Novel Palace
19
Kendall gathered all her hair together and rested it over the side of her shoulder, running her fingers through it. “It all seems pretty straightforward. Attend filming, be on time, post when they need me to.”
“Easy enough, right?” Valerie pushed.
My eyes didn’t leave Kendall.
I wanted to pull those silky, long locks and feel them tickle my chest as she kissed her way down my body toward my cock.
I cleared my throat, my focus returning to the paperwork. “During the next three months of filming, they’re going to put you up in an apartment. You’re not required to sleep there, but your things need to be moved in, and it must appear as though it’s your primary residence. During the hours of nine a. m. to ten p. m., the cameras will be recording. The footage can be used at their discretion-you have no say in their editing. Therefore, they can take dialogue out of context, or they can manipulate the sequence of conversations, presenting things in ways that weren’t originally intended.” I glanced up. “And you can’t sue them for that.”
Kendall was now gripping her purse, pulling it closer against her body. “I need to be extremely careful with what I say. At all times. Jeez.”
“Even when you’re under the influence,” Valerie told her. “Which will be a majority of the scenes.”
Kendall’s gaze deepened. “What if someone comes to the apartment, say a friend who’s not associated with the show? Will their visit appear on camera?”
“Yes.” I released a long exhale. That was the reason why I would never be stepping foot in that apartment once filming began. “But they must sign a waiver before they enter. If they don’t sign it, you can’t allow them in.”
“They’re not giving me a lot of privacy … are they?” Her voice softened.
“Legally, they can’t show you naked or wearing anything less than a towel or bathing suit. However, they will show footage of you in bed-alone or not-during the set filming hours.”NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
She glanced at her manager and then back to me. “Can we negotiate these terms?”
“No.” I closed the folder that contained the contract and moved it to the side of my desk. “Once you have some clout, a solid and loyal following, I can ask for anything on your behalf. Until then, it’s their rules.”
Valerie rested her fingers on Kendall’s arm, the one that was wrapped around her stomach. “I know this feels like a lot, and it’s overwhelming to hear all of these rules at once, especially given that you’re still feeling a bit raw from your argument with Daisy-”
“What argument with Daisy?” I asked.
Both women looked at me before Valerie said, “But once you start filming, these obstacles will feel like second nature. You’ll be in the thick of it, you’ll find a groove, and it will all feel very natural to you.”
My teeth ground together as I stared at Kendall. “What happened with Daisy?” I repeated.
“We talked.”
“And?”
Her legs crossed in the opposite direction they had been resting in, and she adjusted her dress to accommodate the new position. “She doesn’t want me doing this. She thinks we’ll be compared and that the viewers will like me more and she’ll lose everything.” When our eyes locked, I immediately saw pain. “If I sign the contract, she wants nothing to do with me.”
Jealousy was a disgusting trait on a woman.
“How do you feel about that?”
She took several deep breaths. “I don’t think she’s right. The viewers have put her on a pedestal, and they bow down to everything she says and does. They’re obsessed with her. Me coming onto the scene isn’t going to change that, certainly not when I’m just trying to share the screen with her, not trying to one-up her.” She paused, the hurt even more present. “There’s room for both of us-I believe that in my heart. Losing my sister isn’t what I wanted.”
Valerie’s hand went to Kendall’s shoulder, getting lost in her nest of hair. “We talked about this in great detail this morning.” Valerie’s stare moved to me. “We don’t think it would have mattered if Kendall hadn’t taken the job or not; Daisy would have punished her about something else, and the cycle would have continued to repeat. Daisy needs to work on herself. This outburst has nothing to do with Kendall or her decision.”
“I hope you know that’s true,” I said to Kendall.
“I do.” Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. “It just doesn’t feel good.”
“This might make you feel a little better …” I reached inside the folder, grabbed the page that showed the breakdown of her salary, and held it out to her. “We got you the twenty percent raise.”
Several deep exhales later, she gazed up from the paper and said, “You guys are good.”
There wasn’t excitement in her voice, and I knew that was due to Daisy. Her sister was ruining this moment for her, and something inside me wanted to fix it, but I couldn’t speak as freely with Valerie in the room.
I looked at Valerie and said, “Can I have a minute alone with Kendall?”
She stood from her seat. “Of course. I’ll be right outside.”
I waited until the door shut before I said, “Are you all right?”
She shrugged. “Sorta.”
“Are you having second thoughts?”
I watched her think about my question, the different waves of emotions crossing her face.
Each one made her more gorgeous.
“No, like Valerie said, it wouldn’t matter what I did; Daisy would find fault in it. I honestly believe I can’t make that girl happy. If I didn’t touch up her photos enough, she thought I was trying to make her look fat. If I didn’t post for her frequently enough, she thought I was trying to sabotage her social media presence. If I didn’t drive fast enough, she thought I was purposely trying to make her late.” The look that passed through her face told me she’d spent some time thinking about this. And she was drained-from all of it. “I just have to live my own life and not spend it trying to please my sister.”
“You know, I’ve seen my fair share of women like Daisy, and you’re right about everything. The only sensible option is to focus on you. Whether it’s showing the world how much of a sweetheart you are or raising awareness on volunteering and art therapy, you’re going to find your voice, and you’re going to make a difference in your own way.”