Chapter 4

Katy walked down the long, carpeted hallway of the backstage area. Her high heels sank into the thick fabric. She stopped in front of the door with a gold star and her name printed on it.

She reached for the brass handle.

The door to the dressing room right next to hers swung open. Rex Vance stumbled out. He held a half-empty glass of whiskey.

He saw Katy. A greasy smile spread across his face. He whistled loudly and stepped directly into her path.

Katy rolled her eyes. "Move, Rex." She pushed her hand against her door handle.

Rex slammed his palm against the doorframe, blocking her arm. He leaned in close. He smelled like cheap alcohol and expensive cologne.

"I saw the way you were looking at Arther out there," Rex whispered, his voice mocking. "You looked like you wanted to eat him alive."

Katy's heart stopped. Ice water flooded her veins. Her stomach twisted into a tight knot.

She forced her face to remain completely blank. She dug her thumbnail into the side of her index finger.

"Are you hallucinating because your last movie bombed?" Katy asked. Her voice was a flat, sharp blade. "Or do you just obsess over women who are out of your league?"

Rex's smirk vanished. The muscles in his jaw ticked. His eyes turned dark and angry.

"Watch your mouth, Riddle," Rex sneered. "You won't be on top forever. People fall hard in this town."

Katy let out a harsh, dismissive laugh. She raised her hand and slapped his arm away from her doorframe. The smack echoed in the hallway.

"At least I don't have to pour drinks for producers to get screen time," Katy said.

She pushed her door open, stepped inside, and slammed it shut in his face.

She heard Rex curse loudly. Something hit the wall outside. Katy leaned her forehead against the cool wood of the door. She closed her eyes and dragged air into her burning lungs.

Aisling, her makeup artist, stood frozen in the corner of the room.

Katy opened her eyes. The fear was gone. The professional ice queen was back. She walked over to the vanity chair and sat down.

"Get me out of this silver thing," Katy ordered. "Put me in the black velvet. Now."

Aisling rushed forward. She unzipped the silver gown. Katy stepped out of it and pulled the heavy, strapless black velvet dress up her body. The fabric clung to her curves like a second skin.

Katy looked at herself in the bright vanity mirror. She looked untouchable.

"Change the lip," Katy said.

Aisling wiped away the soft pink gloss. She painted Katy's lips a deep, aggressive blood red.

Katy stood up. She smoothed her hands down the velvet skirt. Not a single wrinkle.

She grabbed her black clutch from the table. She took a deep breath, preparing to walk back into the war zone.

Her hand gripped the door handle. Rex's words echoed in her skull. You looked like you wanted to eat him alive.

She ground her teeth together. She couldn't show a single crack in her armor.

Katy yanked the door open and took a massive step out into the hallway.

The lights in the corridor seemed dimmer. A massive wall of black fabric blocked her path.

She couldn't stop her momentum. Katy crashed hard into a solid, unyielding chest.

Her forehead slammed against a hard collarbone. A sharp pain shot through her skull. She let out a soft gasp as the impact sent her stumbling backward.

A strong, heavy hand shot out. Long fingers wrapped tightly around her waist. The grip stopped her fall instantly, pulling her back into the heat of the body she just hit.

The sharp, clean scent of cedarwood filled her lungs.

Katy's breath hitched. She knew that scent.

She slowly tilted her head up.

She stared straight into a pair of dark, bottomless eyes.

Arther Knowles stood there, looking down at her. His hand was still gripping her waist. A tiny, almost invisible smirk played on his lips.

Katy's brain shut down completely. Every wall she had just built shattered into a million pieces.