Pls don't jump me Juey hive, but this story is SOOOOOOO fun to write.

I hope whoever reads this enjoys the update!

Chapter Five
 "Tryna take my time on you." – Tank

This chemistry read with Jazmine was dry as hell, mainly because Jazmine was acting scary as hell.

"Y-yeah." She stammered through her line again, flinching when he leaned up, like she ain't want his talented, sexy ass.

"Yeah?" Riley cockily lowered his voice and grinned, going off-script to loosen her up. "Nervous, sexy?"

Jazmine bumped into the table and gasped, spilling water all over her shirt.

"Shit!" She hissed loudly, fumbling with the bottle. "Can we run that again, guys? I'm sorry!"

Prolly not.

"CUT!" The director yelled, sharing a tense look with the frowning investors a little too long.

"This isn't working, I'm afraid." He threw his pen down, sighing. "I think we've come to a decision."

"Agreed." A stiff, short woman stood to her feet, glancing down at her manilla notepad like a miracle would fly out of it. "Luckily, I believe this can be salvaged with a simple recast." She glanced at Riley, nodding. "That's why we're making the difficult decision to go with the clear choice here. The expert, the supernova, the obvious top contender…."

Well damn…

The woman smiled, glancing up at him.

"Riley Freeman."

Oh SHIT!

Jazmine was fuming beside him she was so pissed, glaring at him like he'd forced her ass to act like a boring nun all day.

"Mrs. McKissick, please." Jazmine clasped her hands together, the most convincing she'd looked all day. "Just give me one more chance! I can do this! I-"

"You can't, and that's what we suspected." Mrs. McKissick dismissed her, waving a hand past her face. "You're just too cookie-cutter, dear. Nothing personal." She shrugged.

"But him."

She pointed at Riley, smiling like he could solve all the world's problems.

"This movie will make him a household name!" She nodded. "Millions! Trillions!"

And royalty checks, too.

This shit was bouta change the game for him, put him on top for years to come.

But there was no way in hell he was doin' this shit without Jazmine.

Not if things were ever gonna work with her stubborn ass.

"I'm feelin' it, I guess." He nodded coolly, glancing over at her. "But only with Jazmine as my leadin' lady." He stood firm, slowly folding both arms over his chest. "Either she's in or I'm out." He flipped to another part in the script, one that he knew would get his point across before tossing it over to Mrs. McKissick. "Just give her five minutes of your time to prove why she's the better choice."

Mrs. McKissick shook her head, frowning.

"Mr. Freeman." She glared, talking to him in an extremely condescending ass tone. "It's admirable what you're trying to do but-"

Riley instantly shifted his energy and hardened more, his eyes significantly less friendly.

"That's non-negotiable."

And that was his final goddamn warning, too. Because he would professionally take it there with her stiff neck looking ass.

"C'mere, J." Riley took Jazmine to the back with him, gripping her hand until they'd walked further away from the investors. "We bouta show these niggas what time it is."

"Riley!" She slapped his hand away, gaping at him. "What the fuck are you doing?" She looked at him sideways, glaring. "This is so unprofessional! Let it go and shoot the goddamn movie without me!"

He ignored her and pulled out two guns, removing the bullets from each one of them.

Jazmine sighed, her voice softer.

"They're not gonna take me, Riley." She said quietly, her pain hurting him more than it was hurting her ass, even with him knowing this was just a blow to her ego.

He smirked, tilting his head back towards the casting crew.

"They just waiting to see what I see, sexy." He nodded, shoving the bullets in his pockets. "They watching, ain't they?"

They were.

"But-"

"We're doing this one." He cut her off, shoving the script in her hand.

"But it's…" Her jaw dropped when he put a gun in her hand too. "Riley, we can't-"

He tilted her chin up, forcing Jazmine to look at him.

"Just point the damn gun and act, Mariah." He walked to his spot, staring her down from across the floor. "Count us down real quick, Marty."

