Chapter Five #2
I sat up straighter in my chair, ignoring the feel of three pairs of eyes all fixed on me. “You were?”
“Definitely.”
“Great. So…” I let the sentence trail off, worried that if I was the one to mention the second audition, they’d suddenly announce I’d missed out on it by the skin of my teeth, and this was just a courtesy call to let me know how close I’d come.
“We’d like to offer you the part, if you’re still interested?”
“Are you sure? I mean, that’s great. Yes! Yes, I’m still interested.”
I vaguely listened, offering affirmations where they were needed, as contracts and scripts being mailed was discussed, and availability for shooting dates was checked.
Of course, I was available. Anything else could go to hell.
I didn’t say that, wanting to avoid coming across as desperate.
I’d barely disconnected the call when I found myself enveloped in a bruising Georgia hug.
I winced when she let out an excited squeal directly into my ear.
“Oh my God! You got the part. I told you, you were a great actor. Now everyone will see you in this…this…” She pulled back slightly peering into my face. “What is it—advert, film, TV…what?”
I laughed. “TV. It’s a drama. It’s going to be on the BBC. Probably BBC2. But, still…it’s BBC.”
She squealed again. Luckily, that one was a bit farther away.
I still had hope of leaving the bar with my hearing relatively intact.
“Everyone will see you in this drama, and realize what a fantastic actor you are, and then you’ll be swamped with offers of work, and I’ll be able to show off and tell everyone I know you, and—”
“Georgia.” I pushed her away from me slightly. “It’s only three episodes. And it’s not a huge part. I’m not making a Hollywood film.” However, the fact I couldn’t even keep a huge grin off of my own face made somewhat of a lie out of my words.
She hugged me again. “You’re so talented!”
We broke apart to find the two men staring at us, a bemused look on both of their faces. Georgia immediately piped up. “He got an acting part.”
Benedict nodded. “We kind of worked that out. Well done.” Simon added his congratulations before I made my excuses and escaped to the bathroom.
I spent a while in there, calming myself down, and reminding myself that despite Georgia’s excitement and unwavering optimism, it really wasn’t a big part, probably no more than a couple of days shooting.
And it wouldn’t necessarily lead to anything else.
In fact, if I was awful in it, it could just as easily damage my fledgling acting career.
But at least it was something. Certainly better than the many rejections I’d received lately.
At least they’d liked me enough to give me a chance.
Pep talk over, I was just washing my hands when Simon appeared in the mirror behind me.
I smiled, determined to be friendly. “Oh, hey. Sorry, have I been ages? You didn’t have to come looking for me. I was just on my way back out.”
Simon stepped close, a little too close if you ask me.
He smelled of cheap cologne, and beer. I fought the overwhelming urge to take a step back.
Funny, how he could spend thousands on hubcaps for a car but couldn’t fork out for a decent cologne.
A pillow came to mind; one smelling of a much more pleasant cologne.
I immediately felt guilty. It was entirely up to him how he spent his money.
I was being judgmental. Again. For some reason, Simon seemed to bring it out in me.
If Simon noticed my discomfort, it didn’t seem to bother him. “I thought we could celebrate your good news.”
Glad of the excuse to put some distance between us, I took the few steps needed to get to the hand drier, sticking my wet hands underneath. “Sure! As I said, I was just on my way back. We can—” I stopped short at the sudden grin that appeared on his face. There was something off about it.
He stepped closer again. “You’re so cute. No, I meant celebrate!”
Frowning, I tried to work out what I was missing.
I didn’t have too long to consider it before his hand landed in the center of my chest, and I found myself shoved backward into an empty cubicle, his intention becoming all too clear.
Too taken by surprise to protest, I didn’t even open my mouth to speak until the door was already locked and I was crowded back against the wall.
“Sorry, I…” My words were cut off when his lips crashed down on mine.
Being so close, the cologne was overpowering.
When his tongue dove in, I turned my head to the side, wrenching my mouth away.
“Not a big kisser? No worries.” He squashed our bodies together, rubbing his hardening crotch against my thigh. At the same time, his hand swooped down, tugging at my zipper.
I grabbed his wrist, halting the progress. “Wait!”
“What?” He looked genuinely annoyed.
I pushed him off, creating some much-needed space between the two of us. Not that that was much, given the confines of the small cubicle, but it was better than nothing. “I’ve only just met you. I’m sure you’re a really nice guy, but—”
He shot a scathing look my way. “So, you’re just a cock tease?”
A cock tease! What the hell! Was he for real? “When have I…what did I?” Realizing, it would be stupid to get drawn into his bullshit, I gathered my wits together. “Can you move aside? You’re blocking the door.”
He complied, which would have been good if it wasn’t for the fact it was done with a slight smirk on his face.
“You’ve been making eyes at me all night.
You can deny it if you want, but it doesn’t make it not true.
It’s obvious why you were hanging about in here so long.
You were waiting for me to come and find you. ”
Refusing to stay and argue, I unlocked the door, and got the hell out of there.
There was no way I had any intention of spending the rest of the evening with him.
I’d be too worried that anything I said or did would add to his arrogant assumption that I was apparently interested in him.
Instead of heading back to the table, I just kept walking.
I’d been counting on Georgia not noticing, then I would have called her with an explanation on the way home.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. She caught up with me at the door, grabbing my arm. “Dean, where are you going?”
I tugged her gently outside onto the street, unwilling to explain in front of her boyfriend or his creep of a friend, assuming he’d left the bathroom just after I had. “I’m going home, Georgia.”
Her brow furrowed. “Why? I got you another drink. I thought we were going to make a night of it. And Simon really likes you.”
The mention of his name triggered an unfortunate recall of his hands roaming all over my body while he shoved his tongue down my throat. I suppressed a shudder. “Well, the feeling’s not mutual.”
“Why?” Her eyes narrowed. “Hang on. He went to the bathroom when you did. What happened? Did he do something?”
“It’s not a big deal. He just came on a bit strong, that’s all.
He seemed to think I was up for a quickie in there, and I wasn’t…
and never will be. Not with him.” I decided to leave out the bit where he called me a cock tease.
No doubt she’d feel the need to defend my honor, and her whole evening would be ruined.
She still looked less than convinced. I dragged her in for a hug, mumbling into her hair.
“Listen, you go back in and have a great time. I’ll see you tomorrow.
You can tell me all about it.” I kissed her on the forehead and gave her a gentle push back into the bar.
She frowned but acquiesced without any further argument.