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Chapter 11: Orlando's Eyes
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The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 12: So I Might Be Turning Into a Shakespeare Buff
"What'd you do, go back to school when I wasn't looking?" my brother asks me. "I hate to say it, Maggie, but taking on even more student loans is probably not the best idea right now."I look up from the huge book in my lap. I can only imagine what Justin is thinking - there he is, just home from his respectable, grown-up job, still in his suit and tie, and the first thing he sees is me spread out on his couch, flipping through a huge book with the TV on in the background. And wearing leggings that definitely don't pass the bend-over test. Chadwick, his cat, is curled up on my stomach, purring."Shouldn't you be sending out more resumes or something?" he says."I sent out sixteen today," I tell him patiently. I also called and emailed the woman who was supposed to interview me but - no surprise - she hasn't returned any of my messages. My brother of all people knows how hard I've been working to find a job - he's not the sort of guy who would let me stay with him otherwise - but he'
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 13: I Can't Screw This Up
Cursing, I throw myself out of bed and run over to my closet. I grab my pencil skirt and blouse - they told me to wear professional clothes again - and pull them on as I run to the bathroom. At least I know my hair and makeup will be taken care of on set, and as much as I hate to skip brushing my teeth, I have mints in my purse. I quickly pee - while running a brush throw my hair at the same time - then bolt back out, grab my purse, and literally sprint out to my car.Today's scenes will be shot at a different building. It's closer to Justin's apartment than the last one, but it's still a good fifteen-minute drive. Fortunately, it's early enough that Atlanta's morning rush hour hasn't started in force - another half hour and I'd have been completely screwed.As it is, I roll into the office building's parking lot a good twenty minutes late. The sun has crept up over the horizon, turning the sky a dozen shades of orange, but here beneath all the buildings and trees everything is still
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 14: The World's Most Awkward Elevator Ride
I straighten. The elevator suddenly feels charged with energy, and that feeling only intensifies when Orlando's eyes meet mine for the briefest of moments. He gives us a nod before leaning casually against the wall of the elevator.Ford coughs as the doors close again. I glance up at him, and he offers a smile as if to imply we have some sort of shared secret between us. This guy really doesn't let up, does he?As the elevator begins to move, Ford leans a little closer to me, even though we're already much closer than two people in an elevator need to be."If you have any questions about anything today," he says in a low voice, "feel free to ask me. I want to make sure you feel comfortable.""She's free to ask anyone." Orlando makes no effort to keep his voice soft, and I jump. "Including me. Or Karen. That's why we're here, after all. And I would hope any of my actors feel comfortable enough raising their questions and concerns with me."The energy in this tiny, enclosed space is
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 15: A Power Struggle
As For walks away, my attention is drawn back to Orlando, who pulls my eye the minute he strides into the room. He commands everyone else's attention, too, simply by his presence, and the crew seems to be working a little faster, somehow managing to appear even more focused on their tasks than they were a moment ago.Orlando's gaze sweeps through the room, across the cameras and crew, over the actors already seated, past Ford walking briskly to his chair at the head of the table. He's not smiling, but he seems satisfied with what he sees in the room. When he spots me, he starts in my direction, but he's only gone a few steps before a hand pulls at my elbow."You're in the way," Karen tells me. "Get behind the cameras until your entrance." She tugs me aside as Orlando strides past. His eyes flick in my direction, and I swear I see a glimmer of merriment there. Just a glimmer, and then he's back to looking as serious as before.I don't know why people think he never laughs, I think as
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 16: A Taste of the Real Ford
Orlando asks Ford again, "Do I make myself clear?"Ford swallows, the blood draining from his face. "Perfectly." He doesn't sound as sure as he usually does, but his voice is mostly steady."Good," Orlando responds. "I won't tolerate a bad attitude on my set. Not from you or from anyone." His tone makes it clear that the conversation is over, and he turns and strides back to his chair without waiting for a response from Ford. When he reaches his seat, he gestures toward the makeup assistant. "Powder his nose. Then we're going to run it all again."The tension in the room doesn't automatically disappear at those words, but it least everyone collectively begins breathing again.I remain pressed against the wall, trying to stay as out of the way as possible. Something just happened here. Something important. It started in the elevator - or maybe before that, when I wasn't here - but Orlando has tried to end it, one way or the other.It's a relief to everyone in the room, I suspect, w
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 17: From Bad To Worse
I'm so determined to escape Ford that I'm not paying attention to where I'm going. Only a dozen steps into the building lobby, I run smack into another person so hard that I literally almost bounce off him. If it weren't for the pair of strong hands that grab me, I'd be flat on my ass on the ground."Easy, there," Orlando says, his hands steadying me. "What are you running from so fast?"I look up into his wild, ever-intriguing eyes."It's nothing," I say quickly. "Just the rain." I notice suddenly that I grabbed his shirt as I was trying to regain my balance, and I'm still clinging to him like some sort of lovesick hussy. I unclasp my fingers, but the way he's gripping me still leaves me pressed against his body.He glances over my shoulder, back the way I've come. He frowns, and something that looks like anger flickers in his eyes. His fingers tighten on my upper arms.I glance over my shoulder just in time to see Ford turn and walk the other way. His white-toothed smile is gone
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 18: Encounter In The Dark
The moment I feel Ford's fingers on me, I jerk away. But he must have been anticipating that. As I twist away from him, his other hand comes up and grabs my wrist. Before I can even swing around and jab my keys at him, he's pressed me up against my car. My back is against one of the doors, the handle digging into my spine. And my fist with my keys is crushed between us."What the fuck are you doing?" I demand, but my voice shakes. "Let me go!""I'm trying to have a conversation with you," he replies, and the calmness in his voice terrifies me even more than all the rest. "And you keep running away.""Let me go. You're scaring me.""Good. Some women need to be scared." His voice is still chillingly calm. "I've been very kind to you, Maggie. I'm only trying to help you. Is this how you show gratitude?"Since I can't free my hand with the keys, I'm forced to resort to other options. I lift my leg and then ram my heel down on his foot as hard as I can.Even in the near-darkness, I ca
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 19: The Drive Home
Orlando leads me across the parking lot, and when I stumble - only because I'm not used to wearing heels all day - he immediately reaches out an arm and supports me. I almost pull away from him, but honestly, I want the support. His arm is comforting.Part of me wants to ask him what's going to happen to Ford - Is he seriously fired? Is his part going to have to be recast and all his scenes reshot? - but I also don't really feel like talking about the incident anymore. Thankfully, Orlando doesn't say anything else about it. He just silently leads me across the parking lot, his arm a warm, reassuring presence against my back. My skin feels hot and prickly, and my heart feels like it's pulsing a hundred beats a second.There are only a handful of other cars still here, and he guides me to a very expensive-looking silver sportscar. Without a word, he opens the door and helps me into the passenger's side.I'm in Orlando Fontaine's car, I think, looking around in amazement. The dashboard
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