Jazmine trembled, but she hesitantly lifted her gun, genuinely looking like she wanted to kill his ass as he slowly raised his own.

And then….

"Three, two, one…..Action!"

They were full-on mean-mugging each other, snapping their arms down and back up up to aim their guns at each others foreheads.

They were breathing hard as hell, sweating like they'd just got done fighting.

The shit felt so damn real to him he was dumbfounded, mainly because all he could see was her ass, the pain in her eyes so heavy he almost yelled 'Cut!' just to lighten the mood.

"I can't."

He let his voice waver as he dropped the gun to his side, watching her struggle to hold her gun up, fight to keep up the facade.

"I can't do it."

He lowered his gun, readjusting the safety on it.

Jazmine looked at him crazy, lifting her gun again and screaming with an anguish that drew gasps from the audience.

"Don't!"

Her face contorted, the sun rising to meet her face at the perfect time. "Don't." She shook her head, glancing down at the floor. "Just shoot me already!"

He scoffed, staring back at her like she was the only woman he'd ever seen.

"No." He shook his head, raising both his hands then looking down at his gun on the floor. "I won't do it."

"Shoot me, damnit!" She yelled again, her eyes hardening as she put her finger on the trigger, taking her aim. "Come on!"

He didn't say anything.

"COME ON!" Her voice was hard, steely as she screamed again. "Come on, Come On, COME! ON! " She yelled, jutting her head towards him. "JAMES!"

It was wild he knew what she was thinking at the moment.

Because he was thinking it too.

About that night.

About the stage.

All of it.

"Baby, c'mon!" She yelled again, her voice cracking, splintering him apart. "Do it!"

She pressed her lips together when he didn't say anything, blinking back tears.

"Do it!"

"No." He told her straight up, looking her in the eye. "You want it?" He walked closer to her, not stopping until his forehead made contact with the gun. "Kill me right now, Jane." He nodded. "Take it."

Jazmine growled, her snarl curling into a sexy ass mean mug.

"I'll do it!" She barked, looking him square in the eye. "I'll do it right the fuck now!"

He took a step forward, snarling right back.

"THEN DO IT THEN!" He barked, his veins bulging out the sides of his head he was screaming so loud.

Shit.

The PA crew gasped aloud, marveling as Jazmine's hand trembled and she let out a long, slightly shaky breath, her anger giving way to the softest, watery ass stare.

It grew quiet as the director leaned up, his hands clinging to the sides of his seat.

Jazmine and Riley just looked at each other, breathing ragged breaths they probably didn't need to begin with.

Not for this.

But that shit didn't matter to him anymore.

Because he was gon' make sure he got what he wanted outta Jazmine her from here on out.

Starting now.

With one quick motion, Riley smacked her gun into the wall, smirking as he slammed her hard against it, sexily pressing his lips against hers.

It was rough, hot, teasing….just what she needed to get her going.

Jazmine whimpered, anchoring her long legs around his abdomen then groaned right into his ear, so sexy it was driving him crazy, making his hands firmly grip her thighs before he could think about it, trailing up until they were at her hips, pulling her up so he could lift her higher.

"Mmpmh!" She murmured, when he pressed against her lips again, nibbling down her neck and chuckling before sucking her ear lobe through his teeth.

"Tsssssss." She straight-up moaned, throwing her head back. "Riley…."

His hands hiked her up higher, fumbling for her belt buckle, and then….

"Holy shit." He heard someone breathe, breaking the spell between them.

He set her down, nodding when the investors all stood to their feet, applauding.

"We're looking at a classic here, folks!" Marty smiled at them in awe. "A classic!" He shook his head at the investors, grinning. "What did I tell you? What? Did I? Tell You?!"

Riley just chuckled, watching Jazmine take it all in.

"Mrs. Dubois." Mrs. McKissack walked up and took both her hands. "My apologies for doubting your art form." She smiled, holding Jazmine tight like she would escape if she let go. "Would you please do us the honor of remaining our lead actress?"

