Billionaires in New York Boxed Set: Billionaires in the City Books 1-3 Laura Burton (books to read this summer .TXT) 📖

recognition flashed across her face. Harry gave an awkward wave before he lowered his hand and stood rooted on the spot.

Max, the photographer, was the best of the best. Fast, to-the-point and very precise, he did not need much time to get the shots they needed, and within half an hour the entire shoot was finished. Matt dropped his hands and marched off without a word to Julie, who stood with her arms hanging by her sides and looking at Noelle for further instructions.

She wore a long Grecian gown. It was sheer and if it weren’t for the modesty slip, there would be little left to the imagination. The way the dress draped over her body was so delicate and elegant, it gave Harry goose bumps. He found himself staring at Julie, who was looking so lost. He wanted to scoop her up in his arms and carry her out of the hall, away from all these people. This was not her world. She was so sweet, so tender, so beautiful; it seemed a crime to expose her to this environment.

Hollywood is brutal. Why did Noelle drag her into this?

Noelle barked instructions to her as if she were a dog. Not the gorgeous, respectable woman she was. But that was Noelle being Noelle; she treated everyone like that. She was known as the “battle axe,” but she got things done. And that made her the best in the business.

Julie picked up the skirt of her dress and tiptoed bare foot across the hall. This was Harry’s chance. But something held him back. The words of that note burned across his mind.

… or I will destroy you.

If the note is about her, is she worth the drama? In the face of adversity, Harry often ran as far as possible in the other direction. The media made him out to be a brooding, heartbreaker, who had little regard for anyone’s feelings. He got the job done—much like Noelle. Only, he was not like Noelle, and his team orchestrated circumstances to make him appear “hardier” than he was.

Harry blinked out of his thoughts and noticed Julie approaching him. A waft of perfume filled his nostrils and her smile melted his resolve. How could he stop seeing her? That smile. He got a rush of dopamine every time he saw it.

“Hi there,” Julie said, rubbing her arms.

“You don’t speak to anyone! Don’t forget your place, seamstress,” Noelle yelled across the set. Harry’s heart sank at her words.

Does she really have to be that harsh?

“It’s all right Noelle, we’re… friends.”

Noelle’s eyes narrowed as she looked from Harry to Julie, then returned her judging gaze to Harry. Huffing out a sigh of disgust, she marched off tutting to herself.

“I’m told you saved the day,” Harry said mildly. Julie’s face lit up at his words. She placed her hands on her waist and squared her shoulders.

“Oh sure, that’s me. Always happy to save a photoshoot from disaster.” She laughed to herself. Harry tried not to glance down at her chest as it heaved up and down in that decadent dress. Her body moved fluidly and in a way that had him enchanted.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call you this morning.” Harry chewed the inside of his cheek and awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, thinking of a plausible lie to tell her. Should he let her know about the threat he received? Maybe she had an idea who wrote it?

“Oh, I didn’t even notice.”

Julie’s words stung, as if a poisonous dart shot him right between the eyes. His face must have mirrored his feelings, because a look of horror crossed Julie’s. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean that to sound so….” She pushed her wavy hair back from her shoulders and sighed. “It’s been a weird morning.” She reached out and touched Harry’s forearm briefly. Her fingers set off a chain reaction through his whole body.

“I see that. So modeling isn’t your usual thing?”

Julie shook her head and nervously eyed someone behind Harry before she could reply. The fast approaching footsteps alerted him to turn around.

“We have a situation with Matt,” Benjamin muttered. Harry followed his line of sight to see Matt had returned and was looking at him intently, his broad arms folded making his shoulders look even bigger.

“I’m sorry,” he said turning back to Julie. She eyed him expectantly, her hands still resting on her hips. “Are you free right now?”

Julie glanced back at Noelle who was standing off to the side, talking to the photographer, then she looked back at Harry, her eyes bright.

“I think so.” It was a simple answer yet seemed to set off fireworks inside Harry’s head.

“Great. I will come and find you in a minute.”

Julie nodded coyly and walked toward Noelle but stopped and glanced back at Harry. They shared a mutual look of admiration and Harry’s heart raced.

Taking a deep breath, he turned back toward Matt.

“Right. Let’s see what he wants now.”

Chapter Seven

A Touch of Love

Julie maintained composure until she entered the changing room; she clenched her fists and did a little dance. Having only worked in the manufacturing side of the building, she hadn’t had an opportunity to see the studio downstairs. The grandeur of the high ceilings and fancy equipment blew her away. Massive green-screens, tall, high-tech lighting equipment, and racks and racks of clothes. Oddly, the team of stylists that had been perfecting her hair and correcting the way her dress draped on the floor had Julie feeling giddy. The flashing lights and all eyes on her would usually be the idea of a nightmare, yet something about putting on that Grecian gown, wearing masses of blonde hair extensions, and layers of makeup made her feel like she was totally in character.

For a short time, she was in somebody else’s shoes. Not the shy, simple seamstress living in a foreign country, but a gorgeous actress, modeling for the front cover of her next big Hollywood blockbuster.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the tall