Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Chapter 20
Slade
I openly stared at Austin, hopefully masking the stunned expression I felt forming on the inside. Austin’s small office inside a studio dedicated to a fellow Texas native, Willie Nelson, was anything but cozy. It was more like a conference room based on the large oval table and lack of anything office related, like chairs, which we had to wheel in before beginning our meeting.
After the initial few minutes where Austin laid out all his intentions, I was swept away in awe at the planning he’d put into this pitch. The positive feelings that I’d had throughout the entire studio tour held as Austin explained how he wanted me to star in a series of Westerns he planned to make.
If it played like Austin suggested, it’d be a multi-year contract, bringing in as much money as I made last year, then every year after, guaranteed. Austin had done his homework where I was concerned. The offer was so good I gave my tentative acceptance on the spot. Honestly, if he’d put a contract in front of me, I’d have signed it without any of my team involved.
I’d half expected this to be an invitation to audition, but instead, the role was mine for the taking. Nothing had ever flattered me more than knowing my body of work was valued to such a degree that Austin put his faith in me to carry the powerful films.
Austin and I now sat together on one side of the table in view of the camera on my laptop which I had opened in front of us. The screen showed a split image of eight different people, five on my side, three on Austin’s currently battling out a contract to suit both sides.
“Let’s go get something to eat while they haggle out the details,” Austin whispered, leaning back in the chair which gave a solid squeak at his movement.
Since I hadn’t yet told my team that I was prepared to take the offer as presented, I gave a single nod, thinking it was funny to watch them all haggle. They were the best of the best in our industry. They’d tear this apart until it made us all crazy. Honestly, it felt like I was giving them a bit of the turmoil they always dished out.
Austin ducked out of the frame. I went the other way, hoping we went unnoticed. Our departure had no impact at all based on the way no one stopped talking over the others. Austin held a finger to his lips, sending the quiet message as he slowly opened the door, ushering me out first.
Once outside of the office, I followed Austin until we reached the outside doors. The bright warm sun had me squinting as the hot winds stifled my breath. I reached for my cell in vain. There was no way I could read the screen until my eyes adjusted.
“What time is it?” I asked, shielding my eyes.
Austin’s quick draw had his sunglasses falling in place as he pulled his phone from his pocket. “Based on the sun, it’s later than I realized. Almost six. We should probably head over to the bar. Kitt and I try our best to have dinner together every night. It doesn’t always happen, but you need to taste the food I’m tryin’ to win you over with. Kitt and Mace dropped your bags off at the house we assigned you.” The entire time he talked, he walked to the UTV. This one must be the Lamborghini of rides with its tricked out, aerodynamic exterior shell and open, airy top.
“Are the accommodations also part of the contract?” I asked, teasingly. I saw no world where I decided to stay here instead of going back home to Mace.
“The house, yeah. The food, no. The chef’s expensive and uses real high-dollar ingredients. You’ll be paying for that,” Austin said and slid into the driver’s seat.
“Cheapskate. How long do you think they’ll continue battling it out before they realize we’re gone?” I asked, a little less practiced at taking my seat.
“It’ll be hours for my team. They’re vultures.” Austin had his own predatory agent, manager, and attorney group to rival mine. “It’ll be interesting to see the bloodbath after they’re done.”
I reached for my sunglasses I’d left inside the cubby. The hot metal stung as I put it over my ears to check my messages. I wondered what Mace had accomplished today.
There were no new texts from him.
“If you’d like to move to our place, we have a guest suite there. It’s yours if you want, but the place Kitt set for you is nice and quiet and private,” Austin explained, starting the engine and backing out of the parking lot.
He barely had the gear out of reverse before he pushed the gas pedal, jerking us forward. I grabbed the ‘oh-shit’ bar not for the first time since riding with him that day as I tried my best to stay seated inside the vehicle.