My eyes narrow.

“Wherever did you find her?” Karen asks, oblivious.

“976-BABE,” I say with a smile.

The entire table seems to freeze, and they all gape at me. But then North swallows down a snort. I stare at them in turn. “Oh, come on. Pretty Woman? ‘Welcome to Hollywood! What’s your dream?’”

“Yes, dear, I know the movie.” Karen gives me a pitying look. “I simply didn’t connect the line with you.”

Heat prickles over my cheeks. I know what she sees and what she doesn’t. Compared to the stars she works with, I am fairly plain. I don’t stand out in a crowd. I don’t wear couture or smile on command.

I know this, and yet that doesn’t give her the right to treat me like dirt under her shoe. It’s taken me years to truly understand that I don’t have to take other people’s crap lying down.

Wisely, Macon leans forward, partially blocking my sight line with his big shoulder. Or maybe he just wants to create an obstacle between my fist and his agent’s face.

“You had a script you wanted to show me?”

Karen brightens. “Oh my God, do I. This one is top secret, so I really don’t want to say too much here.”

“North and Delilah will know whether you tell them or not,” Macon says. “Because I will.”

Her nose wrinkles. “It involves a particular comic franchise and a new superhero . . .” She trails off suggestively.

“Holy shit,” North murmurs, looking impressed.

If it’s the franchise I’m thinking of, I am too.

“Marvel,” Karen adds with a little wiggle in her seat. “Can you believe it?”

Macon sits back and rubs the stubble on his chin. “No shit.” Though his voice is subdued, I can see the excitement he’s hiding. It’s there if you know where to look, in the slight tremor of his hand that rests in his lap, in the way he holds himself too still. Macon wants this.

How could he not? If his character becomes popular, he’ll be able to write his own ticket. And while Macon clearly doesn’t have to worry about money, the fact that he could command a high salary would equate to power. In La La Land, as my mother continues to call it, power means everything.

Karen nods slowly. “They’re impressed with your work on Dark Castle and have asked for you specifically.”

Macon shifts in his seat. “Okay.” He glances at me, and our gazes clash and hold. The restaurant seems to fade, and there is only us, Macon looking at me as if to say, “Can you believe this crazy shit?” Thing is, I can. There isn’t any limit to what this man can accomplish; I’ve always known that much.

“Okay,” he says again in affirmation, his eyes still locked with mine, and then he turns, and the spell is broken.