Page 17 of Cast to be Mine

My beach house wasn’t huge by Blackwell standards. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the ocean, and the sound of waves provided a constant backdrop. It was three stories with four bedrooms. The house had a theater room that I poured the most money into. It was a sweet setup. The open concept made the space feel airy.

Today it served as our unofficial rehearsal space. More intimate than a studio, less formal than a conference room. I wanted everyone relaxed and comfortable. First impressions mattered, and I needed this cast to gel quickly.

And I needed to cut costs where I could.

“Did you talk to the leading lady?” Toby asked.

“Not personally.”

“She’s probably freaking out about meeting everyone.”

He wasn’t wrong. I’d been thinking about that myself, wondering if I should have reached out to her separately, given her a heads-up about what to expect. But I’d decided against it. Sink or swim. If she couldn’t handle a casual table read, she definitely couldn’t handle Jack Montana’s ego on set.

“She’ll be fine,” I said, more to convince myself than him.

The doorbell rang and my stomach did a weird flip.

“Here we go,” Toby said.

I opened the door to find Jack Montana standing on my doorstep, and for once, he was actually alone. No entourage. Not even an assistant. Just Jack, wearing sunglasses that probably cost more than most people’s rent and a tight t-shirt that showed off every muscle he’d spent a lot of time and money to get.

Those abs were his moneymaker.

“Micah.” He pulled off the sunglasses, revealing that movie-star smile.

“Thanks for coming alone. I really think this will work better without distractions.”

“Chantilly wasn’t happy about it,” he said, stepping inside. “But I told her this is work. Professional work. She can’t be on set for everything.”

“I appreciate that.” I led him toward the living room. “Coffee? Water? We’ve got some food set up.”

“Just water.” He was already surveying the space, taking in the setup with the critical eye of someone who’d done a thousand of these. “Intimate. I like it.”

Toby appeared with a bottle of water, his hand shaking slightly as he handed it over. “Mr. Montana. I’m Toby Powers. It’s an honor to meet you. Big fan.”

I cringed. I couldn’t have him fangirling over the talent. We were supposed to be professionals.

“Call me Jack.” He took the water, his charm dialing up automatically. “You’re the assistant director?”

“Production assistant, but I’m learning,” Toby said quickly. “Micah’s teaching me.”

Jack’s eyes flicked to me, one dark brow arched. “Generous of you. Taking on a mentee.”

“He’s good,” I said simply. “He’ll be directing his own projects in a few years.”

The doorbell rang again, and this time it was Buzz Coleman, who burst in with the kind of energy that immediately filled the room. He was short, stocky, and had a huge personality.

“Micah Blackwell!” He grabbed my hand in both of his, shaking enthusiastically. “I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“Thanks, Buzz. That means a lot.”

“Jack!” Buzz released me and moved to clap Jack on the shoulder. “Looking swollen, buddy. You been hitting the gym?”

Jack’s chest puffed out slightly. “Six days a week. Added fifteen pounds of muscle for this role.”

“It shows, man. It definitely shows.”

I caught Toby’s eye and we both fought back smiles. Jack’s vanity was going to be a constant source of entertainment.