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)
“Chaos surrounding this film will do nothing but make people interested in the end product, right?” Ally faced down the director. “This is a film about people fighting over money. On the surface, it’s not too interesting. Happens all the time. What’s more interesting is a chaotic shoot. People were already talking about how the legendary Channing Lloyd would handle being cast as the mother to a nepo baby.”
Channing waved a hand. “I handle all things with aplomb. It turns out you’re quite amusing.”
“She’s the problem,” Bryce argued.
“Well, that’s what Jay seems to want us to think.” Reid seemed more serious than usual.
A nasty suspicion hit West. Eve had told them she thought this could be another person. He turned to Ian. “Do you think…”
“I think I want to see how she handles this. You need to be ready in case he gets nasty,” Ian advised. “He doesn’t have a gun. If he hits her, you can’t kill him here. We’ll find a quieter way to dispose of the trash.”
He wasn’t about to let anyone hit her. He moved onto the stage.
“Did you or did you not tell everyone in this cast and crew to treat me like shit?” Ally asked.
How hard had this been on her? All the rejection had weighed her down.
Jay was quiet for a moment, and then it was like the mask came off and the real man was finally here. “Well, dear, you couldn’t get it right on your own, so I had to make adjustments.”
Fucker.
Tag moved in behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Not here. Not now. This is her stand.”
He forced himself to stay back. Tag was right. This was Ally’s moment, and unless that asshole raised a hand to her, he was going to let her handle it. She was strong and brave and resourceful, and maybe now she would value herself for something more than her screentime.
“How would you know, Jay?” Bryce had a confused look on his face. “We hadn’t even started rehearsals when you told me how I should treat her. I believe you said she’d requested it so she could follow your method.”
“Yes, I was told the same thing.” Channing was in full costume and looked every inch the grand dame of the manor. “I thought it odd since she didn’t seem like a method girl.”
“I’m not. I think it’s silly.” Ally frowned. “Though I’m sure it works for some people.”
She could soften her rough edges. He gave her a thumbs-up, and she nodded his way.
“You told the crew to be mean to me, too,” Ally continued. “So the question now is how much more were you willing to do to get what you needed out of me? It was more than a performance, wasn’t it? You need me to click all the boxes, don’t you? You want something more. You want me to be proof that your method works.”
Bryce’s eyes rolled. “His method? It’s ridiculous. He’s not even an actor.”
“No, but he’s an excellent manipulator.” Reid stood up, his jaw firming. “I don’t think what he’s trying to teach is how to act.”
“No,” Jay agreed. “I don’t want to teach acting, per se. I want to teach directors how to get what they need out of actors. Most of you are completely worthless. You’re either so full of yourselves you can’t collaborate or so pathetic you can’t possibly process your own emotions. You, Allyson, are an odd combination of both. You couldn’t touch the emotional truth of the character, so I had to find a path to connect you.”
“I hate this guy.” Ally didn’t need another person telling her how she didn’t measure up. “He did this to her.”
“Yes, he did,” Tag whispered.
“So you had someone break into my house and leave a bunch of dead birds,” Ally said quietly. “Or did you do it yourself? The funny thing is I didn’t get the symbolism. Was Delia supposed to be the dead bird?”
“You don’t understand symbolism at all, sweetheart,” Jay said with syrupy sarcasm. “However, I certainly wouldn’t go to those lengths. That would make me a criminal. I believe you’re confusing me with your stalker. How many do you have? You get into so much trouble.”
“It wasn’t JK Harris. It was you,” Ally said with certainty. “And it was you who sent the box to the hotel, and you’ve been blasting my socials with horrible messages.”
Channing stood up, her shoulders going straight and regal. “Is this true, Jay? Have you been tormenting this young woman so you could manipulate her performance?”
“If she would listen to me, I could get her a nomination,” Jay snarled.
“He’s got a book deal,” Ally explained. “I would bet it’s scheduled to come out around the time the movie is released. He’s done all of this to hype the movie and his method. He makes us all look like we’re at each other’s throats…”