The man in the white suit turned to his assistant.
“Write whatever amount they want.”
Every eye shifted to Lexi.
Who was she—to have Evan Cole step in for her?
Not just defending her, but offering to pay for everything himself?
Evan had shot to fame after one breakout role.
Young, charming, adored—untouchable.
Lauren accepted the check and strolled over.
Leaning close, she whispered, “I didn’t expect you to hook Evan too. You must be very talented in bed.”
Lexi’s gaze turned icy.
She hadn’t asked for help—and he’d just complicated things.
“Well,” Lauren said brightly, “since Evan insists, I won’t argue. Lexi, shouldn’t you thank him properly?”
The director rushed to smooth things over, baffled.
First Sebastian Blackwood.
Now Evan Cole.
What did this woman have?
Lexi faced Evan.
“Thank you,” she said, distant and polite.
He studied her—calm, restrained—and smiled.
“You were shaken. Let me take you to dinner after filming.”
Gasps filled the room.
Lexi stiffened.
She’d just met him.
The offer felt wrong.
“That won’t be necessary,” she replied, then left under the crew’s stares.
“Ungrateful,” the director muttered.
Evan’s warmth unsettled her.
It reminded her too much of someone else.
After that, she made sure to avoid his gaze on set.
The afternoon shoot was Evan and Lauren’s scene.
A blizzard.
A misunderstanding.
The hero sees the heroine following another man, assumes betrayal, and in the struggle, pushes her into an icy lake.
To heighten realism, the crew packed the artificial water with large chunks of ice.
Lauren approached the director, hand on her stomach.
“I’m not feeling well. I can’t do the water scene. Can we use a stand-in?”
The director hesitated.
“I have a suggestion,” Lena said sweetly, glancing at Lexi.
“She’d be willing.”
Frozen in the afternoon.
When Lexi received the notice, she understood immediately.
Lauren wasn’t done.
The lake wasn’t deep—but it was freezing.
Lexi jumped in.
Again.
And again.
Ten takes.
Fifteen.
Still not enough.
Her clothes clung to her.
The wind cut through soaked fabric.
She couldn’t stop shaking.
“One last take,” she said through chattering teeth.
“If it doesn’t work, find someone else.”
“Can’t handle something this simple?” Lauren drawled from her chair.
Lexi shot back, “You’d know whether I can act, wouldn’t you?”
The director slammed his clipboard down.
“Alexandra Starling! Talk back again and no one wraps today. Get in the water.”
Lexi clenched her fists and walked to the lake.
If she refused, everyone suffered.
It was her first day.
She couldn’t afford enemies.
She closed her eyes and jumped.
The cold stole her breath.
She tried to surface—
Something clamped around her ankle.
Hard.
She was yanked down.
At first she thought it was a cramp.
Then she looked.
A man in black gripped her leg, dragging her deeper.
Lexi couldn’t swim.
She thrashed.
Water filled her mouth.
She tried to scream—nothing came.
Cold.
No air.
So this is how it ends.
Her vision blurred.
Then—
Hands grabbed her.
She broke the surface.
Collapsed onto the grass.
Pressure on her chest.
Controlled breaths against her lips.
Shouting.
She coughed violently, water burning out of her lungs.
When she opened her eyes, she gave a bitter smile.
“You told me to act,” she rasped.
“Didn’t think I’d die doing it.”
Sebastian Blackwood stood over her.
Only when he saw her breathing steadily did he step back.
He was soaked—but still imposing.
Connor rushed over with a coat.
“Boss, you shouldn’t have jumped in. Go warm up.”
Lauren hurried forward, her expression shifting instantly.
“Sebastian? Why are you here? Someone bring ginger tea!”
Lexi forced herself upright.
“I wasn’t trying to die. Someone was pulling me under. They were trying to kill me.”
Sebastian’s gaze remained cool.
“When I pulled you out, there was no one.”
His eyes flicked to her soaked clothes clinging to her figure.
His jaw tightened.
He shrugged off his coat and tossed it at her.
“Put it on.”
Connor had already told him about Evan’s heroics that morning.
She seemed to attract attention wherever she went.
If he hadn’t come himself…
He stopped the thought.
When he saw her sinking, he hadn’t hesitated.
“Stay away from Evan Cole,” he said coldly.
“I’ll arrange a different assignment.”
He placed an arm around Lauren and led her toward the lounge.
Lauren glanced back at Lexi.
Her smile was slow.
Triumphant.
Because the man in the water—
Had been arranged by her.