an, startled, fumbled with a control, sending a rogue spotlight skittering ac

her unhurried walk toward the director's village, her path taking her directly

e snapped, scurrying to block Chloe's path. She planted her hands on her hips, striking a pose of belligerent

urious glances between the furious, B-list a

heap hair extensions down to her scuffed designer shoes. It wasn't a look of anger or contempt

blotchy red. "What are you looking at?" she shrieked

guard, who had followed her in with silent efficiency, stepped between them. He was a mountain o

backward, her ankle twisting in her ridiculous heels, and

oice, exasperated and carrying the weig

round his neck. He was a man perpetually stressed, but when his eyes landed on Chloe, his entire deme

d forward, his hands outstretched as if greeting roya

r offered hand in both of his

ck with shock. NINE? This young, beautiful woman was the reclusive genius, the write

impossible. It couldn't be. "No," she muttered, shaking her head in frantic

ishing, replaced by a look of cold fury. "Show some respect,

's grasp. She gestured to the script pages scattered on the

s. NINE, nothing we can't-" Jul

ice quiet but carrying an author

oe flipped through them, her eyes scanning the text with pract

fessional. "The subtext of her conversation with the senator doesn't track wi

The director, a titan in his own right, listened with rapt attention, nodding like an eager film s

the woman she'd just called a nobody - was too much for Melody. A h

eet, looking for any weapon she could find. "The biggest investor in this film is Donovan Glob

page, paused for a fraction of a second. A flicker of arcti

ed her head and looked at Melody, a sl

production company, Primavera Pictures, will be wiring an ad

a choking sound. Twenty million? Just like that? A wave of excited,

l locked on Melody's paling face, "this add

the weight of her wo

pproval on all casting decisio

. The color drained completely from Me

genius writer? It was a dream come true. "Done," he said instantly. He then looked over at Melody

ieked, her voice cracking wi

ould. And

escort Ms. Brennan from the set. She's wrapped

e struggled and screamed, but they were professionals, eff

nicured finger over the cover of the script, the name of the film emb

-