Page 12 of Lone Spy (Starstruck Thrillers #2)

Chapter Eleven

"I'm sending someone," Mary tells me. "This has gone on long enough. You need an assistant."

"Mary—" I start but she interrupts me.

"Angela, I gave you months. Now you're on a press tour without help, and it's making my job harder.

Your training for The Last Guardia starts in eight weeks, and we need someone taking care of you.

" Mary references my next film project—a sci-fi thriller about a female sword master on a mission to save her brother.

It's nothing like The Benefactor —there will be no Oscar talk or protestors—but it couldn't exist without the birth control pill. It's hard to imagine a sexy, independent, sword-wielding heroine if she can't fuck without getting pregnant.

When we talk about strong female characters, we are talking about women who have agency. Women who have power over their own bodies. Without contraception the sex scene on page sixty isn't hot, it's stupidly dangerous…for the woman.

"But—" I try again.

"Remember when I gave you Archie?" Mary doesn't wait for me to reply. "You didn't think you wanted a dog, and now what would you do without him?"

Have a total emotional breakdown. Maybe attack my head of security in a supply closet. Fuck a prince. Hard to say.

"Well, you're going to love Lloyd just as much."

"Lloyd?" My tone implies I think that name is something—not what I expected for my new assistant. My last one was named Sarah. She married a producer twice her age and is having babies in Calabasas now. I liked her fine. We were never friends, but we worked.

"Yes, Lloyd Sinclair. He's an Oxford graduate."

"Why would he want to work for me?" I ask, glossing over the fact that she compared hiring him to gifting me a puppy.

Mary sighs like I don't understand anything. Especially not about how the world works. "Angela. Sometimes I'm shocked by your naiveté."

I huff a laugh. I may not know why an Oxford graduate wants to be in charge of my schedule, but I am far from naive. Elliot Kendricks’s affable face comes into my mind's eye.

It's been a day since he showed up. Since I learned that "something" happened to Temperance. Since I had mind-blowing sex with Omar—which totally worked to take my mind off the whole Temperance thing.

I'm back on my balcony again. Today is warmer; pale sunlight caresses the surrounding buildings and pedestrians below. My coffee is still hot and the pastries untouched.

I hadn’t bothered getting dressed yet since I have the day off—well, from the press tour. I have a photo shoot for my fragrance Violet Kiss today. I'm also going to the London office of my cosmetic company, Violet Glamour. Can you see why my eyes are insured for so much?

But none of that starts for at least another hour. I think.

"Lloyd will be there in thirty minutes. I let Ash know,” Mary says. My call waiting beeps. I hold the phone away from my face to see an unknown number. I send it to voicemail. "Angela, are you listening?"

"Yes, Lloyd will be here in a half hour. I better go get dressed."

"He's gay, so you don't have to worry about him, you know?"

"Falling madly in love with me the way all my straight employees do?" I joke.

"Exactly." Mary doesn't think I'm joking. "At least I can count on Ash." She says it like every other man on the planet is powerless against my charms.

"Yes, I agree, you don't have to worry about Ash falling in love with me. He doesn't seem to like me much."

"What?" Her voice is sharp. "If he's not treating you with respect, he needs to go."

My coffee churns in my stomach. "I…"

"Angela, he's very good but if you're not comfortable with him, you let me know. There are other agencies out there. We can find you a replacement." I don't answer fast enough. "I do think Ash is very good, though. Is he just cold or is the man rude? Because we can't have that."

"He's just…" I swallow. "He's fine. I'm sure it's a part of the job to be somewhat robotic." Though Alesana isn't. That guy is a like a giant teddy bear who'd kill for me. And Chris has a sense of humor even if he tries to hide it. But I can’t say I'm afraid one day Ash will be ordered to kill me .

Even if he was as affable as Elliot Kendricks, our relationship would be strained. Because it’s not us , it’s this fucked situation.

"Look, Ash has been a real godsend since Sarah left. He's an excellent communicator." I stifle a laugh. "But the most important thing in this business is relationships, and if you don't want to work with his company anymore, we can find another."

"It's his company?" I ask, knowing I sound like a bit of an idiot. I never even read the contract I signed—Temperance simply put it under my pen.

"Yes, Angela. Of course it's his company. He has an excellent reputation, but if he makes you feel bad, we can't have that."

"You were just praising him for not falling in love with me," I remind her, a smile pulling at my lips.

