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Her heart sank into her stomach as she listened to the agent’s description of the day’s events.
Derek had gone to the casting call, waited outside the room with other candidates and watched as the first man went in and came out. Then the second guy went in. He was in the room for a long time before he finally came out, a grin on his face.
When it was finally Derek’s turn, he’d stood and made his way to the door. The female casting assistant had stepped out. She’d looked at him and the other guys waiting, thanked them for coming and told them the part had been filled.
Apparently, Derek hadn’t taken the dismissal well. He’d cussed out the woman and tried to storm past her into the room. He’d bumped into her hard enough she’d slammed back against the wall.
They’d had to call security to have Derek escorted out of the building. His behavior would be a red flag to any casting director. He’d be blackballed. His agent couldn’t represent him anymore.
Penny apologized to the agent, ended the call and pulled out her suitcases.
Derek would be inconsolable, angry and, most likely, violent.
Her best course of action was to leave. Get out before he came home.
Penny packed all her clothes and personal belongings. As she zipped the cases, Derek entered the apartment, slamming the door open so hard it shook the wall.
When he saw the suitcases, he stormed into the bedroom.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” he shouted.
She lifted her chin and met his blurry-eyed gaze. “Home.”
“Like hell you are.” He ripped open the zippers and dumped the case’s contents onto the floor.
She squared her shoulders. “I’m going home.”
His eyes narrowed. “You want to go back to that Podunk town in god-for-fuckin’-sakin’ Montana? For what?”
“I have family and friends there. People who care about me,” she said.
He snorted. “All a bunch of losers. Why else would they stay in that shitty little town, going nowhere? You’ll amount to nothing. You are nothing.”
His word hit her in the gut. “It’s better than staying in California, working two jobs so that you can pursue your dreams.” She met his gaze, her eyes narrowing. “What about my dreams? They didn’t involve being a waitress, twelve to sixteen hours a day just so you can take my money and drink it away in a bar and pick fights with casting directors. By the way, did your agent get a hold of you?”
“That worthless piece of shit,” Derek spat. “He’s done nothing for me since the day I signed with him.”
“He said he couldn’t work with you anymore,” Penny said.
“He never worked for me to begin with.”
“What happened at the casting call today?” she asked, already knowing the answer.
“I didn’t even get to audition. The bastards filled it before I even entered the room.” He sneered. “I gave them a piece of my mind, told them what a bunch of losers they were. The assholes had the audacity to have me hauled out by security.”
Penny shook her head.
“I bumped into their little female pencil-pusher. I couldn’t help that she was unsteady on her feet. The bitch hit the wall. Even though it was an accident, they threw me out.”
“Nobody is going to work with a temperamental actor who can’t handle criticism or rejection,” Penny said.
Derek glared at her. “What do you know? You’re not even in the industry. You know nothing.”
Penny’s gut clenched. The man was getting madder by the second. “I know people can’t get away with pushing people around.”
He laughed. “Like I push you around?” He planted his hands on her chest and shoved her backward. “You don’t even have the balls to stand up to me.”
She stood her ground. “I shouldn’t have to stand up to you. If you really cared about me, you would never hit me. You’re nothing but a bully, and you can’t act.”
