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From the crew’s comments, Julian rarely used a personal assistant. He’d been assigned one by the studio, but the general crew took care of most functions, and he preferred to do personal business on his own. Since she’d come on board, he’d made a complete turnaround. Apparently, he needed her to stir his coffee, scout out new dry cleaning locations (to add to his current three) and alphabetize his fan mail. He didn’t suddenly turn from the most independent down-to-earth star to the neediest diva overnight.
No, he wanted her around.
It made it even more difficult to talk to the other guys, especially since that’s when he found the most chores. Once, when she was about to spend time with one of her suspects, he had the urgent need for a toothpick, and she had to run to the drugstore. When she finally returned, he declared it was the wrong brand and sent her out again. Then it was the wrong color. Who uses blue toothpicks?
Tonight, they had a date, but today presented a rare opportunity. Julian was filming on location. He’d wanted her to come along, but because it was a few hours away, they’d chartered a plane and didn’t have extra seats. Working as an extra again, she’d finally get to spend time with the cast and crew as they filmed group scenes. Hopefully, the perpetrator would make his move. Even if he didn’t target her, she could still catch the crime in progress.
Putting all thoughts of her date and Julian (naked) completely out of her mind (or at least a sliver), she finished her morning routine and drove over to the lot. She immediately infiltrated a group of extras standing by the bagel bar. “HeyJess, John, Kevin.” She smiled brightly. “How is everyone this morning?”
“Great,” Jess chirped, sliding a shy smile to where Zachary Thompson normally sat. He was out filming with Julian. “Great, actually.”
Cheyenne gave a genuine smile. Jess was clearly hung up on Zachary, and the usually confirmed bachelor seemed taken with her as well.
“We figured you’d be on location with Julian.” Kate Jenkins, a beautiful but rather spiteful extra, sent Cheyenne an icy glare. “You’ve been inseparable from him.” She made a rather compelling rendition of sucking a lemon.
This was bad. If the criminals thought she was serious with Julian, they’d never include her. “Julian? He’s just business.” She put a hand on the nearest guy. “I enjoy hanging out with all my guys.” She winked.
As everyone laughed, her peripheral visions snagged on Craig, a prop assistant, on the fringes of the room. He was the only man on her short list she had yet to approach. She excused herself, grabbed a bagel and skipped to the crewmember, who was looking uneasy as always. “Hey.” She smiled. “I brought you a bagel. Poppy’s your favorite, right?” It was the only one he ever took.
“Um, yeah.” He made no move to take the bagel, instead peering down as if it were poisoned.
She gave a friendly smile. “Would you like it?”
“Um, yeah.” Again, he didn’t move.
“Well, here.” Cheyenne pushed the bagel into his hands. He fumbled but couldn’t grasp it, and it fell to the floor, cream cheese side down.
“Oh no.” He turned as white as the cheese.
“Don’t worry.” Cheyenne picked up the sticky bread. “There’s plenty more. Want me to get another?”
“No!” he practically yelled. People turned to stare. “I gotta go.” He scurried away before she could respond.
She frowned as she mopped up the gooey mess with a napkin. Something was definitely strange with that guy, but he probably wasn’t her criminal. While the recruiters differed demographically, all were confident, assertive and self-assured. They had to be able to convince the women to join their operation.
Cheyenne dumped the remnants of the bagel in a wide metal trashcan. None of her leads were panning out, yet the informant who marked the film was highly dependable. The criminal had to be here somewhere.
“Okay, guys, let’s get started,” the assistant director called. Wiping her hands clean, Cheyenne joined the others on set.
The hours melted away, and her work progressed. Not the work on the film, although she was definitely getting better as an actress, but with chatting up potential leads. She crossed a few people off her list and added a few more. The men were looking at her with interest, and hopefully she was back in the criminal’s sights. Then, just as filming was wrapping up, everything changed.
You could always tell when Julian Starcroft entered a room.
He was dressed casually, in jeans and a black t-shirt, but there was nothing casual about how the denims molded to his long legs, how the shirt stretched across his defined chest or how he towered above the crowd, with muscles that showcased pure power. As soon as he walked in, the temperature leapt about twenty degrees. There were the usual smiles and stares, even from the cast and crew accustomed to working with the famous actor. As usual, the female extras led the pack. But he didn’t walk over to them.
Nope, he walked right over to Cheyenne.
She stretched her mouth into what she hoped passed for a grin. “Hi Julian!”
“Hi Destiny. I need some help with something. Will you accompany me to my office?”
It might sound like a request, but in reality it was a command. She could do nothing but follow. “Of course. Bye, everyone.” She waved to the group, the false smile still straining her lips. Julian walked slightly ahead of her, giving her a prime view of his ass, but of course she wasn’t going to look. Okay, fine, she was looking, but she deserved compensation since he was sabotaging her mission. They didn’t talk until they reached his office… and passed it.
She caught up with him. “Hey, what are you doing?”
“Walking and wondering.”
“Walking where? And wondering what?”