Chapter 9
Nadia woke up feeling like she could conquer the world, her head clear and her vibe electric.
She was off to see Clive, and Kate, who had a gig at a recording studio in the same building, tagged along. They laughed and chatted the whole way, splitting up at the entrance to hit their own wings of the sleek high–rise.
At the front desk, Nadia flashed a bright smile. “Hey, can you swipe me into the elevator? Seventh floor.”
“Sure.” The receptionist started toward the panel but paused, eyeing her. “Just so you know, auditions for the new drama are in Wing D.”
The past week had been a zoo, with starry–eyed hopefuls tripping over themselves to nab Abby’s role in the hot new show. Most got lost and ended up here.
But this woman? She was a cut above–graceful, glowing, with a natural charm that made the overdone, Botox brigade look like wannabes.
Nadia’s smile didn’t budge. “I’m headed to CP Stitch Studio.”
The receptionist’s jaw twitched, but she swiped the card and waved Nadia into the elevator.
As the doors slid shut, she stood there, mind spinning. Clive’s studio was a gritty tailoring shop, staffed by cranky, middle–aged seamstresses who didn’t care about glitz. “This woman–young, gorgeous, polished to perfection–doesn’t fit,‘ the receptionist wondered. ‘Is she… a client? A designer?‘
“Yo, you hunting for UFOS up there?” A smooth, teasing voice broke her trance. Paul Green, the building’s stupidly charismatic owner, strolled in, tossing her a grin. “Or just eyeing the chandelier bling?”
She snorted, used to his schtick. “Only if you swap it for Swarovski. Then I’m game.”
“Oh, I’m keeping score,” Paul shot back, winking. But the sharp click of dress shoes behind him made him snap into boss mode. “Call Clive. His VIP’s here.”
“She’s already on her way up,” the receptionist said, shrugging.
“No kidding?” Shaun’s brow arched. “What’s her deal?”
“Drop–dead gorgeous. Classy, confident, the whole package.”
A sly glint flashed in Shaun’s eyes. He glanced at Jason, who was brooding nearby with a scowl that could freeze hell. Stifling a smirk, Shaun yanked out his phone. “I’ll tell him myself.”
}
The call connected fast, and Shaun sidled up to Jason, hitting speaker with a flourish. “Yo, Clive, I got a killer pick for your embroiderer gig. Want her?”
“Nope,” Clive’s voice rumbled, low and rough, like he was choking back tears. “She’s it. No one else comes close.”
Shaun, still sneaking looks at Jason’s icy stare, pushed harder. “Come on, don’t get all pissy over that fire code jab. We’re talking pure skill here!”
Clive hung up. Shaun scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Stubborn old mule. Guy’s pushing fifty and still acts like he’s made of iron.”
Rex’s new drama was a lush palace saga. The heroine, hell–bent on solving her sister’s murder, sneaks into the royal court as a maid. She’s sharp, scrappy, and a needle–and–thread genius.
To keep it legit, Rex needed a stand–in who could actually embroider, and Clive, the expert, was calling the shots.
Abby, the original lead, was desperate to take the role herself, hoping to drown her tabloid scandals in some good PR.
Paul, who’d bet big bucks on the project, wasn’t about to watch it crash and burn.
Jason’s eyes glinted, cold as steel. “Give me the embroiderer slot. Wipe Clive’s rent for three years. And pay her 30 grand.”
He flicked his lighter, the flame sparking as he lit a cigarette. “Oh, and my cut of the Skyline Trade Plaza profits this year? It’s
1/3
17:40 AM
Chapter 9
yours.”
Paul’s jaw dropped. He rubbed his ear, half–sure he’d heard wrong. “Hold up. You’re throwing all that… for her?”
Jason took a slow drag, smoke curling around him like a secret. He didn’t answer. His silence screamed louder than words.
*****
J
Clive, sixty and sharp as ever, peered at Nadia, yanked off his glasses, gave them a quick swipe, and popped them back on.
“So, you’re the hotshot restorer Kate wouldn’t shut up about? Nadpat, right?“he asked.