"Of course she will." Riley draped an arm around Jazmine, smirking. "Just know it's gon' cost ya."

Mrs. McKissack just laughed.

But by the time they walked outta there, she wouldn't be.

It was time to talk business.

Jazmine's head was still spinning.

Riley had gotten her double what she'd asked for in negotiations. Several beauty brand deals, executive producing rights to anything connected to the franchise, as well as 35% of the earnings from any merchandise sold in her image.

Her own attorney hadn't been able to land her a deal like that, not to mention how he'd stuck his neck out for her when he hadn't had to.

And that kiss?

Wow.

"Jazmine." Sam was standing near her car, chuckling as he lightly patted the handle. "What a performance." He laughed, his voice so chilling she immediately stepped back, searching to see if anyone else was outside. "I'm happy you listened to your manager, after all." He nodded, glancing towards the empty parking lot like he knew she was looking for help. "I like you dropping the good girl image." He smiled, nodding like everything was good again. "It suits my favorite client."

She glared.

"You're no longer my manager, remember?" Jazmine kept her wits about her, pushing past him. "Excuse me."

"No." He muttered, reaching for her wrist. "You're gonna stand right there and listen." He went her for her other wrist, looking truly certifiable as his pupils grew three times their size. "This isn't over until I say it's-"

Jazmine kicked him in the groin hard, driving her foot into his balls as hard as she could..

"Ahhhhh, what the fuck?!" Sam screamed out, rolling over on the gravel as soon as he hit the ground. "Help!" He sobbed, crying dramatically like she'd killed him. "Helppppp!"

Jazmine ignored him as she peeled out the parking lot without another word, frantically trying to calm herself.

Before she'd truly believed there was hope Sam wasn't after her.

Now, she wasn't so sure.

Because that audition had been closed to everyone in Hollywood, nobody had known about it besides the crew.

So how exactly had he known she was there?

And who in her camp was plotting against her?

He needed a drink.

"How the hell did you double the asking price?" Karrington grinned, reviewing the updated contract. "Riley, this is amazing! I'm honestly amazed you never went into law."

"I won't lie." Riley shrugged. "I thought about it forreal." He grinned, smirking back at her. "But a nigga like me's too talented not to do it big." He nodded, glancing through the contract to re-read some clauses again. "You'll just have to settle for discounted consults, Kare." He told her, waving his copy in the air. "Cuz this is the only time I'll do some shit like this for free."

Karrington shot him a look.

"So this was all for charity." She snorted. "You did a good deed, earlier?"

"Exactly." Riley laughed at her dumbfounded look. "What? You tryna say I don't give to the cause?"

"I won't even dignify that with a response." Karrington smirked, pulling out her phone. "What I wanna discuss…" She held up the video of him and Jazmine on the wall, looking like they were about to swallow each other whole. "Is this."

Riley narrowed his eyes, heat flaring through him for a moment.

Then he got pissed the fuck off just looking at it.

"What the hell is this, Kare?" He snatched it from her, scowling at the phone like he was gonna fight it. "Is this shit on social media? Who the fuck posted this, Kare? Was it Shift? That Sam nigga?"

"Who the fuck is Sam?" Karrington wrinkled her nose. "Marty sent this to me, Riley." She pointed down at the phone he was holding, nodding. "He was impressed with the entire scene, and so was I." She shrugged, smirking. "But I gotta say...this kiss?"

She glanced down at the video again, amused.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd almost think you weren't acting."

Riley nodded, shrugging.

"Well that's good then." He leaned back into his seat, not one to lie about his intentions. "Because I wasn't acting, earlier." He told her. "I was kissing her like that forreal."

"Riley!" Karrington almost dropped her phone. "Why would you say that?!"

