Page 14 of Between Takes
Chapter Five
The next day, it was like nothing had happened. Shaun turned up on time wearing sunglasses. Considering the sun hadn’t even risen, I grew suspicious.
“What the hell are you wearing, Shaun?”
His mismatched shoes and wrinkled shirt also added to my frown.
The only reply he gave was a grunt. He collapsed face down on his sofa and stayed there, unmoving for long enough that suspicion gave way to concern.
I put the tablet down and went to check on him. Standing over him, the stench made my eyes water. I turned my head away, taking shallow breaths.
“Did you stay up drinking all night?”
Again, he grunted.
“You need to be on set in less than an hour.”
His words were muffled by the sofa, but they sounded suspiciously like “deal with it.” He cured me of my concern without lifting his head. Hell, this stunt would cure me of any lingering lust too. Small mercies.
My hands landed on my hips. “Get your ass up now!” I shouted, relishing the hiss of pain that exploded from him. Placing a hand on his shoulder, I pulled him back until I could see his face. I gritted my teeth against the fumes that hit me. “You’re supposed to be a professional. Professionals don’t turn up on set too drunk to read their lines. Get in the shower and sober up.”
His sunglasses slipped off as he flopped onto his back, and he winced. “Can you close the blinds?” he asked, covering his eyes with his arm and ignoring my orders.
“No, I can’t.”
“Mona,” he groaned.
“You’ve got a job to do.”
“Just tell them I’m sick.”
I snorted, and he peeked at me from beneath his arm.
“What’s so funny?”
“Thought I was dealing with an A-lister, not a has been.” I shook my head. “Sure, Shaun, I’ll tell them you’re sick.” He relaxed into the pillow, a satisfied smile curling his lips. This time, it did not liquify my insides. “Then you can kiss your career goodbye. Of course, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m only tied to your sorry ass for six months. The world’s my oyster after that. You will just have to deal with the rumours that Shaun Martin let a girl destroy his promising career.”
Shaun stared at me, his jaw working as he ground his teeth.
“Weren’t there talks of Oscars before you trashed that car?” I asked, my voice honey sweet.
He launched off the sofa, grumbling beneath his breath as he stomped to the back of the trailer and the shower.
Grinning like I’d won Wimbledon, I picked up my radio and notified the crew we were running late. I couldn’t care less about the late part right then. I’d bested Shaun Martin. The king of screen thought he had the upper hand, but he’d just confirmed his weakness, and I had every intention of using it against him to suit both our needs.
“Can you stop with that look?” Shaun asked thirty minutes later while the wardrobe mistress laid out his costume in the changing area.
“What look?”
“This smirking business.” He circled his finger in front of my face and I swatted it away. “I don’t like it.”
“Why? It’s your preferred expression.”
“I don’t walk around looking like I’m better than everyone.”
“And you know how to make them bend to your every whim?” I snorted, and he shook his head. “Oh, boy. Are you delusional or what?”
His scowl barely diminished his polished good looks. How was that even fair? To make it worse, he tore off the fresh t-shirt I’d shoved at him when he stepped into the main area of his trailer wearing nothing but a towel. He was getting over his hangover and in the process, he’d decided that it was “test Mona day”. I would not let him win.
