Ch 4
Amanda felt her stomach tighten up the moment the plane landed in Boston. She was dreading working with John for the next few months. She wished she could just go back to being with Dwayne and forgetting John even existed.
"I'm not going to let him get to me," she softly said as her bodyguard Nathan opened the door to the waiting limo. She slid in not bothering to notice there was someone sitting on the other side.
"Are you talking about me?" John's voice made her freeze. She turned looking into his blue eyes as the door shut.
"What are you doing here?"
"The studio only sent one limo to get both us," he grinned.
"No way John, you set me up. I'll take a cab," she reached for the door when John grabbed her hand.
"We are already moving just relax," he slowly let her go. "So are we going to work this out or are we going be at odds?"
"At odds works for me," she reached into her purse finding her earphones and starting her mp3 player.
"Oh no, you're not ignoring me," John pulled the earphones out of her ears taking the mp3 player.
"Give me it back now John," she reached for it as he shoved it in his pocket smiling.
"You can come and get it if you like," he smirked putting his arms up.
"Whatever keep it," she closed her eyes hoping the ride to the hotel would be quick.
"Mandy, please talk to me. We need to work this out. How are we going to act together if you're pissed at me? You do realize they are starting to shoot our characters falling in love tomorrow and it will keep building to more romance from that?"
"You don't need to remind me. I've been doing this for a long time. I've worked with other actors I couldn't stand before and survived," she didn't open her eyes. She was very aware he was close to her. She could smell his musky cologne and feel his leg brush against hers when the limo hit a bump.
"I'm not giving up Mandy. You're stuck with me at least for the next few months," John stared at her till she opened her blue eyes looking at him. They didn't say a word just stared at one another for a few minutes till Amanda let out an annoyed sigh closing her eyes again. John stayed silent watching her.
The instant the limo stopped Amanda was out of the door before her bodyguard even got of the car. She hurried into the hotel where her assistant was waiting.
"Your suite is ready. Are you okay?" Judy asked seeing Amanda was angry.
"No, I screwed up and now I'm living in hell," Amanda leaned against the wall of the elevator as it started to climb.
"Would you care to explain?"
"I kissed Cena. Now he won't back off," Amanda felt some weight lift finally telling someone. She looked at Judy seeing a look of amusement. "What just say it?"
"He's hot you had a weak moment just get over it. You're going to be kissing him a lot over the next few weeks. Not to mention the very steamy love scenes between you two," Judy smirked making Amanda shake her head. "Think of the kiss as practice for your role."
"I should just back out of this project," Amanda let out a frustrated sigh as they entered the enormous suite overlooking Boston.
"Are you nuts Angela would kill you if you back out," Judy exclaimed as Amanda plopped down in a chair knowing Judy was right. Her agent Angela Stone had the power to destroy her career just as quickly as she had turned Amanda into a star.
"I need a drink."
"No, you don't. Come on change and go take a swim. You are not needed on the set till tomorrow morning so enjoy the night. I'm going to make sure everything is in order for tomorrow then I'm heading to the spa and dinner but you know if you need me I'm only a call away," Judy patted Amanda's shoulder. A knock came on the door making Amanda tense.
"If that is John do whatever you need to do to get rid of him," Amanda shot up going into her bedroom keeping the door open a crack. Judy answered the door talking to someone for a few minutes before shutting it holding a huge vase of three dozen pink roses.
"You have a delivery. They are beautiful," Judy put the vase down handing her the card. Amanda smiled opening the card thinking it was from Dwayne.
"I'm sorry for being a jackass meet me for dinner. John sent them," Amanda threw the card in the trash. "You can have the roses if you want them. If you don't throw them out," Amanda slammed her bedroom doors.
Amanda opened her eyes seeing it was starting to get dark outside. She had lay down and fallen asleep after getting annoyed by John's gift. She changed into a light blue pair of lounge pants and a matching tank top. Her cell phone started to ring in her purse. She ran for it hoping it was Dwayne.
"Good evening angel," his voice brought an instant smile to her face.
"Hi handsome, I miss you so much."
"I miss you too. Did you arrive ok?"
"Yes," she wasn't about to tell him about John being a pain. "I was thinking about coming to see you if we don't film over the weekend."
"I would love that Mandy. I'm stuck they are filming everyday for the next two weeks. After that I can come see you for a day or two."
"You don't know how much I want to be with you right now," she whispered hearing him happily sigh.
"Soon Mandy, we will be together all the time. Have you seen Cena yet?" Dwayne's tone changed showing his dislike for John.
"Tomorrow morning will start filming scenes with him. I arrived here took a nap now going to order room service and relax for the night."
"I wish I could be there to help you relax. I have to run darling to an interview. I'll call you tonight. I love you."
"I love you too Rocky," she hung up grabbing the room service menu. She decided to keep it simple just order pizza. She walked past the floor to ceiling windows enjoying the view of Boston and the Charles River. She opened the doors to the open terrace letting a cool breeze in. She grabbed a blanket deciding to sit outside and go over her lines while she waited for dinner to arrive. As she came to the romantic scenes with John, her stomach flipped flopped. "I have to get over this or kiss my career goodbye," she put the script down staring out into the night. "Maybe I should just talk to John, we were fine till the stupid kiss happened," she tried to think of other solutions but none came to mind. She heard the knock on the door followed by her bodyguard Nathan poking his head in.
"Good evening Miss Jade, your pizza is on the way up. Do you want me to get it for you?" Nathan asked folding his massive arms over his chest.
"That would be great," she handed him the tip money. "I have to make a quick call. Do you mind putting it on the table on the terrace?" she asked as he nodded ok. "By the way Nathan, the pizza with everything is for you and Tony along with the Corona."
"Thank you Amanda, you spoil us," Nathan smiled. He had been a bodyguard to other celebrities so far guarding Amanda had been his best gig for the last 4 years. She was always thinking of them and making sure her staff was well taken care of when they traveled. "Are you going out tonight?"
"No, staying in. Tony and you can relax."
"Cool, if you need us we will be here in a heartbeat," Nathan nodded to her cell and the panic button she could push at anytime to alert them she was in danger.
"No worries, I think it will be a peaceful night," she said as the knock came on the door. "Go enjoy your night; I'll see you early in the morning for our run. Good night Nathan," she said her goodbye heading into the bedroom to put on a jacket. As she walked back towards the terrace, she put on some music and grabbed a beer out of the fridge.
"Pepperoni pizza and beer, my favorite too, mind if I join you?" John's voice made her jump as she stepped out on the terrace finding him sitting at the table with a big happy goofy grin. She dropped the beer bottle shattering it shocked he had snuck into her suite.
