Nicole looked down, making her blonde fringe around her face fall into her azure eyes. She wanted to tell the other woman to mind her own business, but the last thing she needed was for someone to leak to the media that she was fighting with her co-star. It was hard enough to prove to everyone that she could do more than simply play the lead role in a romantic comedy. “Sure thing, Tayla; I promise to deliver the best dramatic performance possible.”
“We’ll see,” Tayla stated with a shrug. “But if it turns out that attempting to play such a diverse, dramatic role isn’t exactly in your lane, you can always go back to your slapstick antics in those adorable little rom-coms of yours. People just love watching you fall on your face. See you back at the resort.”
The words stung, but Nicole didn’t want to let Tayla know that. She quickly turned away and rushed from the table, hoping to keep the other woman from seeing how much she upset her. Back at her makeshift dressing room in one of the unused rooms of the cabin, Nicole switched back into her personal clothes.
Her cell phone buzzed, alerting her that she had a text message. She pulled it out of her purse and glanced down at the screen. She sucked in a deep breath and held it. Hank. Her ex-husband was the last person she wanted to talk to after the day she had on set. As she flicked the slider on her phone to read his message, his words made her freeze in place.
I know you’ve been dodging my phone calls,
but I need to talk with you.
I’m here at the resort waiting.
Let’s have dinner so we can talk about our future.
Nicole’s fingers hovered over the buttons to text him back. What could she say to get him to leave her alone? She’d flown three states away, but still it wasn’t enough. Why couldn’t he just let her move on? When they had gotten divorced a year prior, she’d done everything she could to sever her ties to him. It was bad enough she caught him cheating, but the fact that the embarrassing information got splashed all over social media only made it worse. The paparazzi latched onto the demise of their relationship like sharks fed on chum, reporting every move they made and how the once Hollywood “It” couple had spent the past year fighting over all their assets.
Letting out a heavy sigh, she responded.
There’s nothing to discuss.
I came to Colorado for work, not vacation.
Three bubbles popped up, and after a few seconds, he texted back.
Don’t be like that, Butterfly.
We can work this out,
if you’ll just give me a chance.
Tell me what I need to do
and I’ll do it.
Frustrated, and knowing she needed to be firm, she stated it clearly.
You need to leave.
I don’t want to see you.
Nicole watched the screen anxiously, but when he didn’t text her again, she felt her message came across. Satisfied the situation had been adequately handled, she set to work changing out of the outfit she wore for the movie and into her own clothes.
Just as she was placing her movie wardrobe back on the hanger, her stylist, Britney Jones, entered the room, flipping her flame-red, curly hair over her shoulder. Dressed in her usual bright, outlandish outfit, she pranced over and wrapped her arm around Nicole’s shoulders. “I hope you know, you should just ignore Tayla McCormick. I’ve heard she’s awful to everyone on set, so don’t consider yourself special.”
Nicole was relieved to see her friend, who always managed to distract her from her problems. “Thanks for that, but I know she doesn’t think I have the acting chops for this role, just like most of the crew. Sometimes I wonder why Donald gave me this role.”
“As long as no one thinks it’s because you’re romantically involved with him, we’re golden,” Matt Gibson, Nicole’s long-time manager, declared as he joined the two women in the room. He looked polished-to-perfection in his three-piece navy blue suit, which looked amazing against his mocha skin. “I can have your publicist spin almost anything, but with the current atmosphere in Hollywood, that would be a blow we definitely want to avoid. Especially now that I can officially confirm your agent secured the offer for the lead female role in the next Ashton Kutcher film.”
“Another one?” Nicole sighed, hating the idea of spending months on one more rom-com set where she had to act like the dumb blonde who clumsily fumbles her way through the movie while winning over the heart of the leading man. “I thought by landing this part, I might finally get some offers for some dramatic roles. What’s it going to take for everyone to see me as a serious actor?”
“Nicole, I know you want to branch out, but don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” Matt stated firmly as he scratched his black hair that curled over the edge of his ears. “Romantic comedies are your bread-and-butter. You shouldn’t alienate your core fans by refusing to do them anymore.” Matt looked down at his vibrating phone. “I need to take this call, but I’ll see you both back at the resort.”
As Nicole watched Matt leave, she knew that he was right. She just wished she could find a way to make both her fans and herself happy. She’d grown as an actor over the past five years and wanted to challenge herself with new roles. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like her fans or the press liked the idea. Ever since it was announced she got the starring role for the crime drama, she’d been getting consistent feedback that no one thought she could make the move from comedy to drama. Even her own manager worried she’d have a difficult time pulling off the gritty and intense performance.
“Nicole, you are pure gold,” Britney stated with a smile. “Once they see how you shine on the screen in this role, everyone who doubted you is going to bite their tongue,” the stylist stated as she looked over at Matt with an arched eyebrow and a frown—making it clear she didn’t like how he was treating Nicole. “Come on, let’s head back to the resort and grab a couple of drinks at the bar. It’ll take your mind off everything.”
“I’d rather just go to my suite and order room service,” Nicole countered with a sigh. “It’s been a long day and I don’t feel like fending off fans all night.”
“Whatever you want,” Britney said with a nod. “You call the shots.”
A half hour later, they arrived back at the resort. Nicole glanced around as she entered the lobby, hoping to make it through quickly without being recognized. What waited for her inside, however, was worse than any throng of over-excited fans. Hank’s perfectly white veneers were poking out from under his brown mustache—the very one he’d grown for a movie two years ago and left, even though Nicole had hated it.
“There you are, Butterfly,” he stated suavely as he leaned forward to kiss her.
She quickly turned her face away, causing his lips to land on the side of her cheek. “Why are you here? I texted you to leave.”
“Oh, that? I didn’t take that seriously. I know if you just give me some time, we can work this all out.”
“Time isn’t going to change this, Hank. No matter what you think, we’re never getting back together.”
“You don’t mean that, Butterfly.” Hank reached out and put his hand on the side of her arm. “We’re the perfect couple.”