Chapter Seventeen
After that night, and the conversation they’d had, Ashleigh made some efforts to distance herself from Rico. Now that she’d learnt the truth, she wasn’t going to allow herself to fall any deeper than she already had, otherwise she knew she’d only end up getting hurt again. She continued to see him casually, but she definitely stepped back from the intensity of their regular meet-ups, and over the next two and a half weeks, they only went out for dinner twice, and hadn’t slept together anymore, Ashleigh saying she was tired both times.
The truth was, she missed the sex, and would have wanted more of it, but she was too scared about her growing feelings for this man, and was trying her best to keep it casual. That was what he wanted. That was what she wanted too. She kept telling herself that and hoped it would become more of a reality.
She threw herself into a work and spoke to a lot more people on the set about their different jobs, learning everything she could about the film industry while simultaneously trying to prepare for her audition, which was coming up very soon. She was nervous about it, and the last time she and Rico had grabbed a bite to eat together, she’d confessed as much to him.
Now, with the audition only four days away, and looming on her mind, Rico knocked on her office door and popped his head in, grinning at her with his set of sparkling pearly whites. She was preparing some more amendments to scripts that were to be sent out to actors at the end of the day, and was a little snowed under with it all, several lines and scenes having been rewritten literally overnight.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
She looked up and returned the smile. “Not bad. Busy.”
“You still freaking out about that audition?”
She stopped what she was doing a moment and sat back. “Little bit, yeah.”
“I was wondering if you wanted to like…run lines or…sing your piece for me, and I could give you some pointers or try and help you with your nerves,” he offered gently, then shrugged. “I mean…if you want to. If you think it might help. No pressure.”
She smiled slightly. It was actually really nice of him to offer, and it probably would help, considering he was such an experienced actor. He’d probably nailed hundreds of auditions in his time. He was an expert.
“Actually…I’d like that. Thank you.”
“Great. Well just…gimme a ring later or whatever, and we’ll sort something out.”
So she did.
And after work that night, he came around to her hotel, the two of them squeezed into her small room. It was cosy, but pleasant. The window was open and the excited hum of the city could be heard, and they’d ordered room service so they could have a bite to eat and something to drink while they went through the lines together.
Then it came to the song.
Ashleigh stood up to perform it. She knew Rico had heard her voice before, so she wasn’t totally nervous about it, but that had been by accident, when she’d been singing in the shower. It was a different matter to stand up in front of him and belt it out so she was a little shy at first, but then she closed her eyes and allowed herself to get into it, swaying slightly to the lilt of her own voice and concentrating on the lyrics and the meaning behind them, the soul and passion really emerging as she delivered quite the performance.
When she opened her eyes again, she noticed Rico was staring up at her from his position on the bed with his mouth hanging open in awe, his eyes sparkling, looking at her as if he was totally in love.
Although maybe that was just her imagination.
Probably.
“That was…that was incredible,” he whispered, smiling at her. “Wow…you really took my breath away.”
“Oh come on,” she rolled her eyes a bit and picked up her glass of wine, taking a sip. A few weeks ago, when they’d first met, she might have blushed at his compliments, but now she was more used to them, and she knew they probably meant nothing anyway. They were just his little flirtatious way of getting the girl. She’d come to accept that, or at least, she was trying to.
“I’m serious, it really was,” Rico insisted, patting the space on the bed next to her.
She went over to sit down.
“You’ve got a really great voice.”
“Thank you,” she smiled.
“And honestly, that was perfect. I can’t really think of any suggestions or improvements.”
“You’re just saying that to try and get me into bed, Rico Fernandez,” she teased with a smile, lightly slapping him on the arm.
“I’m not, I promise,” he smiled, then it turned into a little smirk and he winked at her. “Although actually, that’s not a bad idea.”
And at that, he leaned in, coming in for a kiss, or at least, what he hoped would be a kiss.
This time, she didn’t let him.
She pulled back and turned her head away, taking another sip of wine and standing up again.
Rico looked at her, a slightly dejected expression on his face, mingled with surprise. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’m not like the other girls, Rico…” she began.
“I know you’re not.”
Maybe it was because she was a little drunk. Maybe it was because his admission that he wasn’t into commitment had gotten to her more than she’d care to admit. Maybe she was just nervous about the audition and it was testing her patience. But whatever it was, she wasn’t in the mood for his games tonight and she felt like telling him straight.
“I want more than what you can give me,” she admitted for the first time out loud, both to him and to herself. The truth of it was oddly liberating, and it allowed her to continue. “And I’ve been with guys in the past who have hurt me. I’m not ready for that again. I think you should leave.”
And with that, she pointed one arm slightly towards the door.
Rico eyes were blown wide. He looked pretty shocked by everything she’d said but, to her surprise, he didn’t attempt to argue back or make excuses.
He pursed his lips slowly, nodded, then stood up.
