Da… a friend brought it up during a visit to the set. He mentioned that if there were any hardcore fans of Asher among the crew, having one of them speak out would carry more weight.” As Elizabeth explained, she gently removed his arm from her shoulders, subtly shifting to put a bit of distance between them.
“A friend? You’re talking about Daxton, aren’t you?” Elijah looked towards the space she had just vacated, feeling the residual warmth from her body. His eyes then lowered to her feet, noticing the delicate, vein-lined structure.
Elizabeth quietly confirmed his suspicion with a tight press of her lips.
Leaning back, Elijah casually asked, “I was under the impression that Silver Elephant Media strictly avoids hiring avid fans of lead actors. How did he suggest such a thing?”
Elizabeth dismissed the query with a shrug. “It’s probably just a coincidence. He might not even know about the policy.”
“How likely is it really? He just happens to make such a suggestion, and there just happens to be someone fitting that description in the crew?”
Elizabeth thought back to that moment. Daxton had briefly looked at Beverly’s phone. Could he have seen something indicating Beverly’s fondness for Asher? Was he intentionally planting seeds with his comment?
She quickly shook off the suspicion. Daxton wasn’t the type to orchestrate such intricate plots. After all, who could infer so much from a mere glimpse at a phone?
Elijah, observing her contemplative look, advised with a tone of concern, “You might want to keep your distance from him, or you could find yourself in unexpected trouble.”
Elizabeth’s eyes sparked with annoyance. “I don’t need you to manage my relationships!”
She straightened her posture, crossed her legs, and tilted her chin up defiantly, her silhouette more pronounced.
Elijah’s eyes narrowed, taking in her form. He had to admit, her beauty was the type that drew people in, capable of garnering attention from men willing to go to great lengths just to be near her.
The fact that she was married didn’t deter an endless stream of admirers from gravitating toward her.
After giving him the divorce papers, her return to the entertainment world only amplified her brilliance, as though a hidden treasure had been polished to perfection.
Elizabeth caught the intensity of his stare and straightened up, her voice tinged with pride. “Caught your eye, have I? Noticed how perfect my figure is now? I could rival any supermodel with my shape, and don’t overlook my cleavage either!”
She remembered the comments he had made about her body before, and the sting of those words still lingered.
“You’re becoming quite the narcissist. Who else would sing their own praises so boldly?” Elijah averted his gaze.
“Don’t twist my words! This isn’t narcissism; it’s confidence,” Elizabeth retorted, giving him a sharp look. “You were the one staring, and now you’re pretending you didn’t. How stubborn can you get?”
Elijah hesitated, then leaned in with a mischievous grin. “Not necessarily. You can dictate my actions, you know.”
Elijah continued, “Especially in the bedroom.”
The playful banter now held a flirtatious undertone due to their recent closeness.
Elizabeth was torn, unsure if she should dispel the charged atmosphere or let it build.
The sudden buzzing of Elijah’s phone on the couch shattered the moment. Elizabeth saw her chance to create some space. “Your phone’s ringing.”
Her eyes caught the caller ID—Sandra’s name illuminated the screen.
Her demeanor turned cold as she recalled Sandra’s involvement in her recent brush with danger.
With a flat tone, she said, “Rather than scrutinizing my friendships, perhaps attend to your own acquaintances. I’d appreciate it if Sandra stayed out of my harm’s way. Or better yet, ask her about her real intentions. I might step down as Mrs. Norris, but her marrying into the Norris family is beyond my control. She shouldn’t blame me for her own challenges, should she?”
Elijah, taken aback, stared at her, his phone forgotten in his hand.
Moments before, they had been light-hearted and flirtatious. Now, Elizabeth was discussing distancing herself again.
He paused before asking directly, “Are you feeling jealous?”
Elizabeth quickly said, “I’m being practical. The recent scandal? That was her orchestration! Nate got wind of obsessive fans knowing my whereabouts, and that sparked his kidnapping plot.”
The phone kept vibrating. Elijah’s brow furrowed. “Do you have proof?”
“Not yet,” Elizabeth responded, her tone now gentler. “But I intend to uncover it.”
With those words, she turned and ascended the stairs.
Elijah looked at his phone, a first for him. He chose to ignore the call, sending a text instead, saying, “In a meeting, What’s up?”
