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“Are you serious? You can’t do that. I paid to be here.” Leann’s voice echoes, and I see everyone cringe away. Her face turns crimson, even in the low light, as she stomps her foot.

“You didn’t pay to be on set. You paid your way here. You have no authority and no rights on this set. You signed the paperwork. And since you can’t follow the rules, you can’t stay.” Lucy is so no-nonsense that I might be developing a small girl crush. “Security will escort you back to your bus to wait, or a ride can be called for you on your own dime. Either way, you’re not staying and disrupting this set any longer.”

Leann’s enraged screech has the crew clapping as she’s forced out.

Dickie Hernadez is beside Knight when I turn back. “That the one you warned me about?”

“Yeah.” For once, he actually looks embarrassed and more than uneasy.

“Good riddance.”

I step forward and catch his eye. “Hey. Hi. I hate to bethis person, but will she be able to come back tomorrow? If she’s learned her lesson?”

The director makes a face. “Do you think she has? Or will by then?”

“No. Probably not, but it’s my job to advocate for her.” And I really hate that it’s my job because this is the first real impression Dickie Hernandez is going to have of me.

When he smiles and drapes an arm around my shoulder, my knees nearly buckle. “You must be Sofia. I heard a lot about you last night over dinner.”

My brow shoots up as I turn to Knight. He only shrugs. All of that golden boy shine is still bright in the dim room. Or maybe the set lighting behind him is enhancing it.

“I am. So you were Professor Knight’s meeting that he ran off to the moment we arrived.” I return Dickie’s smile.

“Oh, he’s kept me a secret, has he? Don’t worry, love, he’s told me more than enough about you to tip the scales. And because you sound and appear like a mature, capable woman, I will let you make that decision after you’ve talked with the girl. If she’s capable of keeping her mouth shut and hands off her phone while on set, she can return.”

“Thank you.”

He gives my shoulders a squeeze. “Make sure you bring her with you next time we have dinner. I have a feeling the conversation will be all the more lively with her there.”

Knight practically glows. “Oh, it certainly will be.”

After he goes back to his director’s chair, order is returned on set, and the rest of our time goes by in a blur.

When we return to the hotel, we both have to endure Leann bemoaning her situation and making herself out to be the victim, complaining about the other things she could have spent this money on and this time doing.

“Well, we’ve convinced them to let you back tomorrow for the morning shoot if you can follow the rules and keep quiet.”

It barely soothes her, but eventually, afterfartoo much effort, she agrees and goes to her room to sulk.

Finally, we return to our hotel room, and once the door closes, tension drenches the air as I meet Knight’s eyes. We’re alone here for the rest of the night.

16

ORION

This is not smart, but it seems like an inevitability. It’s clear that Sofia feels it, too. Tension vibrates across my entire body because we’re alone in this room together for the entire night. I don’t have to run out anywhere. She’s not already in bed.

“Should we order dinner in?” I ask. “Or I can go grab something.”

Sofia bites her lip. “Chinese? I know a good place nearby.”

Of course she does. She’s fucking brilliant and observant. Cultured.

“Sounds good.”

She places the order, but I beg off her giving me any money. I can cover it. It might make this feel a little bit more like a date, but I’m already tiptoeing past boundaries that should be kept in place.

But I want Sofia. She knows it. Tonight is going to push me past my restraints, especially when I return with two bags of rice, noodles, and so many options to find her bent over, drying her hair with her towel.