Page 34

Nuh-uh. Not worth it.
She let out a nervous laugh to lighten the mood and put a hand on Jeremy’s shoulder to gently push him back, trying to stop him from hovering so close.
"See, I’m a choreographer, and you’re a model. There’s gonna be a day when you and I work together. Imagine how awkward it’d be to work together if we kiss now."
"I don’t mind awkward," he said, his grin widening. "Awkward is like my middle name." He reached for her head again, pulling her closer.
Ellie dodged his hand, stepping back once more. Now, both of her hands pressed against his chest to hold him back. "No, I mean, imagine—maybe one day, you and I will work together, and we’ll have to kiss for a scene. So, how about you and I just wait for that day to come to fulfill this payment?"
Jeremy’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he pulled back just enough to look her over. Ellie sighed in relief, but it was short-lived.
"I think it’s best you just pay me for my appearance back there," he said, pulling out his phone. "So, how do you want to pay? Bank transfer? Card? Cash? I prefer cash."
"God damn it!" Ellie snapped, glaring at him, her anger rising. The man was a stubborn horse!
"Fine," she huffed, marching over to him. She tried to grab his head, but with his towering height, even when she stood on her toes, she couldn’t reach. "I’ll kiss you, alright. Let’s get this over with. Get down here!"
Jeremy’s body shook with laughter, though he kept his lips in a small, amused smile. However, the shameless man didn’t shy away. He lowered himself to Ellie’s level, and Ellie frowned, cupping the back of his head as she closed her eyes. She puckered her lips, getting closer to his.
But just as their breaths were about to mingle, the shrill sound of his phone ringing broke the moment.
Jeremy squinted in annoyance but didn’t remove his eyes from Ellie as he pulled out his phone and put it to his ear.
"Dude, where the hell are you? You were supposed to be here half an hour ago! The show’s about to start! You’re driving me crazy!"
Jeremy hung up and clenched his jaw, letting out a frustrated sigh. Then he abruptly pulled away from Ellie.
"Gotta get back to work, Ellie," he said, sliding his phone back into his pocket and pulling out the keys to his car. He stepped back quickly. "This kiss is pending until next time!" He said, half-running toward his car.
Ellie watched him disappear into the night, finally letting out the breath she had been holding.
This man was fucking dangerous. She had barely escaped one mess, only to jump straight into another.
Ellie groaned, muttering under her breath, “Ellie Madden, you’re a magnet for troubles!”
Making sure Jeremy was really gone, she wasted no time taking off from there before he could change his mind and come back. No way in hell was she sticking around.
And anyway, now that he was gone, what were the chances they’d ever see each other again? Close to none. A top model like him wouldn’t even spare her a second glance when there were thousands of girls out there dying for his attention.
Ellie grinned, feeling relieved as she walked away from the spot. Maybe she’d gotten lucky—or maybe unlucky. Kissing a dashing guy in the middle of the street at midnight wasn’t exactly bad luck, right?
Just as the thought crossed her mind—Something whooshed past her, slamming into her hard.
Her body was thrown off balance, crashing onto the road.
She hit the ground with a loud thud—a sharp, deafening sound that shattered the eerie silence of the night. Pain surged through her body as she lay there, barely conscious, trembling. Blinking against the dizziness, she tried to focus, but her vision swam.
The car that had hit her, came to a stop just ahead. The driver stepped out, but there was no urgency in his movements. Instead, he moved leisurely, as if he had all the time in the world.
Two other people emerged from the backseat of the car, one of them was Olivia.
She stepped out gracefully, arms folded, her heels clicking against the pavement as she approached Ellie. Her expression was one of pure boredom as she glanced down at her.
Turning to the two men, she scoffed. “She’s still alive? Seriously? You idiots don’t even know how to hit someone properly with a car?”
“I hit her pretty hard,” one of them muttered defensively. “If she had gone under the car, it would've been easier.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Just make sure you finish the job properly before leaving.”