TAMING HOLLYWOOD'S BADDEST BO- Max Monroe Page 0,86
respond and my gaze moves to anything and everything around the room besides him, he adds, “So, I guess I should take it you’re pissed at me, then?”
Oh, the fucking nerve.
I look him dead in the eyes. “I’m not anything when it comes to you.”
He searches my face and I swear I can see a hint of a smile on his lips, but I can’t be sure. “Are you sure about that?” he asks, and I lift my head high in the air.
“Positive.”
“Well, if it’s anything to you, both Bailey and I have missed you since you left Alaska.”
On instinct, my heart clenches at his words, but I refuse to be that girl, the one who lets some dick walk all over her.
So, instead, I swallow back the unwanted emotion and look down at Bailey. He is still lying there at my feet, his face resting between his paws. I give him a few gentle pets across the back and then look up to meet Luca’s steady gaze. “I’ve missed him too.”
Luca smirks. “And me?”
“I haven’t thought about you once since I left.”
Is that a lie? Of course. But he doesn’t need to know that. He doesn’t need to know anything when it comes to me.
“Now, I know that’s not true.” Luca steps closer to me and reaches out to slide a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “But I understand why you’d say that.”
He understands? Pfft. He doesn’t understand shit.
“But do you really?” I ask and tilt my head to the side. “Because I don’t think you truly understand anything when it comes to someone else’s feelings.”
“I’m sorry I was an asshole,” he says, and I hate the honesty that rings out in his voice. “And, Billie, I want you to know that I’m really sorry I hurt you.”
My spine stiffens, and my pride aches with discomfort.
“You didn’t hurt me,” I lie again. “Trust me, you don’t have that much power.”
Luca just stands there for a long moment, searching my eyes. I hope and pray all he finds is apathy.
“Anyway, that’s all in the past.” I try like hell to brush it off and put a defiant hand to my hip. “Now, the only thing between us from here on out is work.”
“So, that’s how it’s going to be, then?” He quirks a brow. “All business?”
“Correct.”
Silence fills the void between us, and I’m mere seconds from walking away and doing a secret victory dance in the hall.
But Luca has other fucking plans.
“Well then, princess,” he starts with a smug little smirk on his lips. “Since we’re only business-focused, I guess now is the perfect time to chat with the PA Serena has told me is my go-to person during this movie.”
“Go-to person?” I ask, looking around the room to figure out who he’s talking about.
But when I don’t come up with any obvious options, Luca points one index finger in my direction.
“You,” he says. “You’re my go-to person.”
I’m sorry…what?
“So, I will be needing some help making sure movers can drop off all of my stuff at my new rental in Laurel Canyon,” he informs me kindly.
Movers? His new rental? What the fuck? That has nothing to do with me.
“I’m a production assistant, Luca,” I retort. “Not a personal assistant.”
His smug smile reappears. “But Serena said you would help me with anything I needed. Should I tell her that’s not the case?”
Oh, the fucking audacity of this asshole.
I want to lift my palm and slap it clear across his face.
I want to yell.
I want to scream.
I want to tell him to shove his stupid request straight up his ass.
But I can’t. And he knows I can’t.
He knows, when it comes to my job, I am the low woman on the totem pole and I have to follow through on this request. Actually, I have to follow through on all of his fucking requests.
Son of a bitch.
“When do you need me to help with that?” I ask through a clenched jaw.
“I’m not sure yet, I’m waiting to hear back from the movers,” he responds, smile growing. “But don’t worry, princess. I’ll definitely let you know when I know.”
“Great,” I lie…again.
This isn’t great. This is worse than hiking through the goddamn Alaskan wilderness in a pair of UGGs after losing your favorite pair of cowgirl boots.
This, right here, is a disaster.
My hands are tied, and this bastard is the one who brought the damn rope.
Hell’s bells, working on this movie is going to be one awful fucking ride.