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‘I don’t want people talking about me because I’m standing next to Ashley Malone.’

‘You want them talking about you because you’re unemployed?’

‘Karen.’

‘I’m serious.’

Molly looked down at the scripts spread across the desk. Dead sex worker, barista, dead beekeeper. She hated that Karen had a point. She hated even more that Ashley was involved.

‘No,’ she said again. But she said it more quietly this time.

Karen’s expression softened. ‘Oh.’ Then she nodded slowly. ‘That’s fine. We can wait and see for a bit. You never know what might come along.’

‘While my career goes colder than a dead beekeeper,’ Molly sighed.

She couldn’t do this. She wouldn’t do this. She wouldn’t.

***

At home later, she was still furious and still positive she wasn’t doing it.

She picked up her phone, found Ashley’s name, and unblocked her. Purely because she was tempted to text her and ask what the hell she thought she was playing at, proposing something so bloody horrible and mercenary.

But she thought better of it. She couldn’t go in all guns blazing, get herself into some snit with Ashley. That would only make Molly feel worse.

In the end, she didn’t send anything. But she didn’t hit block again, either.

Seven

‘She said no,’ Ashley stated.

‘She didn’t say yes.’

‘That’s what I said.’

‘Not quite.’

Ashley groaned. ‘Jesus, Simon. Talk like a human.’

‘I went through her agent. Her agent relayed that she’s thinking about it.’

‘That’s a no,’ Ashley translated easily.

‘You can’t know that.’

‘I know her. She wouldn’t be “thinking about it.” It would be yes or no, simple as that. So, either you’re bullshitting me or the agent’s bullshitting you.’

‘I don’t bullshit you, Ashley.’

‘That, in itself, is the most outrageous bullshit,’ Ashley said casually. She paused. ‘You made it clear this was your idea, didn’t you?’

‘Of course.’

‘She doesn’t think this actually came from me?’

‘Absolutely not,’ Simon said, a touch too emphatically.

Ashley sighed. ‘I need to go. ‘