“And there’s real footage of us in the woods,” Sienna said. Horrible, damaging, painful footage of Fox and Sienna opening up to one another followed by Sienna’s apparent betrayal. Meaning, reality show gold. Bruce should be thrilled right now.
“I need more than that. I needed to capture that kiss. And if you couldn't give me that, I should have gotten your roommate drama.”
Sienna’s stomach dropped to the floor.
“Yes, I could hear all about how your roommate is going to kick you out andthatwas my something good. Too bad you made it impossible for me to use it by hiding out in the safe room.”
“But that doesn't have anything to do with the wedding.”
Bruce threw up his hands. “Who cares?”
Sienna cared. All of that drama with Lila was personal. It was beyond embarrassing, and it would paint Sienna in the worst possible light. She would look like an irresponsible and naive little girl who couldn’t hack it in the big city. The cameras didn’t see her working sixty hours a week on top of auditioning all over the city.
“People love a good wedding,” Bruce said, his words slow and biting. “But they also want all the skeletons in everyone’s closets. Viewers want to see the people on TV fall apart, and then pat themselves on the back for being so much better than them.”
“But—”
“And you might think you’re special because you’re an ‘actress’ just like every other twenty-something with a pretty face, but you’re not.”
But she was more than just a pretty face. Sienna wasn’t looking to get by on her looks alone. She’d worked her butt off for every single role she’d gotten. Her mother’s words about how sometimes working hard wasn’t enough echoed in her mind.
And though Sienna wasn’t sure she had any more tears to shed, she felt the tell-tale sting behind her eyes.
“Don’t try to lose my cameramen again, understand? Or else.”
Sienna nodded as Bruce walked out of the office and left her alone once more.
I’m an idiot,she thought as she paced back and forth in the small room.
All this time, she thought she’d been getting on Bruce’s good side. All his and Jason’s comments about how well she was doing had to have meant something.
Who was she kidding? Helping out a struggling actor wasn’t Bruce’s priority, or even something he liked to do. He was in the business of making viewers happy, not helping a ‘twenty-something with a pretty face’ get a job.
And did he mean it when he said, “or else?” Did he mean taking legal action? What would happen to Sienna and her family if he followed through on that threat?
While Harry worked at his father’s law firm, Sienna wasn’t sure he’d be willing to defend her, or anyone in their family, if push came to shove. Harry cared about Harry. And, in his weird, harsh way, Reagan as well.
This meant she would need to be extra good from here on out. No more letting Lila drama distract her. No more trying to open up to Fox and be his friend. Sienna needed to keep her eye on the prize.
And warn her sisters.
Seventeen
7 Days Until Dream Wedding
Sienna hurriedto the second floor and knocked loudly on Audrey and Harper’s door. “I need to talk to you.”
The door flew open to reveal Audrey, makeup-free and in her pajamas—and she looked ticked off.
“What do you want?” Her sister’s tone stung, but this was important.
Sienna looked up and down the hall. “Can I come in?”
Audrey huffed. “I guess.”
Sienna rushed inside and closed the door behind her. “Are Harper and Reagan here?”
“No.” Audrey shook her head. “Harper had to run down to Flour Girl and take care of some business stuff, and Reagan is off somewhere with Harry.”
