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Chapter 52: My New Life
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The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 1: I Hate Summer
I hate summer.Don't get me wrong - I love sunshine. I love fireflies and clear, starry nights and drinking iced tea in the shade. I'm not usually a grouch, I swear. But people who believe that's what summer is - the iced tea and fireflies and all that - haven't experienced a real Atlanta summer. Or at least they haven't inherited the overactive sweat glands that I did. Thank you, Blankenship genes.You see, I'm what they call a "hot mess." And sadly, I don't mean that in the romanticized, glamorous way. I mean that in the haven't-had-a-real-job-or-real-boyfriend-in-more-than-a-year way. I literally spent most of yesterday lounging on my brother's couch in yoga pants and an old T-shirt with a popcorn butter stain on the chest, binge-watching a reality cooking competition while trying not to think about how important today's interview is.I adjust my blazer as I step out of the car, trying to ignore the suffocating humidity. Some days, it feels like someone has wrapped a warm, damp t
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 2: What Is My Life
I still have no idea what's happening. Who was that man? And who in the blazes is Karen?He's only gone a handful of seconds when the door swings open again and a smartly dressed woman in her forties walks in. She has a headset in her ear and she's typing something into her phone, but even as her fingers are still moving across the electronic keyboard, she looks up and begins studying me. She has an air of professional authority about her. Her eyes flick over me, just like the man's did.Finally, she gives a satisfied nod. "He's right. You'll do." She gives me another visual inspection. "We might have to do something about that ponytail, but it's nothing we can't fix.""Excuse me?" I say.She types something into her phone. "Can you follow directions?""I...think so," I say, still completely confused. "Yes. But why - ""How would you like to make a hundred dollars?" Abruptly looking up at me again, she reaches out and grabs me by the chin, tilting my head to the side. "You'll nee
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 3: I Guess I'm Doing This
It's obvious, now. Anyone who's subject to the endless stream of celebrity news on social media or in line at the grocery store knows about the Fontaines. They're probably the most famous family in Hollywood, and every single one of them is involved in the movie industry somehow. Luca Fontaine is arguably the biggest star - and the only one who pursues acting full time - but all of his brothers are famous in their own ways. Dante, the oldest, is renowned as a screenwriter. Rafe has done everything from modeling to voiceover work to motocross racing. Orlando is the youngest - and arguably the one who's spent the least amount of time in the spotlight, which is why I didn't recognize him on sight - but most people still know his name. He's been focusing on directing, much like his father, the legendary Charles Fontaine.I blush as the hair and makeup team begins their work. When you've been unemployed for as long as I have, you somehow end up reading a lot of clickbait articles about fam
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 4: I Think I'm Going To Die Of Embarrassment
No. This can't be happening.The sound of that deep voice makes me freeze with my hand halfway down to my ankles. I know who it belongs to even before I find the courage to glance up.Orlando Fontaine stands just inside the tent, his sharp eyes on his assistant director. After a moment, his gaze shifts to me.Just like before, I find myself frozen beneath those eyes. Now that I know who he is, I can really see the family resemblance. He's easily as good-looking as his brother Luca, but there's something a little more rugged about his features. Instead of the fairy tale prince, he's more like the handsome woodcutter who saves you from the witch. With eyes that seem to gaze into your very soul.And I'm standing here with a pair of granny panties around my ankles.I panic. I try to smile at him, and at the same time I try to reach down and grab my underwear before he can see it. But the panties get caught on one of my heels. I give them a desperate tug, still smiling as if I'm comple
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 5: My First Big Scene
There's no time for any of this to sink in. One minute I'm buttoning up my shirt while Penny slaps some cranberry-red lipstick on me, and the next I'm being ushered unceremoniously back inside by Karen, my granny panties abandoned in the tent. I'm still sweating profusely, but the minute we step into the lobby, a cold blast of air conditioning slaps me in the face. Hopefully that will nip the problem in the bud for now.I glance around. Orlando is standing near the windows, talking to Omar Walson and a second man who's too handsome to be anything but another actor. Both Omar and his costar are wearing pristine, well-tailored suits, and both appear to be listening intently to their director. Orlando emanates a powerful energy that I can feel even from here, and even some members of the crew seem to be under his spell, trying to watch and listen to him instead of going about their work. I've only been here a moment and I can already see that Orlando has this entire production tied up in
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 6: Caught
Shockingly, though, even though Orlando caught me breaking character, he doesn't say anything. I lock my gaze onto the tablet again, but I still sense him watching me. It feels like someone is undressing me piece by piece, stripping me completely bare. Is that how all directors look at you? Like they're peeling you apart and piecing you back together again? Like they're measuring and weighing you and imagining things about you that you've never imagined of yourself?It's hard having someone look at you like that. It's harder still when the person in question is incredibly attractive, and when you're hyperaware of the fact that you aren't wearing any underwear. I'm not sure whether to be nervous or turned on.Perspiration begins to bead on my skin again, and I redouble my attention on my tablet.Eventually, after what feels like forever - in reality, I think it comes out to roughly thirty-seven takes - Orlando decides he's happy with the scene. He relaxes back in his chair, and I swe
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 7: Can My Life Get Any More Embarrassing?
I bite my lip, bracing myself for the worst. This might be even more embarrassing than the panty thing. Someone as intense and serious as Orlando probably doesn't take well to people drawing caricatures of him on his own set. I'm probably about to get fired in front of the entire crew. Over stupid doodles!Instead, he tilts his head back and laughs.I glance toward Ford. He looks just as startled and confused as I feel."You have some talent, Maggie," Orlando says finally, still smiling. "You're an artist, then?""I...just doodle," I tell him. "For fun. I know it's inappropriate, but - ""Inappropriate? A few sketches?" His eyes gleam as he studies my work. "I'd have probably made Omar twice as tall, though. And Ford's teeth twice as big."Ford visibly bristles, but he says nothing.Orlando finally shifts his gaze away from the screen and back to me. "And is that really what you think of me?"Honestly, I'm not sure what part of the drawing he's talking about. The hair? The lase
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Thrill of Temptation Chapter 8: Panty Girl
I can't breathe.That's the first thing I notice. The second thing I notice is that there are small, pastel-colored shapes flickering across my vision. I wonder what that means. My body aches in a dozen places, but there's a particularly sharp shooting pain in my left elbow. And another in my right hip.Little by little, I become aware of my surroundings again. I'm lying on the parking lot, and I smell car exhaust and the hot tar scent of asphalt baking in the sun. And there's something - no, someone - on top of me.With a grunt, the person moves, pushing himself up onto his elbows. Suddenly I can breathe again, and my head starts to clear.I twist slightly, rolling fully onto my back to get my face away from the hot asphalt. My elbow throbs again, but my hip feels better now that I've shifted my weight off it.And just when I thought I couldn't be embarrassed any more today, I look up and realize who is on top of me.This close, Orlando smells like the mountains. Like evergreen
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