Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“Excuse me,” West began.
Ally put a hand on his chest. “You know she’s right. Hush. I think this is going to be an incredible monologue.”
Channing did seem to be gearing up. She put a hand over her heart. “It’s hard getting old in this business. Especially since they think you’re old at thirty-five. When I was coming up, I had to hold my tongue about everything. I fought, though. I brought down a producer who viewed actresses as stress relief. He was incredibly powerful, and I had to risk my career to do it. At first I thought who is this mouthy kid? You know what? You can say the things you say because women like me and your mother fought and won. So you go, kid. You’re not a half bad actress, and you only tell the truth, which this industry needs more of. And Reid really should shave. That beard made him look like he was recently shipwrecked.”
“And it’s a catchall for the coke that doesn’t make it into his nose,” Ally said.
Channing nodded. “I’ll go talk to Bryce and Jay. Mr. Bodyguard…”
“It’s West. Or Mr. Rycroft,” he corrected.
Channing shook her head. “No. I don’t remember names unless they have some sort of production attached to them. You are Mr. Bodyguard or Ally’s Hot Piece. Your choice.”
Channing seemed to have learned a thing or two from those men she’d claimed to bring down. “Mr. Bodyguard it is then.”
“Excellent. Can we allow security to identify Bryce from his very familiar face? The old boy needs the affirmation,” she explained. “He’ll be much more amenable to the rules if he knows they’ve been bent for him. Can we all agree that Bryce Jericho isn’t a stalker?”
Ally looked up at him. “It’s so not Bryce.”
He sighed, giving in. He didn’t see the imposition, but apparently, allowances must be made. “Fine, but he does have to check in.”
“Well, of course. How else would he get the fawning attention he needs?” Channing asked. “He would be disappointed if they didn’t acknowledge his godlike presence. And Ally, let me know if you get contacted by actual reporters. I’m not worried about the tabloids. They’ll take a grain of truth and turn it into a massive conspiracy. Every set has chaos. Honestly, it’s publicity, and that never hurts. But if Vanity Fair or some other industry publication is starting to write about it, that could be bad. I wouldn’t want you to get a reputation for being difficult to work with.”
“Pretty sure I already have that,” she admitted.
“Well, it’s not earned. I’ve found you very amusing to work with,” Channing admitted. “And it’s not all about the pretty landscape you bring with you. Let me know if you need help.”
West frowned. “Did she call me landscape?”
Ally leaned into him. “Shhh. You know you are the prettiest of all landscapes.”
She sniffled, and he totally forgot about being objectified. He kissed the top of her head. “Want to go sit somewhere for a while?”
“Yeah. I think this might be a cowboy, take me away moment.”
He swept her up and carried her back to her dressing room, closing out the rest of the world.
For now.
* * * *
Ally felt somewhat better an hour later as she sat down in Jay’s big trailer. It had been delivered mere days before, taking up a whole row of parking spots. Hers was being hooked up tomorrow in preparation for the weeks they would be filming on the sound stages. Four weeks of studio work and then a couple of location shoots and they would be back in LA.
And West wouldn’t be there. Unless he agreed to stay on as her bodyguard.
They were floating through, not talking about what came next because she kind of dreaded what came next. West had a job and a family here, and her life was pretty much on the road at this time.
She didn’t see how they could work, but she also couldn’t imagine her life without him. There were moments and events that changed a person so thoroughly there was a before and after. She would forever view this time as After Meeting West. AMW. She was a changed person, softer than before, more capable of being hurt.
“Cocaine Bear? Was that necessary?” Jay looked at her like she was a naughty ten-year-old.
“He annoyed me. And honestly, he’s been awful to me this whole time.” She was halfway getting along with Channing and Bryce—or had been—but Reid was a complete dick weed. “He walks away when I try to talk to him. He’s beyond rude.”
“Have you considered that it’s part of his process and you should honor it?”
“Process?” She tried to tamp down her annoyance. Jay had been trying to teach her his method for weeks now. His “method” was to be miserable all the time, to find the pain the character went through and allow herself to be traumatized. He’d wanted her to check herself into a mental hospital for a couple of days to experience the horror.