“I assumed I knew everybody right here tonight, however I’ve to say, I don’t acknowledge you.”

The lady prolonged her hand. The motion caught Charlotte off guard, as a result of she didn’t suppose anybody that younger would provoke a handshake, particularly at a celebration like this. “Lara Soler. I’m Hayden Dent’s agent.”

Charlotte blinked, momentarily dazed, her thoughts looking for the picture of these headshots, attempting to see how they may very well be the identical particular person. “Charlotte Dixon,” she mentioned after a second, her hand sliding into Lara’s.

Charlotte tried to shake away that feeling of shock, hoping that Lara couldn’t see how thrown she was. And her abdomen dropped somewhat when she realized that Lara had been her as a result of she’d greater than seemingly acknowledged Charlotte. They’d numerous mates in widespread, and perhaps Lara was questioning if Charlotte knew who she was.

She hated that she was dissatisfied that this girl wasn’t watching her as a result of she was . She didn’t need to be that particular person, the type who wanted consideration and validation, however perhaps she was.

3

Lara needed to bear in mind to breathe as Charlotte Dixon slid her hand into hers, giving it a agency shake. She was torn between wanting Hayden to come back again with their drinks and diffuse this unusual vibe that appeared out of nowhere when Lara launched herself but additionally eager to have Charlotte Dixon to herself for so long as doable.

Lara’s hand fell away, her thoughts racing as she tried to determine what had simply occurred. Charlotte had approached her together with her signature swag and confidence, however when Lara had held out her hand and launched herself, one thing modified, and Lara had no concept what it may very well be.

Until Charlotte had heard one thing about her. About how shit of an agent she really was. And that she was solely the place she was as a result of Kerri Talbert had handed her a star-studded consumer checklist.

Lara swallowed down the lump in her throat. She’d had Ada and Sydney together with a couple of extra of her shoppers reassuring her and thanking her for doing such a great job since taking up from Kerri, however that didn’t cease the practically each day fear that she was doing a horrible job representing her shoppers and discovering them the roles that they deserved.

Charlotte’s voice took her away from her ideas. “Effectively, it’s a pleasure to lastly meet you. We’ve got numerous mutual mates, however I’m fairly positive that we’ve by no means met.”

Lara shook her head. “No. We haven’t. I by no means went to any occasions or events like this with Kerri. I used to be her P.A. so it was completely different again then. However sure, we’re mates with numerous the identical individuals.” She was rambling, and he or she didn’t know the best way to cease herself. She was so distracted by Charlotte’s response. It had been refined, however on the identical time, it was sufficient that Lara couldn’t ignore it.

Charlotte’s charming self was again now although, and Lara discovered it troublesome to not fall underneath her spell. These eyes had been simply so mesmerizing. The remainder of the celebration fell away as Lara gave Charlotte her undivided consideration, the stress-free roar of the ocean filling the gaps in dialog.

“I’m shocked you weren’t at Kerri’s fiftieth birthday celebration. At Ada’s.”

Lara tried to not let her gaze rake over Charlotte once more, however this girl in a swimsuit was like one thing out of her fantasies. “She really gave me that week off, and I went to New York.”

“It’s humorous, pondering again…” Charlotte sipped her drink. “Kerri had simply purchased her cabin in Colorado. She hadn’t even met Rachel but, and he or she wasn’t actually even fascinated with retiring. And have a look at her now. Take a look at you now.” Charlotte lifted her glass in the direction of her. “Congrats.”

Lara exhaled, not solely positive if Charlotte was questioning how she received to the place she was or genuinely congratulating her. “Thanks. Yeah, it’s been a loopy yr. I had been studying from Kerri, pondering that, , perhaps sometime I’d wish to be an agent, however it all occurred so quick.”

“And do you like it?”

Lara opened her mouth, however nothing got here out. Did she like it? She’d been so busy attempting to maintain her head above water, to carry onto Kerri’s shoppers who had been now her shoppers, that she hadn’t actually stopped to consider how she felt, if she was having fun with her new job.

“Wow,” Charlotte mentioned, her gaze mounted on her. “You would possibly need to do some soul looking. I can’t converse from expertise career-wise, as a result of I like what I do, however I’ve lived my private life underneath the burden of different individuals’s opinions, of what I assumed I ought to be doing to maintain my followers completely happy… It’s my largest remorse. That I didn’t make choices for myself sooner. And in case you hesitated that a lot…” She pursed her lips collectively. “You would possibly need to take into consideration your profession alternative.”

Lara’s abdomen dropped as Charlotte’s phrases sunk in, and Hayden appeared at that second with their drinks.

“Thanks,” Lara mentioned softly as Hayden handed her the glass earlier than wrapping her arms round Charlotte, zoning out of their dialog for a couple of seconds, wishing she may very well be extra like Hayden, chatting to Charlotte with ease, though that they had been on the identical set for months, so it wasn’t a good comparability, however nonetheless.

Lara wanted to determine the best way to behave like an expert. Quick. She didn’t need Charlotte Dixon to go away this celebration pondering she was an incompetent agent who was too starstruck to hold on a dialog.

“…isn’t it Lara?”

Hayden was her, ready for her to reply, however Lara had no concept what they had been speaking about. She gave the slightest nod earlier than lifting her glass to her lips and taking a drink.

“Sometime,” Hayden continued. “Sometime, I’m going to stay in a home like this. On the seaside.”

“Effectively, you might have the expertise,” Charlotte chimed in. “There’s little doubt about that. I’ve seen it with my very own eyes. The components will come. And also you’ve received a succesful agent,” she mentioned, turning her consideration to Lara. “So, it’s only a matter of being affected person.”

Lara might really feel the warmth coming to her cheeks. A praise from Charlotte Dixon? Was this actual life? Or was that extra of a backhanded praise? The place succesful meant that she ought to have already discovered Hayden a extra vital function?

“Is it okay if I head again inside?” Hayden requested her. “Jessica wished to introduce me to somebody.”

“Yeah. In fact.” After which it was simply Charlotte and her once more. A second probability for Lara to redeem herself. She met Charlotte’s blue eyes. “What you had been saying earlier than… I assume you had been speaking about popping out?”

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