“Alright.” He gave her a small smile and finished off his wine. “Well uh…I’ll see you at work,” he said finally, before making his way out. “Have a good night,” were his last words before he gently closed her bedroom door behind him and left.
She immediately felt a little bit bad. Had she been too harsh on him? Well, it was too late now. Perhaps it was for the best. They needed to keep their distance from each other a bit more; not get too attached.
Chapter Eighteen
And that’s exactly what they did. Over the next two days, the pair didn’t speak at all, even to the extent that they actively avoided each other when they passed in the corridor or were in the same room. Considering how they’d grown so close and jokey since the beginning of shoot, it was obvious to most people on the set that there was a growing rift between them that had started after their last date and increased since the hotel room incident.
So much so that Francis must’ve seen an opening.
He knocked on her door one day when she was working, and came in without her having had a chance to respond, his rapacious eyes roaming up and down her body immediately.
“It’s been a while, Ashleigh,” he remarked.
“I’ve been very busy in the office, Mr R– Francis,” she corrected herself, remembering that he liked her to call him by his first name, even if she didn’t actually want to.
“Yes, I suppose you have. But that can stop now. I think I have some work for you on set.”
Her eyebrows shot up. One moment he was trying to remove her from the set and now he was putting her back on it? This had to be more than just a coincidence. The first time it was because she was getting too close to Rico and he was jealous and trying to separate them, and now that he’s heard and seen the two of them aren’t as close anymore, he’s clearly trying to spend more time with her himself and move in on what he thought was Rico’s territory. It was all so blindingly obvious, but at this poi
nt, Ashleigh didn’t care; she was just excited to be going back to the set. It was so much more fun to actually be involved and see part of the filming, even if that meant she would have to be around Rico more.
“But this time, I don’t want you just making coffee or holding costumes. I want you to stay close to me. I’ll let you watch what I do… you can shadow me, and I can train you. You’re destined for stardom, Ashleigh, so you need to stick with me.”
She didn’t much like the sound of being at Francis’ side the entire time.
“But…won’t there be other things I need to be helping out with?”
“I’m the boss around here,” he replied firmly. “What I say goes, remember?”
And there was just something about the way he’d said that last sentence that put her on edge. It sounded more like a threat than anything else, as if he was reminding her of his power; that he could get her to lose her job if he really wanted.
And the next day, she started in her new position.
Francis set up a chair for her right next to his. It was one of those cool, movie set ones that she’d always wanted to sit in, and a part of her felt honored and excited to be given the opportunity, but it was clear from the offset what Francis’s intentions were.
“You look stunning this morning,” he murmured as she sat down, before reaching over and placing his hand on her leg. He gave it a quick squeeze, then let go.
Her cheeks flushed with shame and outrage. He had no business just touching her like that in front of everyone, but no one had been looking, all too busy doing their own thing and getting everything ready for the next take.
Francis lifted up his megaphone and began barking orders at people, pointing and instructing as they ran about doing whatever he told them. He was a hard taskmaster on the set, and she’d noticed people rolling their eyes behind his back a few times; she definitely wasn’t the only one he rubbed the wrong way.
In between giving out orders, he would lean in close to Ashleigh and explain to her exactly what was going on and what he was doing.
The majority of the time he did stick to business, and she was learning, but after every sentence he always managed to slip in some kind of compliment about how she looked or a flirtatious remark.
It was extremely embarrassing and uncomfortable. It was like being in the restaurant all over again and she wasn’t sure how she could stand her job if it was going to be like this every day from now on.
A couple of times she saw Rico look over in her direction and they’d accidentally make eye contact. Then one of them would look away. She wondered what he was thinking, and wished he could rescue her somehow from Francis.
But Francis seemed to revel in the fact that she and Rico weren’t talking, even making subtle references to it now and again.
“You don’t need big, hot-shot movie stars like Rico,” he murmured. “You just need to stick with the producers like me. I’m the one who can get you the parts, not him. You just stick with me, gorgeous.”
By the end of two days on set with Francis like this, Ashleigh felt physically and mentally exhausted, and in dire need of escape.
She was growing increasingly worried about his flirtatious behavior, and was wondering if she could get it to stop somehow. If she told Francis she thought it was inappropriate, would he drop it and stop? Or would he be offended, angry, and fire her? Was it worth the risk? Could she tell anyone else about his behavior and how it made her feel? She felt so alone and helpless.
Chapter Nineteen
The night before her audition, Ashleigh was alone in her hotel room, sitting at the little dresser table opposite the mirror, eating her room service dinner. The restaurant in the hotel wasn’t the best, but it served a purpose, and she wasn’t particularly hungry that night anyway, far too nervous and on edge to actually have a proper appetite.
The thing she was dreading the most was having to see Francis again, to sit in a private audition room, and sing and perform for him. She knew his creepy, lecherous eyes would be on her the whole time.
