Free Stage Left (Bright Lights Billionaire #1) by Ali Parker

fake as he was.

Chapter 9
    Riley
     
     
    It had been two days since the audition and nothing. Crickets. I kept thinking that at least Darren would call and give me a pep talk, but nothing. Frustration raced through me as I picked up a tray of food for a large table I was serving.
    Being at work was cathartic, so much so that I had picked up three extra shifts in the last two days. I was bone tired, but my mind was occupied. I would have gone nuts otherwise.
    Charlotte hadn't stopped asking questions about Ethan, and he was the last thing I wanted to talk about. I couldn't shake him, which I knew was exactly what he wanted. Not just from me. No. From every woman with a pulse in America.
    "Here we go, guys. Lunch is served." I lowered the tray carefully and then started to hand out the plates as my phone buzzed in my back pocket. "Is there anything else I can get for you?"
    "No, this looks great." The older guy at the end of the table glanced up at me. "Settle a fight for me, please."
    "Yeah, sure." I ignored the buzzing and turned my attention to the guy.
    "Are you a model?" He lifted his eyebrow.
    "No." I laughed, almost flattered, but I'd stopped letting customers influence my mood a long time ago. Otherwise I'd be an emotional roller coaster.
    "See!" the teenage boy at the end of the table yelled. "You're an actress aren't you? I've seen you in a commercial on TV."
    "That's right. I do a few commercials." I picked up the tray, glancing down at the guy closest to me. "Hope you didn't lose any money."
    He chuckled. "It's all good."
    I smiled before walking to the back and putting the tray up. I pulled out my phone and walked to the break room. Unknown number.
    I hit redial and waited until a woman answered the phone.
    "Hi, this is Riley Phillips. I think I missed a call from you." I leaned against the wall and glanced around, grateful that the room was empty. I liked most of the people I worked with, but wanted some time to myself more than anything. I'd eventually wear out and spend a day in bed working through my fears over working with Ethan, which were growing larger than taking on the job if I were even offered it. It seemed far bigger than I was capable of grasping.
    "Hi, Riley. This is Deza. I was hoping that we would hear from you yesterday, but we didn't. I just wanted to make sure that Darren called you with our offer."
    "Your offer?" The room spun around me, and I sank down in the chair closest to me.
    "Yep. I assume that means he didn't call?" Her voice showed her disdain.
    "No, but I'd love to hear whatever offer you guys are calling about." I pressed my fingers to my mouth, contemplating for the first time in four years that things might actually work out. Maybe this pipe dream wasn't a waste of my life.
    "How about we have an early dinner and talk. I'd rather go over it all in person. Will that work?"
    "Absolutely. I get off in two hours. I could shower and be anywhere you want me to by five or six?" I leaned back and let the smile that was pulling at my lips lift them until my face hurt.
    "Let's meet for sushi and sake at Pho Village at six. Sound good?"
    "I'll be there." I took a sharp breath. "Is Ethan coming?"
    "Do you want him to?"
    "No. I'd rather it just be us." I held my breath, not sure if I was coming off right.
    "That sounds great. See you there."
    "Thanks again." I dropped the call and glanced around as tears filled my eyes. Was this shit real? Was I really meeting with Ethan Lewis's agent? There was a chance that nothing was going to come of it... but what if something did?
    And if she offered me the part in the movie, was I up for it? We were talking about Ethan Lewis. Academy-award-winning Ethan Lewis.
    Wicked, sinfully hot Ethan Lewis.
    I let out a groan and got up. I couldn't think about it or I'd chicken out.
    Anyone with any measure of sense would.
     
    *
     
    "Thanks again for meeting me tonight." I sat down across from Deza as my heart worked harder than it ever had before to keep up with