Chapter 20

Miles' POV

I snapped my fingers. A stagehand hurried over with a fresh script. Dogeared pages, creased from many hands.

"This next performance requires true emotion," I said flatly. Hailey's eyes narrowed.

I was done playing with shallow roles for her to simply emote through. The real test began now.

The script was from my hit movie with Lindsay Ford - the one that earned her the Best Actress award last year. An honor she deserved after the grueling month it took her to nail that pivotal scene.

"The Boss' Uncanny Girlfriend," I stated, watching Hailey's face for a reaction. Her eyes widened as she recognized the title of the critically acclaimed blockbuster romance.

I would have her perform Lindsay's part - the emotional crux that truly defined the character's depths. If Hailey thought her previous "tests" represented the heights of dramatic hurdles, she was in for a rude awakening.

She accepted the script pages silently. I