grant asked.

“My social life has been off the hook. Can’t neglect that.”

Grant’s shoulder brushed mine as he looked at a spreadsheet he had open on his phone. I recognized it, because it was identical to the one I had on mine.

“You’re not supposed to be on your phone,” I whispered. “You said so.”

“I’m on airplane mode. This is downloaded. Did you see this?” He pointed to something and I squinted. “Code updated the rotation again,” he said quietly.

“Already? You and I just started dating this quarter.” We’d been using this fake dating schedule of moving stars, rock stars, influencers and any other paparazzi target who needed cover for five months. It was working beautifully. Grant was my ‘boyfriend’ right now.

“It doesn’t impact us. We’re still dating til fall. Which is great; Andrea really likes you and isn’t jealous at all that you’re my fake girlfriend. I sure will be happy when the wedding is over.”