Chasing Perfection Vol. 2 (5 page)

Just as the waiter was returning with our drinks, DeVon’s phone buzzed. He glanced down at it, then set it aside.

“Jake had to cancel.” He took a sip of the wine and nodded to the waiter. “Since we’re here, we might as well eat.” Without asking what I wanted, he ordered for us both.

I would’ve been annoyed if I hadn’t been so nervous. If he hadn’t been my boss, this would’ve been so much easier, but he’d made the rules clear and I’d initiated the kiss.
 
If he was going to forget it and I brought it back up, I could get fired. But I wasn’t sure that I wanted him to forget it. I didn’t like the idea that a kiss that amazing – two kisses that amazing – could be so easily forgotten. Unless, of course, they hadn’t been good for him. It wasn’t like he didn’t have a lot to compare them to.

Neither one of us spoke beyond the occasional comment about the food or the weather, and then when our food came, we focused on that. I forced myself to eat even though I didn’t really taste anything. I wasn’t going to make DeVon mad by ignoring the meal he was paying for. I didn’t have a problem getting in his face when he did something wrong, but I wasn’t going to be intentionally rude.

Finally, as the waiter brought the check, I couldn’t stand the tension anymore. I had to say something. “Shouldn’t we talk abo–”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” He cut me off. “What happened, happened. We can’t take it back.” He stood up and pulled a hundred dollar bill from his pocket. He tucked it into the slender check holder and gave me a stern look, his eyes cold. “Just don’t ever do it again. I never just kiss.”

I blinked at his final statement and watched as he turned and walked away.

What the hell did that mean?

DEVON

“So how can I improve my chances of being represented by Mirage Talent?”

The woman asking the question sat across from me, one long leg crossed over the other. She was one of three prospective new clients I was meeting with today, but the only woman.

I raised an eyebrow. “What do you have in mind?”

She smiled at me and I wondered what those ruby-kissed lips would look like stretched around my cock.

“Oh, I think you know, Mr. Ricci. I’d do anything to get my career going.”

Not exactly a surprising response. I stood up and slowly walked around the desk, letting my gaze run over her. Monique was probably one of the hottest women I’d seen in a long time. Legs that went on for years. Breasts that were a little too perfect to be natural, but had been so well done that only someone like myself would’ve noticed. She had glossy black hair that framed a model-perfect face and fell just past her shoulders. The perfect length to hold onto while fucking her from behind. Pouting red lips and skin that amazing shade of tan that only Latinas can get without a salon. She had that exotic look that was all the rage now and I could see the heat in her eyes as she enjoyed my perusal. She wanted me to take her and I could already picture all the ways I could. Bent over my desk. Her riding me in my chair. Up against the wall, her hands pinned above her head. The last Latina I’d been with had given me that same look and I’d needed a three day hiatus from sex for my dick to recover. Compared to Monique, that last one looked like a five-dollar hooker.

I half-sat, half-leaned on the edge of the desk right in front of her and rested my hands on the expensive wood. “I’m pretty sure we can figure something out. I already have several roles that I can think of off the top of my head that you’ll be perfect for.”

She leaned forward, giving me an even better view of those magnificent breasts and put her hand on my leg, just above my knee, and gently squeezed. “That’s exactly what I need, an agent like you who can give me everything I’m looking for.” She ran the tip of her tongue along her bottom lip. “And I do mean everything.”

Fuck, she was hot.

Her hand slid higher up my leg and it didn’t take a genius to know where she was heading. My cock twitched and I knew I’d be hard the moment she touched me. Just before she reached her destination, I wrapped my fingers around her wrist.

“As much as I want you to continue – I can’t.” I didn’t recognize the words that were coming out of my mouth.

“Oh.” She blinked, confusion clearly showing on her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were involved with someone.”

I stood up and lifted my hands, palms out in the universal gesture of surrender. “I’m not.” The words came out sharper than I’d intended. What the hell was I doing? “But, if we’re going to work together, it would be inappropriate for us to be intimate. That’s one of the rules I have in this company.” I couldn’t believe I’d just said that. I’d never said that to a female client, especially one like Monique.

“Really?” The corners of her mouth curved up into a puzzled smile. “That’s
so
not what I heard.” She ran her finger across her collarbone to draw attention to her impressive cleavage. “But if you don’t think I’m hot enough, you should know that I have a few
very
naughty tricks that might change your mind. But, if you don’t want to find out...”

I cleared my throat and made a point of looking at my watch rather than those long legs that I could picture wrapping around my waist. “I have another meeting to attend to, but Bruce will be in touch with you about the paperwork.” I gestured towards the door. “I’m looking forward to seeing you again.”

“Oh, um, well, thank you,” she stammered as I ushered her to the elevator. Her eyes were wide and startled, but I didn’t try to offer an explanation. How could I when I didn’t understand it myself?

