Touching the Billionaire - Holly Jaymes Page 0,23
that Madeline had it right when she said it was nice to have limited-time projects like a movie because when in the middle of it, it was all-consuming. Get up early, work all day, come home, eat, prepare for the next day and then go to bed. There was only a finite time one could do that without losing it.
Not that I was complaining. As careers went, none were any better than being an actor. And now that I had my own production company, the things that had always irked me about the business could be reduced. I could choose the projects I wanted to do. I could decide if I was going to act or produce the movie. I could even direct.
I entered my building and noted that the elevator doors were open, so I hurried in, and then stopped up short when I saw Madeline pressing the button for the eighth floor.
She startled for a moment when she saw me, but then she smiled. “Twenty?”
“Yes, please.” I stood in the opposite corner, resting my hands on the handrails. She’d changed into a flowy summer dress and strappy sandals that allowed me to see her toes painted in a pink hue. My insides started heating up all over again. What the hell was wrong with me? How was it that pink-colored toenails were doing it for me?
She stepped back into the opposite corner, leaning against the wall. She looked me up and down and I took a moment to see what I was wearing. How ridiculous was that? I was concerned that I didn’t look as good as her. I wore a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Not as nice as that pretty dress but didn't women like men in jeans and a t-shirt?
“Are you just getting in?” she asked.
“Yes.” I gave a nod to her new look for the evening. “You look like you’ve been out doing something important.” I had a thought that perhaps she’d been on a date and that didn’t sit very well in my gut.
“I had dinner with my sister. She has to work late so we went to a place near where she works.”
“You know, I don't think I’ve ever seen or met your sister.”
“Actually, she’s not here very often. She leaves early in the morning to go to work and gets back late at night. She says she’s working late, but I have this weird feeling she’s having an affair with someone at the office.”
At least someone’s getting some, I thought. Or some-two.
“How are you feeling about the work so far?” I asked, although not sure why. This elevator ride wasn’t long enough to have an in-depth conversation about work. But if I was talking to her or listening to her, I wasn’t thinking about fucking her against the elevator wall.
“I was really nervous to come back at first, but I’m really enjoying it. I’m sure you think I'm a pain in the ass though.”
“Nah, not really..”
She arched a brow like she didn’t believe me.
“I did at first but now I recognize that you have valuable input. I always appreciate it when a director takes in my ideas and at least considers them. I know Corrine is open to your input..”
She smiled wide and full. I realized that it was the first time I’d seen her smile like that. It was unguarded and free. Watching her, something in my chest shifted.
“I’m glad. Based on how we got off on the wrong foot, and my constantly pushing, I was concerned that maybe you didn't think so. Maybe you thought I was difficult to work with.”
I shook my head. “Getting off on the wrong foot was mostly my doing. Which I feel bad about and I’m trying really hard to behave.” I gave her a sheepish grin.
“Is it hard for you to behave?” She gave me a knowing smile.
Was she flirting with me? Or was that a real question? The fact that I couldn’t tell meant there was something about her that made my brain go haywire.
“I suppose it is. But mostly it’s that I tend to act on instinct before I think, and only afterward, upon reflection, do I think maybe that was the wrong thing to do. Like continuing that kiss after Corrine called ‘cut’.”
“Well, I didn’t think you overstepped at that point. To be honest, I was kind of irked that she was stopping there. It seemed like we had good chemistry going at the time.” She looked down for