And her thoughts kept coming back to Rico too. Had she been too harsh on him? She missed not being friendly with him, not hanging out or joking around on set. Maybe she should send him a text, or make the effort to go and stand with him in the line for coffee next time she saw him. Just something to break the ice and the barrier that seemed to have come up between them. Even if they weren’t “seeing” each other anymore, having sex, or dating or whatever it was, she’d still like it if they could be friends.
An hour or so later, she was just getting ready for bed and changed into her pyjamas when there was an unexpected knock on her hotel room door.
She assumed it would probably be one of the staff members coming to collect her room service tray and empty plates, so she opened it up and was taken aback to see Rico stood there with his hands sheepishly in his pockets.
“Rico…I….” She didn’t know what to say. She definitely hadn’t been expecting this so she was thrown.
“Sorry it’s a bit late,” he mumbled. “I didn’t wake you up, did I?”
“No, no, I was just getting ready for bed, I hadn’t gone yet.”
“Oh right, good. Can I come in?”
He made a move as if he was about to put one foot in the door but Ashleigh stood firm. As much as she’d been thinking she missed him earlier, it was a bit weird of him to just show up at her room like this late at night. She hoped he wasn’t expecting to stay over or have sex or something. She wasn’t about that.
“Well, like I said, I was just literally about to go to bed. It’s not a good time.”
“Oh.” He seemed disappointed, but still didn’t leave, just remained standing there with his hands in his pockets.
“Look,” she continued, softening her tone a bit, but still firm with him. “I’m not just gonna be some booty call for you, Rico, if that’s what you think this–”
“Just let me speak.” He held up one hand and interrupted her.
She stopped talking, closing her mouth.
“That’s…that’s not why I’m here,” he sighed. “I guess you mustn’t think much of me if you think that but…listen, I know I said I’m not interested in relationships and the truth is I’ve never had intentions to settle down with anyone, not usually…but…I feel as though I could make an exception for you…”
She grew more confused the longer she listened to him speak. Surely, he couldn’t be saying what she thought he was saying?
“What…what do you mean?” she said tentatively.
“What do you think I mean, Ashleigh?” He smiled at her warmly, looking into her eyes. “I mean, I think I could give this a go. I’d like to give this a go. I miss you.”
“I miss you too,” she admitted in a quiet squeak, her heart pounding and her hands growing a little clammy. She was still so reluctant to get her hopes up, but he seemed genuine.
“Can…I come in?” he asked shyly.
She nodded, and stepped back, closing the door behind him once he was inside.
He held open his arms for a hug and she almost fell into them, wrapping hers around his sturdy, muscular frame as he enveloped her in his warmth.
She buried her face into his chest and inhaled his scent.
His hands gently ran up and down her back, and she instantly felt as though there was something different about this hug.
It felt real, loving, personal, and tender.
His fingertips were so soft and gentle, and everything about him filled her with love, sending her head into a spin.
They hugged for a long time, in silence.
There was nothing sexual about it. There were no primal urges to push each other against the wall and rip each other’s clothes off like on previous occasions. They just wanted to comfort one another, enjoy the presence and closeness of the other person, and that felt more important and crucial to Ashleigh right now. That was what made the difference between some work fling and an actual relationship.
�
�You still nervous about that damn audition?” he asked softly as they pulled back from the hug.
She nodded.
“It’s tomorrow, right?”
She nodded again, impressed that he’d remembered. He really was a sweetheart. She felt bad for being so harsh on him.
“Want to run lines again like we did last time?”
“That’d be nice. Thank you.”
They sat on the bed together, with Rico holding the extract from the script and reading out the other parts as Ashleigh smoothly rattled off her lines.
“You’ll be fine,” Rico insisted once they’d finished. “You know this inside out now and…you’re good. You really are very good.”
She blushed a bit and he leaned in, gently kissing her on the cheek and not pushing anything any further.
“You’re a natural at this. I mean it.”
“Thank you,” she smiled and stood up, putting the script down on the side and taking a sip of water.
He stood too, getting ready to leave.
“Would…would you like to stay the night?”
He seemed surprised, looking at her steadily. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” she smiled. “I’m sure.”
Chapter Twenty
Rico promised he wouldn’t try anything on with her, and he stuck to his word. When they got into bed together, all they did was cuddle. He didn’t even try to kiss her on the lips, just a simple, gentle kiss on the forehead, then he wrapped his strong arms around her and held her close as they fell asleep.
The problem was, she didn’t fall asleep.
Within ten minutes, Rico’s breathing had deepened and he was occasionally letting out soft little snores –which were very cute– but Ashleigh’s mind was spinning and she couldn’t stop thinking about the audition.
She detached herself from Rico’s arms carefully and stood up, going to the bathroom and then getting another small drink of water before returning to bed.
Stroked by my Dad's Best FriendA Billionaire Secret Baby Romance Page 45
