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

my racing pulse.
    "Of course. I can't believe Darren didn't call you." She rolled her eyes. "I swear. That man is going to be the death of me, and yet there isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss him."
    "He's a good guy, but he doesn't care much about my career. I've been doing commercials under his care for four years. I'm graduating soon and honestly have started to give up on my dreams of being an actress." I shrugged and pulled my napkin in my lap, deciding to go for honesty with the woman across the table from me. It was make it or break it time for me.
    "That's sad. You're one of the most talented actresses that I've seen in forever, at least for your age." She huffed and picked up her menu. "I only got to see you for five minutes, but never in the ten years that I've been with Ethan have I seen him come alive like he did with you."
    "Really?" The air pulled from my lungs as I watched her. "I thought he was just messing with me."
    She laughed. "Oh, he tried to, but I think you won that round. He's a good guy with a shitty reputation. It's a lot harder to stand in the bright lights than most people know. You start to burn and your life flakes away while everyone's getting married, having kids and finding purpose."
    "Wow. That's deep." I leaned back and set my menu down. "Don't humanize him for me, please. I'm already fighting against the attraction of him just being him. I might have put on a good show, but I'm one of the girls standing in line to see his next film, and don't you dare tell him that."
    She laughed and set her menu down. "I like you already. We didn't get much time to talk the other day. Tell me about yourself."
    "First you tell me what offer it is that you're bringing with you. I've been scared shitless over what you might or might not be offering me. I'm at the point of wanting to give up, remember?" I tried to hold back the emotions that beat hard against my insides. This lady didn't know me, and if she was anything like the other agents in Hollywood, she didn't want to.
    "We're doing one more round of auditions. There are three of you that will be trying out." She gave me a tight smile. "I'm not supposed to tell you this, but you're in the lead by a good amount. Come to the audition and kill it like you did the other day. You hit a home run, and I'm thinking we're going to change your whole life."
    "Okay." I nodded and glanced up as the server walked up. Deza ordered a sushi platter and I handed over my menu, willing to share with her.
    "Now, tell me more about you. Darren must have seen your talent and been blown away. I'm a little shocked that he didn't work to develop your career a little, but he's a hard man to read." She shrugged and picked up her wine, taking a quick sip.
    "I started acting like most people do in junior high and high school. I joined up with the drama club, though I was a cheerleader. Odd combination, I realize. I just wanted to express myself in a way that brought people joy or sadness or something. Drama was my outlet. I graduated valedictorian of Billmore High just down the road, and my speech at commencement was more of a dramatic retelling of the last four years for some of us. I used humor and strong emotions to bring the crowd every experience I could provide. Darren approached me afterward and offered me an audition for a commercial."
    "His niece must have graduated with you." She smiled. "Keep going."
    "I started at UCLA, hoping that the acting career would take off, but it never did. I tried to get my foot in the door over and over the first two years, but after that it was easier to pull my head from the clouds and get a real job that would pay the bills. My dad died when I was little, and my mom never has gotten herself back together. I kept hoping that I would land something big so that I could pull her out of her poverty, you know?"
    She nodded and took a slow breath. "That's powerful stuff. I love it. Thank you for sharing yourself with me. Most actors will make