“I sense tension at this table,” Cowan snaps, glaring between us. “I don’t like tension.”
“Too fucking bad. The papers are signed now.” Blair stands up. “Are we done here?” She pointedly doesn’t look at me and I want to sigh. She’s basically begging Cowan to realize what’s going on between us.
But the old director only squints at me and shakes his head like he’s choosing not to pursue this any further. “I have a task for you.”
I shake my head. “Great. Another task. I just wrote you a check, that’s the extent of my job for today.”
“Try again. I don’t havepeopleyet, which means you’re my people. You will go fetch my star.”
Blair stops fidgeting and stares at him. I glare at the wily little bastard.
“You didn’t mention casting,” I say very slowly, struggling to keep my temper.
“Yes, that is correct, I did not. Because my casting was finished months ago before I secured financing from you, and I will note that casting was not mentioned in the contract. You see, I am not so stupid.” He stands up and slides a plain white key card across the table, the sort of thing you’re given in a hotel.Knights Innis scrawled in blue across the front. “He’s staying there, it’s not too far. Room 110.”
“What’s his name? Who the hell is he?” I grab the card and glare at Cowan. He’s smiling smugly and knows full well that he’s a piece of shit for springing this on us right now.
“His name is Rodrick Hodson, you wouldn’t have heard of him. I taught a few acting courses locally a few years back, total waste of my time and talent, but I met him during one of the workshops. Talented fellow, exceedingly talented. He wasn’t ready then, but he’s very ready now. He’s been through more than you can imagine, and it has honed him into a walking piece of art. You will bring him to the city for me.”
“What’s he doing here working for you then if he’s so talented?” Blair asks and Cowan laughs.
“You’ll see. Go fetch him for me, please. I have lodgings prepared at another hotel downtown.”
“Can’t he get a fucking Uber?” I ask, anger growing. “We’re not a taxi service.”
“No, he can’t. Now go fetch my actor.” Cowan winks at Blair and walks away, leaving me alone in silence with her.
We’re surrounded by books. Nearby, an older woman reads, skipping quickly from page to page. It smells like binding glue and floor cleaner. I get to my feet, trying my best not to tremble with rage.
But Blair only looks curious. She’s staring at the key card in my hand and gestures for it. I hand it over and she holds it up, squinting, before nodding to herself.
“Come on. I know where this is.” She turns and walks off.
I have to hurry to keep up. “That’s the first thing you’ve said to me since we got up this morning.”
“We didn’t get up. I woke up alone in my bed.”
“That’s not how I remember it.”
She glares at me. “What happened tojust for tonight?”
“You started acting weird, that’s what, and we never agreed we wouldn’t talk about it.”
“I’m not acting weird.”
“Webb. You haven’t said a word to me. You’re acting like I’m a black hole or something.”
“That’s not true.”
We step out the main doors and are about to descend the stairs when I grab her wrist. “Look at me.”
She doesn’t. “Let me go.”
“Webb. You want to move on? Stop acting like what we did last night was so fucking shameful. I enjoyed myself and I know damn well you did too.”
She shivers and shakes her head. “We didn’t do anything last night. Now, let me go.”
I hesitate, fingers gripping harder. I stare at her and take one long breath. “You think I’m going to forget you on all fours, your beautiful ass in the air, my cock down your throat? Stop pretending, Webb. We can be adults about this.”