"Because I wasn't." He shrugged, deciding to head to his mini bar and fix himself a drink. "Jazmine and I got unfinished business, and I'm not gon' act shy about tryna get at her again." He nodded. "I have plans to wife that woman. Seriously, Kare."

Karrington just looked at him, shellshocked.

"Have you lost your damn mind?!" Karrington hissed. "Riley she's your co-star!" She shouted, dropping her phone to the floor. "If shit between you goes left-"

"Ain't shit between us going left so dead that." He rolled his eyes. "We had something way before this Hollywood shit, and the way I see it, we're picking shit up where we left off." He shrugged, putting his Jameson back where he found it. "Like it or not, the only woman who can tell me no is Jazmine." He picked Karrington's dropped phone off the floor and handed it back to her. "So make sure that video doesn't get out and leave yo dumbass opinion at the door."

Karrington blinked.

"You don't want me to leak this to the press?"

"So I can hear Jazmine's crazy ass mouth?" He chuckled, gripping the goatee on his chin. "Shidddd, that's tempting, ian' even gon lie." He nodded, his mouth watering at the thought of a pissed off, worked up Jazmine, standing frustrated at his door, in serious need of relief he would happily provide. "But I can't do her like that till she's ready." He shrugged. "I don't want her thinking I'm on some fuckshit with her."

Karrington sunk into the other chair across from him, truly blown.

"You seriously care about her." She pressed herself up, hands on either side of the armrest. "You really kissed her way back when?"

Riley nodded.

"Hell yeah I kissed her fine ass back then!" He got up from his seat, laughing at how shocked Karrington looked. "Aye. I did try to tell you."

She just shook her head, still in disbelief.

"I just thought Huey was messing with me when he said it really happened " Karrington paused, looking guilty all of a sudden. "I-"

"You talked to Huey." Riley nodded, making it clear it was no big deal to him. "He's your brother-in-law, Kare. You ain't gotta do the most behind it." He shrugged. "Chill."

"I know but…" She trailed off. "I just want you two to patch whatever this is up."

"There ain't no patching it up." Riley took another swig of his drink, scowling. "That's something between me and him, and Huey knows that just like you do."

"Yeah, sure." Karrington nodded, quiet again. "It's just…the girls asked about you again."

His heart ached at that.

He loved Shana and Ericka like they were his own kids.

But he just couldn't be there for them right now.

Not like he wanted to.

"They're good, right?" He asked her. "Not scared or crying or anything?"

"Yeah." She nodded, shrugging. "Just missing you, that's all."

"Kare…." He sighed, running a hand over his face. "I appreciate you lookin' out." He nodded. "But ain't shit I can do 'bout all that right now, so I'd appreciate it if you kept whatever else you gon' say to yourself."

Karrington looked like she wanted to say something regardless, but thankfully she let it go and shut her mouth, lifting to head for the door.

"If you're really feeling Jazmine like you say you are…." She chose her words carefully, shrugging when he full-on glared at her, nodding. "Hey. I'm just saying…." She held up her hands. "Do you really want to enter this phase of your life without family by your side?" She asked him. "You wanna wife up your dream girl, which is delusional as hell by the way, without your brother by your side."

Riley took a long sip of his drink, sighing.

"No." He shrugged. "But Karrington, you know the shit ain't going away that easy, and I'm not gon' be the one to fix it." He rolled his eyes. "Gone on with all that right now, cuz I'm not tryna hear it."

She sighed, walking off.

"Okay." She told him. "I'll catch you later then." She glanced at her phone, her eyes narrowing. "And someone named Gwen said to call her!"

He reached inside his drawer, pulling out a family portrait of him, Grandad, and Huey in happier times, posing for something together at some bougie photography studio Granddad had booked back when they were still in high school.

Nope.

He shoved the photo back into place, thinking he'd fix shit with them another day.

For right now, Riley was focused on him.

He'd handle the rest, later.

This wasn't good.

