#𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀 ft. rhett barlowe

[tooswcctx]

closed: @fearhidden ( Isabella Herrera & Rhett Barlowe )

"You've got to be fucking - " Isa mumbled to herself as the line went dead, tossing her phone onto the couch in her dressing room only to see a figure appear in the doorway. "What? Can I help you with something or are you here to gloat?" It hadn't been the worst news she'd ever gotten but finding out he was becoming a series regular was far from good news in Isabella's book. More time spent with possibly the most frustrating man on the planet. Lucky her.

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Isa had a feeling her saying it was just him would do more harm than good but she also wanted to avoid a rumor starting that she was abrasive to every new person to join the cast. Neither one felt great. "I wouldn't say you're special but not everyone makes me want to immediately leave whatever room they walk into." She clarified, walking that line as she paused before brushing past him. God, he had already zeroed in on the fact that she would always put the job first - and how she came across to the writers, directors and everyone else who had a hand in her livelihood. Isa knew she could be a lot to handle, she always had been and it was one reason that she excelled in this line of work. Drama was everything, dramatics were...acceptable to a degree. She knew he had a point which killed her a little bit but it was true. The job was more important than how much she disliked him. "Fine. I have dinner with someone but afterwards, we can run lines for tomorrow, they made some changes. I'll be back at nine."

Her brutal honesty was the fuel to the flickering flames that raged between them. It was a matter of getting under her skin and at that point, it seemed like he'd done one hell of a job without much effort required. "You don't like me? Do you make a habit out of hating new comers, or am I just a special case? 'Cause I'm not sure what I did to end up on your shit list." He wasn't anymore arrogant than the other men he'd come across. In fact, by comparison, he almost seemed humble. "If you could pull your own head outta your ass for two seconds, maybe you'd see that it's not such a bad thing." He wasn't expecting a goddamn thing from her and if all she wanted was to run lines and insult him in between, he'd dish back the unpleasantries and soak up the entertainment. He took a single step back when she lifted from her seat, but he continued to wear the wicked smile on his mouth, even if only out of spite. "Actually, yeah. I was wondering if you'd wanna run some lines later. Figured if we're going to work together, we might as well get used to spending time together. Unless your plans are more important than the job, then I get it."

[tooswcctx]

The longer this conversation went on the more frustrated Isa became and sometimes she couldn't trust even herself to keep her actions in check. That's what happened when you ran as hot as she did. She's always been the type to act first and ask questions later. "No, I don't care that you're doing well or that you're actually, shockingly, good. I just don't like you." There was no point in beating around the bush...although she didn't mind at all that she had to make out with him multiple times a day which made the whole thing even more frustrating. "Out of all the love interests I've gotten that have been written off after a few episodes or they never spoke more than a line - you're the one I got stuck with." And, if what he was saying was true, they were taking time to develop his character, making him more than a hot guy who Isa got her rocks off with which meant that they were serious. Standing up, she crossed over to him and gave him the least welcoming look she could muster. "Are you good? Anything else you want to rub in my face while you've got time? Like I said, I have places to be." Still not true but anywhere was better than her dressing room with him.

"You can't stand it, can you? That I came in and actually did well." He didn't even attempt to stifle the look of amusement that spread on his mouth and illuminated his dark hazel hues. She was so damn spiteful and all because of what? The new guy on set gained traction faster than she liked? "You haven't been down to the writers room in awhile, have you? They wanted my take on some things. Guess they're diving headfirst into developing my character. Looks like we're gonna have plenty of screen time together." He wasn't confident in their intentions, but he knew that his part had gone from a few minutes every other episode, to one where his lines were drawn out over the whole episode and where his character's development actually mattered. "Really? 'Cause if you're about to pop open the first episode's script, I think you'll be surprised." Had he peeked? Sure. Was there still room for change? Also a yes.

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"Clearly you haven't been the industry long, people don't know what they want." Isa countered, hating the fact he was trying to say anything about this when she was the one who had been on the show for years. She was the face of the whole thing now, all that mattered was her character. At least, according to Isabella. If that was actually the case, she wasn't sure but she'd never ask either. Better to be blissfully ignorant. Hearing him mention pay, her eyes narrowed, not loving the idea of anyone wanting him to be around that badly. "And? They talk checks all the time, doesn't mean anything until contracts are signed and by then, who knows what might change. With any luck, they'll realize you aren't needed and scrap the whole thing." Unlikely but she would hold onto that shred of hope like her life depended on it. "Is that all? I have things to do and you aren't involved in any of them." Not entirely true, but the longer she saw his smug face, the more frustrated she got.

Unlike most people in the industry, acting had never been his first choice. He could have picked a thousand other things he wanted to do in life and yet, the pieces had fallen together and what should have been a few appearances turned into him being a series regular. It was that kind of confidence boost, paired with the fact that he knew a certain woman on set hated him, that had him standing in her doorway with a wide grin. "Ouch. Well, I hate to break it to you, but you should really read all those comments online. Doesn't seem like the viewers really agree with that." He'd clearly made an impression at some point or another, and whether the woman before him could tolerate it or not, he was sticking around. "About that," he hummed, bottom lip pulled between his teeth for a moment before his gaze settled back on hers, "I guess since I'm a series regular, there's some talk on pay. You didn't hear from me, but I guess they're willing to sign a pretty big check to keep me around."

[tooswcctx]

From the second he'd arrived on set, Isa had been plotting to have him removed from it. He was arrogant, pretentious, annoying, frustrating - all the things you hated in a co-star but studios loved in a chemistry read. They had both gotten close to ruining takes over and over again with their disdain for each other but at the end of the day, they were professionals and Isabella would never ruin her reputation for the sake of ruining his life ( though it was tempting ). "And why would I be happy? If anything, I'll be happy once they decide to kill you off and find another mediocre replacement, they can do it again." Her best bet was detaching herself from this whole thing and not letting him get under her skin. The problem? She was an emotional woman, it was what made her such a good actress - everything got under her skin. "Is this your idea of not gloating? You're doing a shit job...but it doesn't matter. They'll get their ratings and I'll continue to have my name top billed."

Having heard the news moments earlier, it was spite and excitement that drove him to the very dressing room he’d done his best to avoid for months. Knuckles rapped against the wooden door that was already open, his smile wide as he realized someone had beaten him to the drop of bump up to main cast. “Surprise. I thought you’d be happy.” He did his best to bite back a laugh, but he failed as gaze swept over her, annoyance radiating from her small frame as if it were the only emotion she had. Truth was, he almost believed that was the case. “I was just coming by because I wanted you to hear it from me. And no, not to gloat. I mean, not to gloat that much.”