"Well, there is a fine line between professionalism and undermining your confidence. I won't allow that. You're the most gorgeous woman on the planet, and anyone who makes you feel differently shouldn't be in your life."

Zade's voice floats in from the other room. "Speaking of people who make me feel gorgeous," I say as they come into view. They grin at me as they cross to kiss my cheek before taking the chair Elliot sat in yesterday.

"I'll let you go. Say hi to Zade for me. Get dressed. Lloyd will be there soon."

We hang up, and a voicemail alert pops up from the unknown number. "Mary says hi," I tell Zade as I click on the message. Omar's voice plays over the speaker. "Angela." The prince saying my name sends tingles of pleasure through my bones.

Zade fans themself dramatically, making me laugh.

"I hope you'll still consider dinner with me. I await your call."

"Oh," Zade says. "A prince with a voice like that. My god, woman, can I be you for a day?"

"No."

Zade cackles as they grab a croissant. "Fine, the world couldn't take my fabulousness in that." They gesture to my body.

"True." I'm staring down at the phone at the message, X-rated memories playing across my mind's eye.

"Oh my goddess!" Zade yells. "Did you fuck the prince? Yesterday? Is that why you skipped that dinner? How? When? Fuck you, tell me everything."

I laugh, Zade's tsunami of questions releasing something in my chest. "He met me at the Globe Theatre and then took me for a private tour of the Tate Modern. The princess had to cancel lunch, and he showed up to offer an alternative."

"He just showed up?" Zade sounds impressed. "A prince who takes initiative. We like that."

"Yes," I agree. "We do." The smile that sneaks onto my face has Zade cackling. Waving my hand, I change the subject. "Mary is sending a new assistant for me—Lloyd Sinclair."

Zade's lips purse.

"He's an Oxford graduate."

"I hope he's not a snob." Zade pours themself some coffee.

"I can't imagine Mary would hire someone who’s going to look down on us."

Movement in the corner of my eye turns into Ash, standing in the curtains, doing that solid ghost thing he does. How is a man that big that quiet? "Lloyd Sinclair is here."

"He's early," I say, looking down at my phone.

"That's probably a good thing for a man in his role," Ash points out.

"Is he hot?" Zade asks.

Ash ignores the question. Zade grins wickedly at Ash who…wait, was that a…did his lips curl? Zade did claim to have the magical power of making Ash smile.

"Do you want me to have him wait outside while you dress?" Ash asks.

"Yes, I suppose I should have a bra on when we meet for the first time," I say. Zade snorts. Ash nods.

Jeans and a cotton white button-up blouse, collar up, sleeves rolled.

My hair piled up into a messy bun. Simple strand of pearls, a watch from Patek Philippe—sent over this morning as part of our negotiations for me to become their next "face.

" Mary told me to wear it today and be sure to let the paparazzi get a shot.

It's 18k gold, simple and elegant, and probably costs more than the average car. I stare at it for a long moment. They are paying me to wear this…

A knock on the bedroom door pulls my attention. Zade enters without waiting. "He's hot in a nerdy way," they announce once the door has swung shut behind them.

"Good to know. We're talking about Lloyd, right?" I cross to my closet, pulling out a pair of ankle height brown leather boots with low heels.

Zade shakes their head. "No."

"No?" I look down at the boots.

"You need a stylist to be picking all your clothing."

I look down at myself. "Pretty sure this outfit works."

"If you're boring."

I laugh. They join me at the closet to review the selection.

"Zade, we can't all be as fabulous as you, the world would explode."

"True, but we can at least put in a little effort." I laugh again. They reach down, pulling out a pair of bright red patent leather heels and hold them up to me. Looking at the stiletto makes my toes ache. But Zade is right, they are better than the boots.

I take them and head to the bench at the end of the bed. "Tell me more about Lloyd."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure he doesn't fall in love with me." Zade is half in the closet, flicking through my clothing.

"Impossible, Zade." I slip on the shoes, instantly feeling sexier, more powerful. Taller.

Zade shrugs like they know I'm right. "We need to get started if you want to be on time."

"Did Ash send you in here? Or is Lloyd already so empowered?"

"The two of them may be conspiring against you. Or for you, depending on your perspective."

"I see you're their willing accomplice."

"I like hot nerds with posh accents."

"Who doesn't?"

"See, this," Zade says, "is why we're friends."