"We can't stop this from leaking to the press, Jazmine." Her publicist glanced over from her laptop, sighing. "I thought you and Sam were on good terms, anyway?" Gwen kept typing, shaking her head at something. "What happened?"

"I'm not sure." Jazmine admitted. "We were always good, you've seen it." She continued when Gwen nodded, sighing. "But G….you should've seen the way Sam acted in that parking lot." She put a hand over her mouth, thinking. "He tried to full-on assault me!"

"Wow." Gwen paused her typing,angry for Jazmine. "That sounds awful."

"It absolutely was." Jazmine shook her head. "He would've beaten me and gotten away with it had I not kicked him like that."

She frowned, thinking back to the scary exchange.

"All I know is he was extremely upset a few weeks ago, all because I tried to turn down this remake." She nodded when Gwen froze up, shrugging as she continued. "He yelled at me for not leaping onto it, then acted like he didn't sneak it on me!" Jazmine pressed her face into her hands, trembling. "I've never seen this side of him before, Gwen." She ranted, waving a hand in the air. "I have no idea where it came from or how to stop it." She groaned, about at wits end. "And now that I'm in this crazy contract, his behavior's ramping up and...I just don't know what to do, G. I really don't."

Gwen frowned, typing more.

"Hm." She nodded. "Sounds just like his Dad to me."

"His dad?" Jazmine raised a brow, thinking back to her interactions with Sam. "He told me he barely talks to his dad."

"Infamous Tishler Tantrums." Gwen explained. "His dad was known for taking starlets and harassing them when he couldn't get his way anymore. Pulled up, physically harassed them, started trying to ruin their reputation…."

"Which is exactly what's happening to me." Jazmin groaned, watching the loop of her kicking Sam in the balls play on Gwen's laptop. "So what do we do, now?"

Gwen grinned, wantonly fanning herself.

"I say we release that footage of you and your gorgeous co-star." She smiled, nodding mischievously at Jazmine. "That man is talented, girl!" She whistled, pulling up another video of Riley slamming her onto the wall and…..

Whew.

"Every woman in America would assume he watched this and got jealous." Gwen cut through her thoughts, staring down at the video. "I know I would." She gave Jazmine a big smile, flipping her hair back. "Is he single?"

"The hell if I know." Jazmine growled, shocked by the hard edge in her voice. She toned it down quick, squeaking more words out. "And besides, we can't release that, Gwen! It's wrong!"

"It's fighting fire with fire." Gwen argued, switching over her to her emails. "And not to be a selfish asshole, but….I've already sent this over to TMZ." She confessed. "I know you want to do things right, but this will save your ass in the long run. We need to start the narratives now, so you can win in court later, Jazmine."

"Wait, what?!" Jazmine hissed. "What about Riley? Did you consider his contract?"

"Relax, sexy." Riley strolled inside Gwen's office, frowning at her. "I'm more worried about ole boy cornering you like that." He snarled, watching the footage of Jazmine kicking Sam before chuckling. "It was good seeing you give out the McFearsome treatment, though." He nodded, his eyes twinkling. "She taught yo ass well."

Jazmine glared, folding her arms over her chest.

"What are you doing here?" She scooted back, doing everything she could not to touch him.

"Signing consent forms to save your fine ass." He shrugged. "Gwen called, said she needed the shit ASAP."

"You could've done all that on DocuSign if you wanted to." Her eyes narrowed. "You didn't have to drive thirty minutes out."

"I know that, sexy." He smirked, his voice lowering to something she still couldn't resist. "But I wanted to see if I could dismiss Gwen real quick. I need to talk to you for a minute."

"Gwen is staying here!" Jazmine shot him a look, wildly glancing across the room. "We can talk about whatever else, later." She stayed firm. "My publicist and I are busy right now."

Gwen grinned, checking her phone.

"Actually, I gotta go." She grabbed her purse, waving. "I have to meet with a few different stations and get the smear campaign going." She nodded. "Plus, TMZ is already reaching out to the press."