“Hey there, that’s me,” Nadia said with a soft grin, her eyes sparkling. She hadn’t expected the fake name she’d cooked up using her brother Pat’s would cause such a stir in the scene.
Clive had pored over her work. With his years in the game, he figured anyone that good had to be a seasoned pro, probably a woman in her forties.
No way he pictured this drop–dead gorgeous young thing. Rex had demanded perfection. Turned out Nadia walked in looking like she invented it.
“Well I’ll be damned,” Clive breathed. “You’re not just good. You’re scary good.”
Nadia tilted her head, all false modesty. “Coming from you? That means everything.”
Clive was a shark. He showered her with compliments but skipped straight to the real test, leading her to some junior’s disaster of a workstation.
Nadia didn’t blink. She just rolled up her sleeves, angled the lamp, and made magic happen.
Thirty minutes later, you’d swear that antique fabric was never damaged.
“Jesus H. Christ.” Ash Simmons, Clive’s star apprentice, looked like she’d seen the Virgin Mary. “Clive- that was the Snow Walk stitch, wasn’t it? The one that—”
“Shirley’s technique.” Clive’s voice turned to ice. He spun on Nadia. “Did you train with Shirley Cooke or what?”
Nadia nicked her finger with a needle but shrugged it off, standing up like it was nothing. “Nope, never.”
Everyone knew Shirley Cooke. The ghost of the restoration world, The woman who could make time stand still with a needle. and thread. The legend who vanished overnight.
Clive didn’t seem totally convinced by Nadia’s answer, but his phone buzzed before he could grill her further. He stepped away to take the call, then gave Ash a nod to sort out Nadia’s paperwork.
“Hey, hang on, I gotta tell you something…” Clive said when he swung back. He spilled the tea about Rexg needing a stunt double and promised Nadia’s name would light up the credits.
If the show popped off, it’d be a huge win for the studio–and a badass way for Nadia to launch her career.
Being a double? She could deal. But doubling for Abby? Hell no.
“Why’re you dropping stacks to get her a shot at the Goldspire Awards? Buying her fancy mushrooms to kiss up to Rex? You really trying to fan that old flame?” Paul leaned against the car door, puffing on a cigarette, looking totally thrown.
Jason flicked ash off his smoke, voice low and rough. “Spit it out, man.”
“I’ll see what I can swing.” Paul circled the car and clocked a woman stepping out of the building.
Nadia caught his eye, tossed a quick nod, and headed for Building D.
Paul smirked at Jason. “Dude, your girl doesn’t even spot your whip?”
Jason flicked his cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his heel.
2/3
11:40 AM
Chapter 9
Nadia rolled up to a cafe, scrolling her phone to order a drink.
She was rocking a white sundress, hair up in a messy bun that showed off her sleek neck. The sunlight hit her just right, making her ears glow soft pink. Same old look, but standing in line, she was straight–up stealing the spotlight.
“Nadia.” Jason appeared out of nowhere, yanking her aside with a sharp edge. “You need to cool it.”
The thought of Abby’s shadow creeping over her new gig had Nadia heated. She snapped, “What, scared I’ll rattle your precious Abby? Maybe you should stick to her like glue.”
Jason’s jaw clenched. “You got a problem, take it up with me.”
‘Freaking jerk. No shame whatsoever,‘ she cursed silently.
Nadia stuffed her phone in her pocket and kept moving. Abby was in Building D for a script read–through, and since Nadia was headed that way, Jason’s suspicions went into overdrive.
He grabbed her arm again. “You done stirring up drama or what?”
Nadia yanked, but his grip didn’t budge. “Jason, can you not be a total ass for five seconds? What, your little princess walks somewhere, and now it’s off–limits for the rest of us? If you’re that paranoid, put a leash on her and lock her up at home. Keeps your control–freak vibes in check and spares everyone else the grief.”
Paul, hustling to catch up, caught the tail end and choked on his smoke, coughing like crazy.
Jason shot him a glare that could’ve stopped traffic, basically screaming get lost, then turned back to Nadia, voice like steel. “You swear you’re not tailing Abby, so what the hell are you doing here?”