I kept a professional smile on my face until the elevator doors closed, then stalked back to my office and used most of my self-control not to slam the door. I leaned back against it and closed my eyes.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

Monique was exactly my type. Hot, willing and with a self-proclaimed ‘naughty’ side. She was the kind of woman who, just a few weeks ago, I would already be balls-deep in, making her scream, but as attractive as I thought she was, something inside me had told me to stop. Now that I stopped to analyze it, it felt a lot like guilt, and that made absolutely no sense. Why would I feel guilty about wanting to bang Monique when I’d been through the same scenario dozens of times before?

Krissy’s face popped into my head, the look of disgust I’d seen on her face when she’d first seen me in her hotel room. That was followed by the way she’d looked at me yesterday after she’d kissed me. The way she’d tried to use the rules to stop herself. I knew she’d wanted it. I’d felt it when she’d kissed me, when I’d kissed her back, but then she’d pushed me away. She’d tried to hide it, but I’d seen the expression in her eyes, the knowledge of what I was and what I’d do if she let me.

I’d seen the same knowledge in Monique’s eyes. In the past, it would’ve turned me on, knowing I didn’t have to worry about complications, but now I couldn’t get past it.

I ran a hand through my hair. I hadn’t been kidding when I’d told Krissy that this city was made out of tits and ass. Monique had proved that. Even the women expected men like me to take advantage of them. Hell, they were offended if we didn’t. My smile was bitter. Monique probably thought I wasn’t even hot for her.

I went back to my chair and sat down. I laced my fingertips under my chin. I needed a plan, I decided. I needed to seduce and fuck Krissy before she destroyed me. Fuck her and get her out of my head. Then I could move on and things would get back to normal. Slowly, a plan formed in my head and I chuckled. Perfect.

KRISSY

I set the script on my desk as Tracy walked into my office. “I’d like to speak to the assistant casting director for
Blue Monday.
” The pilot for Dreamtime TV was easily the best thing I’d read all week. “I want both Cami and Lena to read for the pilot. This would be perfect for either or both of them and I know it’s going to be a hit, so let’s make it happen.”

Two of the projects I’d gotten them auditions for had ended up going under for lack of financing. Another was stalled and the rest had gone with other actors. If I could get one or both of them on
Blue Monday
, it would do wonders for their confidence, not to mention mine.

My phone rang a minute later and it was Tracy. “I have Brandy from Dreamtime on the phone for you.”

I took a slow breath. I still wasn’t quite used to this part of the job. “Put her on the phone please.” I used my best ‘people person’ voice. “Hi, Brandy, this is–”

“I know who you are.” The woman’s voice was cold as she cut me off. “And you have a lot of balls thinking you can get your clients to read for one of the most anticipated pilots of the season after just two weeks on the job. I realize you’re DeVon’s new toy, but if you think I’m going to let your little no-talent actresses read for my show, you’re sadly mistaken.”

I’d always prided myself on having a quick wit and sharp tongue, but I had to admit that the immediate attack had completely caught me off guard. I pulled myself together quickly, ready to tear Brandy to shreds, not only for her referring to me as DeVon’s toy but also for calling my clients ‘no-talent.’ Thinking my boss was a prick was one thing. Hell, I even agreed to that, but basically calling me a whore and then insulting my clients, that was something else. Brandy wasn’t waiting for me to respond, however, and the line was dead even as I was opening my mouth.

I slammed the phone down. “What a bitch,” I muttered.

“Are you okay?” Tracy’s voice came from the doorway. “Can I do anything?”

“I’m fine,” I snapped. “Just leave me alone.” I immediately felt guilty. “Wait, I’m sorry.” She paused in her half-turn towards the door. “I didn’t mean to get short with you.”

She nodded and I knew we were okay. I was sure I wasn’t the first agent to lose her temper over someone like Brandy. A thought popped into my head.

“Actually, there is one thing you can do.”

“Yeah?”

“Get me Brandy’s boss on the phone,” I said. When in doubt, I thought, go over their head.

“You mean Derrick Johnson?” Tracy looked surprised.

“If he’s Brandy’s boss, then yes.”

“Okay,” she said. She started to turn back to her desk.

“What’s Derrick’s position besides being Brandy’s boss?”

“He’s the Vice President of Dreamtime.”

Well, that explained the surprised look on Tracy’s face. That was higher than I’d thought this would go, but I wasn’t about to back down now. “That’s who I want,” I said, as if I’d known all along. “Get him on the phone.”

Five minutes later, my phone rang.

“I have Derrick Johnson on the line.”

Butterflies suddenly took flight in my stomach, but I kept my voice steady. “Put him through.” I heard the familiar click of a call connecting.

“Derrick Johnson.”

“Hello, Mr. Johnson.” My voice was crisp and professional, betraying none of the nerves I was feeling or my anger at Brady. “This is Krissy Jensen from Mirage Talent. I have two amazing actresses who would be perfect for a role on–”