Page 2 of Tell Me Something

Warren sputtered and took her assistant to the side. “But we booked one hour prep and two hours for the shoot. We need at least that amount of time as we have three scenes.”

The warm sensation of breath in my ear took me off guard, as I had been completely absorbed in their conversation.

“Can you pull out your phone and record this exchange?” Josh whispered.

Flushing, I realized he was inches from my face. “Uh, yes, of course.” I hesitated, waiting for my fingers to catch up with my brain, and then fumbled for my cell phone.

After I pressed record, he walked into the frame while Katrina shrugged. “Not my problem.”

“Ms. Tross, are you saying that you don’t care that the contract specified four hours and you are a half hour late and now demanding that the entire shoot take one?” Josh asked in a low tone.

Her assistant appeared to struggle for words before speaking up. “Mr. Singer, it’s just that Ms. Tross has other obligations—”

“Last I checked, a contract was an obligation,” he stated dryly. Although I didn’t know the man, it was clear his anger was restrained.

Katrina wasn’t catching the tone when she gave him a pouting smile. “You can have this face for an hour of pictures and sell your rum with whatever I give you. Considering the peanuts I’m getting paid for it, I think it’s only fair.”

Josh held up a hand to Warren, who was about to interject. “So if I understand you correctly, because we signed this contract before your asking price skyrocketed, it’s no longer worth honoring when you have other higher-paid jobs to attend to?” He looked toward me, and I gave him a slight nod.

“Yes, good. You understand. Wonderful. Shall we proceed then and quit this nonsense talk about contracts?” Katrina gave her purse to her assistant to hold, evidently ready to get to work.

“No, Ms. Tross, we won’t. You’re in breach of your contract, and since you cannot fulfill it, you can leave.” He spoke the words in a tone that forbade any further discussion.

Warren appeared beside himself judging by the color his face was turning, but he was wise enough to keep his mouth shut. He was no longer in charge of this situation; that much was obvious.

“You can’t be serious?” For a woman so very beautiful, Katrina was quickly becoming ugly.

“I assure you I’m very serious. You’ll be hearing from our attorneys. Good day to you.”

Josh turned on heel as she sputtered, “But I’m the hottest thing there is. Even your assistant can’t help herself but take my picture over there. You’re making a huge mistake.”

He quirked a brow at me, and I flushed as he turned back to Katrina.

“She’s not taking your picture. She’s putting on record your refusal to honor the contract.”

Katrina’s next move happened quickly. One second I was looking at Josh and the next she lunged toward me. I stepped out of the way just in time as she tried unsuccessfully to grab my phone. Thankfully, her assistant restrained her before she could mount a second attempt.

“I guess we can add attempted assault to the tally,” I quipped, earning me a wry look from Josh and a glare from Warren.

Katrina wisely kept her mouth shut and fled out the door with her assistant following.

Pressing stop on the record feature, I viewed it quickly to ensure I had it all. It seemed everyone was waiting on orders from Josh, who, curiously, was still looking at me.

Uncomfortable silence wasn’t something I was good with. “I’ll, um, email you this video and call Legal.” I was happy to do something to break both the tension and the eye contact with the man in charge.

After sending the video and leaving a message for our in-house attorney to call Warren, I overheard Josh talking with the photographer.

“All right, Bart, what do you want to do now?”

The older man gave a little smile and pointed toward me. “We use her.”

They all looked at me, and I couldn’t help glancing behind me for some other girl. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

Bart started barking orders with authority. “Get her into hair and makeup. Have the seamstress hem the dress; she’s about four inches shorter.”

Warren appeared less enthusiastic than the others regarding what was about to happen.

I realized quickly they weren’t joking around when Trisha took my hand and led into the small room where she had me sit in the chair.