The Sheikh's Virgin Bride(38)

Her stomach gave a little flip.

What had the women said? That he had dated every model and actress in town? That he was a player who knew how to woo a woman. She reminded herself of that, told herself that she was better off walking away. If a cop show could get canceled so easily, the chances of a reality show making it were even worse. She had no reason to stay.

“Well, now that the vermin have managed to expel themselves, let’s get this process started. Let’s start with you,” Merle said, gesturing to the blonde, who had also stayed.

She glanced nervously at the rest of the group, but when Amir looked at her with a warm, welcoming glance, she visibly relaxed and moved a little closer to him. The three of them disappeared behind the door, the same screeching sound echoing across the room as the other three women stood staring at that door.

“Do you think we should go through with this?” another brown-haired girl asked. She had stunning blue eyes, though she looked an awful lot like an actress that was already wildly famous. Kaye felt a pang of sympathy for her; it was likely she had been told many times that her look had already been done.

“I mean, we’re already here, and did you see that guy?” the other brunette asked.

Yet another brunette. Glancing around, Kaye realized they all could likely be sisters.

Not a good thing, in a casting call.

“What do you think are the odds that this show will actually make it on the air?”

The blue-eyed woman shrugged.

“Who knows? Who knows with any of this stuff, anymore?”

“This is my first audition,” the other brunette said, her voice small. “Are they all like this?”

Her eyes looked sad, as though she’d had such dreams for her time in Hollywood, only to be faced with the cold hard reality of it all. Kaye placed a gentle hand on her arm.

“They are not. Give me your email and I’ll send you some good casting call websites, okay?”

The girl nodded, her face lit up with gratitude as she exchanged her information with Kaye. Meanwhile, the door scraped open, the blonde leaving without speaking to the others as she made a hasty exit.

“Next!” Merle called from the room.

The women exchanged a look, and Kaye nodded at the blue-eyed actress.

“Go for it. When you come out, you have to tell us what happens in there though, okay?”

The girl looked nervous as she stared at the door, but she nodded.

“I will. Wish me luck, ladies.”

“Break a leg,” Kaye said, which elicited a small smile from her new friend.

The door closed once more, and Kaye found herself wondering whether it would be a better idea to stay and see what the Sheikh had to offer, or to pick up and run.

In the end, her feet stayed planted just where they were.





Chapter Three





Kaye tried not to absorb the nervousness of her fellow auditionee, who had been shifting from foot to foot for the past ten minutes as they continued to wait in the vast, empty warehouse. Finally, the door squeaked open again, but when the actress walked out, she wore a stricken expression.

Kaye was about to ask her what happened when she rolled her eyes, shook her head, and headed right for the door, apparently rendered totally speechless. She was gone before Kaye had a chance to say a word.

“Oh, that’s it. Nothing is worth this anxiety!”

The young amateur next to Kaye hightailed it out the door, just as Merle called out, “Next!”

Kaye stared at her retreating back, then at the empty doorway. Was that girl right? The whole situation was so…fishy.

“Next!” Merle called out again.

Not one to bail on commitments, Kaye squared her shoulders and marched into the interview room, where Merle and the Sheikh were sitting in chairs that faced the door. Kaye closed it behind her, tugging on the heavy metal as it scraped against the concrete floor. When she turned back to face the interviewers, she noticed another chair planted before them.

“Please have a seat,” Amir said smoothly, all charm and grace.

The two men could not have been more different. Kaye allowed her focus to settle on Amir as she accepted his invitation and took a seat across from them.

“Headshot,” Merle demanded, and Kaye handed over the copies she had brought with her.

As the two looked over her picture and resume, Merle began with the usual questions.

“Tell us a bit about your experience, Miss Kearney.”

Kaye brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, launching into her well-rehearsed response.

“I’ve been acting on and off for the past three years here in L.A., but you’ll see that I have a degree in theater, and I’ve been in plays all my life.”

The two men sat in silence as they continued to peruse her resume, their expressions unreadable. The silence stretched on, and Kaye felt the need to fill it.

“I’m sorry that I don’t have more production-level experience. I actually just landed a leading role on a police drama, but it was canceled yesterday. Apparently, the pilot didn’t test well with audiences.”

She tried her best to sound more disappointed than bitter, and Merle nodded. She had obviously said something he could relate to.

“That’s just the way the cookie crumbles, isn’t it?” he mumbled.

“It’s for the best, actually,” Amir chimed in, and Kaye’s eyes darted back to him.