"Smear campaign?" Jazmine blinked. "Gwen! What do you mean smear campaign?"

"Shhhhhhhh." Riley rubbed her shoulders, coming behind her and working his magic again. "Just relax and let her handle it, bae."

"Exactly." Gwen grinned at them. "Later, J!" She closed the door behind her, leaving them alone to talk.

Jazmine somehow found the strength to pull herself forward, standing to her feet to grab her things.

"I need to get going." She told Riley. "It's been a long week, and I need to head home." She nodded. "Unwind...recompress."

"I can tell." He chuckled, glancing down at her lips. "You've been worked up all day, today." He moved closer to her, frowning. "And I don't want you to worry about this shit anymore." He nodded, gently taking her hand in his. "That Sam nigga ain't ever coming near you again. I mean that shit, too."

He snapped a finger, waving over a large bodyguard who bum rushed his way inside.

Jazmine stared back at him, blinking.

"This is Vino." Riley gestured towards the huge, buff Italian guy, nodding as he turned his back to stare at the door, waiting for Riley's next command. "His big ass is one of the top security guards in the game, has been for years." He told her. "He'll be watching you round the clock from here on out."

"But I don't even know him!" Jazmine protested. "And I don't need security, Riley! You're seriously overreacting right now!""

"And you're seriously outta your rabbit-ass mind if you ain't." He scoffed. "This nigga followed you, J! You had car issues and electrical issues a few weeks ago, and I'll be damned if I sit back and watch this nigga fuck with yo life for sport!" He snarled. "Vino's with you, and I'll dismiss his ass if and when shit calms down!" He looked her square in the eye, refusing to compromise on it. ""Aight?"

Jazmine faltered, relenting.

"Alright." Jazmine grumbled, looking over at Vino. "But he'd better keep his eyes and hands to himself."

Riley chuckled.

"Aye." He shrugged. "He ain't crazy."

He snapped his fingers again, smirking when Vino left and closed the door behind him.

"That's all you gotta do if you need some space." He nodded at Jazmine, serious. "Aight, bae?"

She rolled her eyes, pushing herself out of arm's reach.

"I'm not your bae." She walked around the desk, grabbing her things.

"You could be though." He shrugged, walking closer to her. "Why the fuck you so hellbent on not goin' there with me, J?" He asked her. "Help my ass understand why you fightin' this so hard."

"I'm just not interested, Riley." She shrugged, barely looking him in the eye. "It's not personal, so cut the melodrama."

Riley knew better than to fall for her bullshit. He leaned back, smug.

"You gon' have to look at me and mean that shit, J." He challenged her, waiting for her to actually say it. "Tell me right now you don't want my ass."

She glared and rolled her eyes at him, shrugging. "I already said what I had to say to you."

He smirked as he walked up behind her, pulling her into his arms until she melted right into his chest.

Take it slow…take it slow…take it-

She backed up further, her ass brushing up against him.

A little sample ain't gon' hurt her.

He couldn't help but try his luck.

Jazmine was just too fine, too sexy, too right.

"Tell me you ain't dreaming about these hands every night…" He slowly moved them up her thighs, using his fingers to pull up her dress, kneading her skin as they trailed higher.

"My lips…."

He kissed her neck, pulling her tight against his erection while she let out a slow, tortured moan.

"Ooooohhh." She hissed out. "Riley..."

Oh, yeah.

She wanted his ass bad.

"That you don't wanna feel this drilling you right-"

"Sorry!" Gwen busted in, freezing when she realized what they were doing.

"Oh my gosh!" She covered her eyes, turning around when Riley moved his hands, dropping Jazmine's dress back in position. "I'm sorry! I didn't-"

"No." Jazmine grabbed her bags, practically running out the door to escape him. "You're good! We were just leaving!"

She didn't even wait for Riley to respond.

Jazmine rushed over to her car, struggling to catch her breath.

Then she glanced at her phone, trying to remember what day it was.