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Chapter 23
“Get closer to her.” Conrad Birch stalked behind the camera and slapped his hands together. “You don’t want to understand her. You want to fuck her.”
Jake tensed. He stepped in front of his reading partner as if he could shield her from both the crude remark and the dozen pairs of male eyes focused on them—the producers, studio execs, and casting directors who wanted to see how the male lead ofTruthand the potential female actors interacted onscreen.
Jake had done plenty of chemistry reads in the past, but this one had a heavy, predatory atmosphere he didn’t like. Not to mention, Anna Lovell was young—twenty, if that—and so nervous she’d about destroyed the script with her tight, shaking grip.
“Tom Dillon doesn’t just want a fuck.” Glaring at Birch, Jake stabbed his finger at his own script. “He wants to get close to people. He just doesn’t know it at this point in the story.”
Birch rolled his eyes. “Look, you’ve got a hot piece of ass right in front of you. I don’t care what Tomdoesn’t know. I care about how well Jake Ryan can obey orders. Soactlike you want to fuck her.”
Anna looked down at her script, her features tensing. Jake knew she’d done a few movies, but this role would be her biggest one…if they could generate the right “chemistry.”
They ran through the scene several more times before Birch called for a break.
“Do you need water or something to eat?” Jake asked Anna, digging into his pocket for his wallet. “I’m going to the vending machine.”
“Water would be good, thanks.” She rubbed the back of her neck and cast a glance at the men who were huddling together in low conversation.
As Jake started to leave the audition room, Birch grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop.
“I’ve directed a shit ton of movies.” The director spoke through his teeth, his eyes hard. “Worked with a lot of actors. I know potential and talent when I see it. You’ve got both. You could be great, if you work hard enough. But my sets aren’t a democracy. I don’t give a shit how you see the characters. On my set, you follow my orders. You do what I tell you to do when I tell you to do it. You’re a puppet, and I control the strings. Got that?”
Clenching his jaw, Jake bit back a retort that would no doubt get him fired. He nodded. Birch released him with a shove.
Jake slammed out of the room and strode down the hall to the vending machines. He disliked Birch more with each passing day, especially after the director had proudly admitted leaking photos of him and Callie to start generating buzz forTruth.
Jake had warned him never to go near Callie or her family again, but he didn’t trust Birch. The man was out for himself and his movie—everyone else be damned.
After getting a few granola bars and two waters, he started back. Birch’s voice, low and unctuous, filtered around the corner.
Jake stopped.
“I’m staying at the Chateau Marmont,” Birch said. “I’ll send a car for you at six.”
“Who else will be there?” A tremble ran through Anna’s voice.
“Just you and me, honey. Let’s call this your private audition.”
“I’m really not comfortable with—”
“You’d bettergetcomfortable with it,” Birch interrupted, his tone hardening. “You want the part, you cooperate with me. Let’s try again. I’ll send a car for you at six.”
Jake barreled around the corner, shoving himself between Anna and Birch with a loud, “Whoa, hey, didn’t know anyone was here.”
Relief flashed over Anna’s face. Birch glowered and backed off. Jake stuck close to Anna as they walked back to the audition room, where one of the producers waved the young woman away.
“We’re done with you, Miss Lovell. We’ll be in touch.”
She paled, her gaze darting to Birch. He winked and smiled at her. Nausea burned in Jake’s gut. Anna grabbed her bag and hurried out.
“I’ll be right back.” Jake ran after the young woman, who was already halfway to the exit. “Anna!”
She turned, scrubbing at her teary eyes. “I didn’t get it, did I?”
“They haven’t decided yet. There are five more auditions this afternoon.” He stopped in front of her, his heartbeat fast. “Look, Birch is an asshole. Don’t let him manipulate you. And definitely don’t go to his hotel room.”
Her shoulders slumped. “It’s such a slog, you know? I love acting, but I hate this part of it. Sleazebags like Birch are always trying to get into my pants, and it’s so hard to even be seen, much less actually get hired. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother.”
