Jared strode away and Sasha walked into her dressing room, closing the door behind her. A metal pitcher of water sat on a high snack table nearby, and she poured herself a glass, then sat down on the soft couch and tried to relax, needing a few minutes to pull herself together. Then she’d wash up, change, and get ready to head back to Xander’s. And that wouldn’t be enjoyable given his reaction earlier.

But what did he expect? He’d sprung the trip idea on her. Leaving tonight, of all things. She’d just wrapped her role, she had Cassidy to talk to and plan their return to California. Her stomach lurched at the thought of leaving Xander, and she rubbed her hand over her eyes, not caring about smudging the makeup she intended to remove anyway.

God. Why couldn’t she just stay in one place and have control over her career and what movies she did and when? Without the pressure of people pushing her to accept more and more roles? To choose between her personal life and her profession?

She sat up straighter as an idea came to her. She absolutely could do what she wanted. What if she formed a production company where she could pick projects she loved? She’d be able to both create and buy content, star in a project, or work behind the scenes. She certainly had the cachet to attract star talent, the ability to obtain start-up funding and take in a partner if she wanted.

Her heart began to beat rapidly in her chest as the concept formed. And because it excited her more than acting in another movie right away, she knew she was on to something. This was a new dream she could make a reality, and she couldn’t wait to tell Xander.

Her trailer doorknob turned, the noise catching her attention. Only Xander or Cassidy would get past Jared and be allowed in unannounced, and Cassidy was gone for the day.

“Xander!” She hopped up from the sofa, eager to see him and explain her reaction earlier and make it up to him when she told him about her new idea.

Except the person who walked into the trailer wasn’t Xander.

The brown-haired man who had been talking to her mother earlier stepped inside and pulled the door closed behind him. Hands behind his back, he pushed the lock on the doorknob.

The click sounded too loud in her ears. “What are you doing in here?”

“You know you’ve been waiting for me to get you alone.” He had a gleam in his eyes that made her uneasy, and she was already freaked out that this guy was in her trailer.

“Where’s my security guard?”

“I’m afraid he had to be taken care of. I couldn’t get close to you otherwise. Aren’t you glad I was able to handle him?”