“The guy doesn’t make a move without a slew of lawyers, yet he flew out to Glendale personally to discuss you.I’m not too thrilled that he’s taken over my office and has my secretary running around doing his bidding, but your portfolio must have impressed him because he wants to work with you and no one else.”
Jillian grinned.He must have heard about her mad skills.“Is Chris on board?You know I don’t work with any stunt coordinator except him.”
“I told him the same thing, but he said you won’t need Chris.”
She frowned.“What kind of gig is it?”
“He won’t tell me.”Greg sounded pouty.He went back to whispering.“He insists on talking to you in person first.He wants to meet with you tomorrow evening.Are you filming?”
“I’m done for the week.When and where am I meeting him?”
“Eros.Seven o’clock.”
Eros was an exclusive, new restaurant on Melrose, and everyone she knew claimed they served the best seafood in the greater Los Angeles area.To her, seafood was like any food.Not to Chris and Greg.They’d met at a seafood restaurant.Greg insisted they were reaching for the same crab leg.So romantic.
A few months ago, she had tried to get them a reservation at Eros for their anniversary and learned that she had to wait a month to get one.Obviously, her new client had serious connections to get a reservation on such short notice.
“Does this client have a name?”Jillian asked.
“Didn’t I tell you?His name is Alexander Fitzgerald, a real estate billionaire that rivals the toupee-wearing dude, except he has better taste.Remember the art studio in Venice you were admiring during your last shoot?He did that.He restores old buildings.Even his new ones add something to their surroundings.His family is very prominent.His brothers and uncles…”
Jillian had gone into selective listening as soon as Greg had mentioned Lex’s name.Billionaire, huh?He hadn’t dressed like one, but he had a presence and the arrogance she associated with the privileged.
She wasn’t surprised Greg knew about the Fitzgeralds.He lived and breathed gossip blogs, magazines, andL.A.TimesSeen & Heard pages.Like most agents, he had to be on top of things in Hollywood—who attended what and with whom, and who got snubbed.She was the opposite.Couldn’t care less.
“He’s still there, isn’t he?”she asked.
“Yes.How do you know?”Greg asked.
“You’re whispering, G, which means you’re in the cave.”The cave was really a giant walk-in closet.Greg was a creature of habit.He hid in his closet when he didn’t want to talk to a client, or when he wanted to discuss a client with Chris.
“Maybe you can ask him what this job is about,” Greg said.“The suspense is killing me.”
Me too.“Okay.Let me talk to him.”
Jillian jumped up and paced as she waited for Lex.How was she going to deal with him?And how had he found her?He hadn’t bothered to ask for her name.And just because she’d turned him down didn’t mean he had to come up with a lame excuse to see her again.She needed a real job, not to play games with bored billionaires.
What was she thinking?Men like him didn’t play games.They made money.Lots and lots of it, and she needed some yesterday.He probably had people bending over backward to do his biddings.She, unfortunately, was never good at bending over backward or forward.No, not true.She was pretty nimble from years of gymnastics and dance as her exes would testify.She just didn’t suck up to people.
Talking to Lex Fitzgerald would require a nicely-worded opening line, which wasn’t her strongest point.She spoke her mind and went with her instincts.It didn’t help that Lex was gifted with everything that made him so damn alluring to women.Wealth.Good looks.Charm.Bet he was great in bed, too.Or not.Jillian giggled at her naughty thoughts.He probably gave orders and didn’t know how to let go.
“Jillian?”
She tried to steel herself against the effect of that smooth, sexy voice of his.She really tried and failed miserably.She closed her eyes, savoring its effect on her.Then she opened her mouth and words poured out.
“I will not allow you to bully my agent, Lex.I said no to dinner, and I meant it.”
A slow chuckle answered her.“If I bullied your agent, I was not aware of it.Just a second.”Then she heard him apologize to Greg before coming back on the line.“I have a job for you.”
An arrogant billionaire who apologizes?That thought steadied her.“Let me guess.You were so impressed by my riding skills you’ve decided I should test-ride your bikes?”
“No.I believe we have people doing that sort of thing.”
“Youbelieve?You don’t strike me as someone who doesn’t know every aspect of his company?”
He chuckled.“I do, except Leeds belongs to my cousin, not me.I’m just helping him iron out a few snags.”
Hmm, wonder what the few snags were and how he’s ironing them?“So if this is not about my stunts, what’s going on?You need a bodyguard?If Greg didn’t mention it, I’m licensed to carry a gun and I’m a fourth degree black belt in Karate.”
