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Gabrielle traveled the empty hallway of Brannix Studios, stopping at Hugh’s office. Her stomach twisted in knots at seeing him again.
“Stay strong,” she whispered to herself. “Stand your ground and don’t fall for that charm and that devilish smile.” She sighed. “What’s wrong with me?”
She stood tall and tapped on the door.
“Come in.”
She walked in, overtaken by bitter cigarette smoke. “Mr. Macintosh.”
“You know better than that.” He studied something on his desk, but she sensed his smirk though she couldn’t see it. “Call me ‘Hugh’.” He looked up, the reading glasses adding an enigmatic aura to his handsome face. “Or better yet you can call me your future husband.”
She closed the door. “You should ditch directing and become a comedian.”
“I see you got my assistant’s message.” He threw his head back. “When you agreed to come, I died and went to Heaven.”
“I had no business sending Warner here earlier.” Gabrielle put her hands in the pockets of her beige, palazzo pants. “I’m a grown woman. I should’ve handled it myself.”
“What is it with you and Warner, anyway?” He hooked the cigarette in his mouth. “I’m sensing more than friendship.”
“What?” She stood on the blue and purple abstract rug.
The cigarette bounced as he spoke, “You and him ever had something going?”
“Romantically?” She shook her head, ponytail swinging. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no. Warner is like a brother.”
Smoke swirled from his nostrils. “Something tells me he wants to be more than that.”
“What are you getting at, Hugh?”
“He’s in love with you.”
She laughed. “That’s ridiculous. What’s your angle with this?”
“Would it be so surprising if he wanted you?” He bobbed his head. “A man would have to be blind or crazy not to.”
“Warner is the best friend I’ve ever had, and I won’t let you pervert the nature of our relationship.”
He pulled his shoulders back. “Calling it like I see it.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong. Warner wants to protect me.”
“I hate you feel you need protection from me.” He set the cigarette in the tray, studying the storyboard.
Gabrielle meandered behind his desk, intrigued by the little drawings. “This for Fatal Honor?”
“Yep.” He scribbled on notebook paper. “Taking notes for changes. I’ve changed the boards a million times already, but I’m a perfectionist.”
She leaned over, the pearl pendant of her necklace hitting his arm. “The sketches are so detailed. How come you don’t do it on a computer?”
“I’m old school.” He took a drag off the cig and put it in the tray of ashes. “Don’t tell anyone this, but I’m a little intimidated by the tech stuff.”
“You?” She stood up, grinning. “Shocked anything intimidates you.”
“Cell phones and computers are necessities, I get it.” He sighed, looking up at her. “But, I don’t care for all that other stuff like those apps and junk. People rely on computers too much. That’s how mistakes happen.”
She walked to the front of the desk. “Another layer to HuMac, huh?”
“I have many layers.” He scribbled more notes. “You might find one you like.”
“I doubt it.”
“Why not?”
“You’re not the man for me, and I don’t want a man, anyway.”
“If I had a dime for every time a woman lied by saying that I’d be even richer than I already am.”
She squinted.
“Tell you what. Why don’t you save the energy it takes to lie to yourself and get to know me better?”
“What did you want to talk about?”
No, I won’t be in your movie.
“I wanna offer you the deal of a lifetime. I want to offer you the role of Dash Phillips’ love interest in Fatal Honor.” He smiled. “I know you haven’t acted before, but you’ll be fine. You can come in and read for the part to become comfortable, but, I want you in it.”
I knew it.
“Let me guess.” She rocked. “This is a rescue scheme. The plan is I’ll be in your film, it becomes a hit, and I’ll be ever so grateful for you saving my career that I’ll give myself to you, mind, body, and soul. You’re something else.”
“I’m hoping this gets me closer to you, but I also care about your career, Gabrielle.”
“Bullshit.” She blew a raspberry. “All you care about are my panties and getting me out of them.”
He snickered.
“I’m not doing your film so put that idea to bed right now.”
“Do you realize what being in a Hugh Macintosh film, produced by Ian Delfino and starring Dash Phillips would do for you?”
“I don’t need your help. Thank you very much.”
He sipped from his Coke can. “It doesn’t look that way.”
“You’re just another man trying to get me into bed.”
“Look at the bigger picture.” He slapped the storyboard. “Sometimes pride is our biggest enemy.”
“You’re doing this to bully me, and it won’t work.”
He grimaced. “Bullying?”
“And stalking.” She stomped to the file cabinet. “I’m getting a restraining order.”
“You’re gonna get a restraining order on me yet you came here on your own?” He rolled his eyes skyward. “Give me a break.”
“You think I haven’t been down this road with men a million times before?” Her wide-legged pants swung as she approached the desk. “Honey, I’ve been chased by far bigger and better men than you.”
His eyes sparkled. “Is that right?”
“I’ve been wooed by legendary actors, governors, senators, and even foreign leaders.”
Hugh poked his lips out in a mocking fashion. “You don’t say?”
“With all their power, money, and status they never got me into their beds and neither will you.”
“From what I hear it’s been quite a while since any man got you in his bed.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Just saying.”
“Fuck you.”
He cackled. “Name the time and the place.”
“See this is why I can’t deal with men like you. You don’t take women seriously. Hugh, I’m more than a model. Don’t you care about the woman inside? My feelings?”
He stared into her eyes, giving her a glimpse of someone human. “I do very much.”
“Then leave me alone. I will get a restraining order and embarrass your ass in the press.”
“You’ll be in the movie if you know what’s good for your career.”
“For someone who can get any woman he wants you sure seem desperate.”
“Hold on.” He took off his glasses. “Who’s the desperate one, honey? I was giving you some much needed attention.”
“I don’t want or need some womanizing creep who uses his position to get women who don’t want him.”
“You judge people by what you hear in the media?” He stood, pushing his chair under the desk. “As a celebrity yourself, you shouldn’t put stock in gossip.”
“It’s not gossip. Your reputation is pathetic.”
“My reputation is my business.” He walked up to her, glasses in hand. “For someone who isn’t interested in HuMac, you’ve been paying attention.”
“You’re on the news more than the weather. How could I not pay attention?”
He smacked his lips, brows creasing. "You’re becoming less attractive by the moment.”
“Great.” She stuck her face in his. “Then leave me alone and I’ll get peace again.”
“How can I leave you alone?” He dug his fingers into her arm. “You still don’t understand the hold you have on me? How much I want you?”
“Hugh.” She touched his chest. “Let me go.”
“I wish I could stop thinking about you and dreaming about you.” He moved his hand to her cheek. “I can’t no matter how hard I try.”
“You need to.”
“Ever since the first time I saw you, something clicked. You make things happen inside that no woman has ever made me feel.”
“Let me go.”
“Give me this one moment, Gabrielle.” He swallowed, his eyes easing into slits. “Let me kiss you.”
“No.” She tried to shake her head, but he held it still. “Don’t.”
“You feel something.” The tip of his finger touched the back of her earring. “Be mine, Gabby.” He puckered his lips. “For this moment.”
She closed her eyes, panting.
“This second.”
She opened her mouth to receive his kiss but came to her senses. “Uh-uh. Let me go. Please.”
He let her go, growling as if to fight an urge deep inside of him.
“You have a woman, Hugh.” She brushed his touch from her cheek. “Concentrate on her.”
“I want you.” He snatched her hand. “Only you.”
“Why are you with Sierra if you want me so much?”
“Go out with me and if you don’t have a good time I’ll never bother you again. I promise.”
“No.” Her attention fell on his earring.
“What do you have to lose?”
“Myself.”
She left.