CHAPTER 2
~Xena's POV~
Dressed in a white long sleeved shirt, a vest, matching trousers and a hat, three hours later, I stood in the lobby of the Kingsway Hotel, clutching the handle of the black briefcase like it was my last chance at redemption.
The place smelled of perfume and hotel glam, too polished.
Thanks to my failed acting career, I had costumes for any part I wanted to play. My eyes swept the lobby. First time doing something like this, last thing I needed was another scandal on my list.
I made a beeline for the elevator and arrived at the third floor where the room was located. Then I saw it — a man pretending to fix a door, a maid whispering to him. The faint bulge under his jacket when he moved.
Gun.
My gaze flicked to the room tag. 3013. That was one door before mine. My first instinct was to run, but the maid suddenly looked up and nudged the man.
Yikes.
Masking the tightness in my chest, I forced a bright, easy smile. "Excuse me," I asked lightly, tilting my head as if I hadn't noticed the tension in the hall. "Do you 'ave ze time?"
He barely looked up, raising his wrist. "Quarter past one."
"Perfect." I smiled again, soft, airy. "My client 'ates when I am late. Very… naughty man."
I let the French accent curl gently around the words, lilting, polite, the kind that made people dismiss you instantly, and walked past my room without throwing a glance.
As soon as I reached room 3017, I stopped and pulled out my phone, pretending to make a call.
"Oh, you're by the pool? Sure. Be there soon, mi amor."
I turned toward the stairs, my heels clicking evenly despite the tremor running through my hands.
"I think she's the one we're looking for," the maid's voice floated behind me, making me halt on the first stair.
"You sure?" the man asked, disbelief coloring his tone.
"Yes. No other room on this floor is booked aside from these two. And she definitely saw your gun."
My stomach dropped.
"Really? After her."
"Shit."
I didn't wait another second. My pulse thundered in my ears as I bolted down the stairs, nearly twisting an ankle as my heel caught the edge of a step.
Bursting into the first floor, I veered straight for the kitchen.
The scent of frying oil and spice hit me as I shoved through swinging doors, brushing past startled staff. "Sorry, sorry," I muttered, weaving through them like I belonged there.
I didn't.
The second the back door creaked open, I slipped outside into the narrow alley. Cold air slapped my face. Without wasting a heartbeat, I yanked off my vest and white shirt, leaving only the black crop top clinging to my skin. I tossed the hat aside, ripped the seams of my trousers, revealing the white leggings underneath, and hurled the burgundy wig into a garbage bin before raking my fingers through my black hair fading into blue at the tips.
"Where is she?" I heard the man's voice from a few feet near the road and looked away.
By the time I stepped into the next building, my heart still hammering, breath shaky, I looked like someone else entirely.
Noise and laughter greeted me followed by a unique feminine voice calling numbers.
I recalled glancing at the audition sign when I first passed the building.
I barely scanned the banner as I rushed in, and passed auditionees.
My stomach flipped as I braced myself for the worst. The receptionist called, "Number thirty-eight!"
The girl beside me attempted to raise her hand, but I slipped her five hundred dollars and took the tag. "You just earned a day off sweetie," I said softly but with so much charm, she was speechless.
"Number thirty-eight?" the receptionist asked again, narrowing her eyes at me, and I just nodded.
When I walked into the room, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of the interviewers.
The stern, cold, AA List Director, Xade Michael. The same director whose film should have made me the top A List Actress before my scandal.
And beside him, Dominic, his famous, sharp-tongued personal assistant, leaned against a chair.
For a moment, I remembered everything and wanted to turn around for fear of them recognising me when suddenly the briefcase slammed against the table, slipping from my hand and emptying its content on the floor—lingeries and a sealed pack of weed spilled across the floor.
I looked up in time to see Dominic let out a low whistle. "Now that's an entrance."
Xade's eyes darkened. "What the hell is this?"
I forced a smile, even as panic clawed at me. Action, I told myself.
"Oh, so now you don't know me?" I gasped, voice trembling just enough. "After what you did last night?"
Dominic blinked. "Wait, what?"
"How dare you, Mister? How can you assault a lady this way and…"
"Assault?" Dominic's eyes widened.
"Or is it because I'm Italian?" I snapped, stepping closer. "Because I like a little fun?" I leaned in, whispering hoarsely, "or because I have weed? Everyone smokes pot and gets a little high."
They looked at me with shocked eyes and then I burst into laughter.
"Oh come on. I'm joking. I just thought…"
Tears burned my eyes. I didn't even need to fake them. My chest was beating too fast in fear and I just wanted to cry. "I thought you loved me, Xady. For me, being kinky and dirty when I moaned while riding your hard cock."
His face froze, somewhere between anger and disbelief and then his eyes narrowed, as if daring me, and to his surprise, I took it further.
I leaned in, whispering, "Aaaahhh yes, fuck… urgh choke me, daddy… that's right, the right spot..."
Dominic's mouth fell open. "Jesus Christ…"
Xade's jaw flexed, but he didn't move.
Both men were dumbfounded as I moaned sexily while I looked into Xade's eyes like he was destroying me when he never touched me.
"What the hell is this?" Dom questioned, seeing how flustered Xade had gotten.
Without breaking eye contact, I answered, "Oh sweetie, he's about to cum."
"What?" Xade finally voiced.
"Aaaaum… Let it go, honey, fuck me harder and fill me up with your juices just like you love it…. Yesss, aahh!"
I smirked as I stared at both men, like what I did never happened.
After what felt like forever, Dom muttered, "One word… she's good."
Xade exhaled slowly, his eyes still locked on me. "I needed a multifaceted character. She got the role."