Ms. Perfectly Imperfect: BBW BWWM Interracial Romance by Roxy Wilson Read Free Book Online Page A

swirled through his mind, but he didn’t have any answers. After she stepped inside the building, Clint drove home. He could only hope that he would soon be able to get more answers. For now, it was enough that her lovely image floated in his mind, which was enough to sustain him for some time—or at least until they met again.

 
     
    Chapter Five
     
    Sometimes walking away has nothing to do with weakness, and everything to do with strength. We walk away not because we want others to realize our worth and value, but because we finally realize our own. ~ Brigitte Nicole
     
    Layla was on the set, as always, doing her work with quick aplomb. Although she didn’t actually love her work, she enjoyed it because not only was she good at it, but also she’d put in many hours to perfect her craft. As she changed from pose to pose, her mind kept drifting to the delicious Dr. Collins…really a kind soul. She could read that about him. A doctor who went beyond his duty to care for patients; one who took out time to listen to the woes of a stranger, was certainly a man worth knowing.
    “Take a break,” Asher said.
    Gratefully, she stepped off the set as they changed the backdrop. She walked into the changing room to change into a different outfit. Once she was done, she sat there to wait for them to call her back out.
    Asher came in. “What happened last night, baby girl?”
    All she’d told him was that she needed a place to crash. He didn’t ask any questions as it was late at night and she didn’t offer any information. “My mother wasn’t—doing so well. She needed some space.”
    “She’s living with you?”
    There was no way she could share with anyone about what happened. It wasn’t fair for her mother if she told her life story. Although, she trusted Asher, Layla wasn’t prepared to tell him all this. “Just for a couple of days. Naturally, this problem that I’m facing…this hair loss is scaring the hell out of her. She seems to think that it’s the end of my career.”
    “It might as well be,” her manager, Bryan said, as he strode in. “You’re different than other models because of your looks and your hair. It’s not often that someone with dark features and naturally brown hair comes into the industry. If you can’t boast this combination, there isn’t much that you have to offer.”
    The shock of his statement hit her like a slap. The man was obnoxious.
    As she bristled, ready to give him a scathing response, Asher jumped out of his seat. “You’re the biggest moron that I’ve ever had the misfortunate to meet, man. Get the hell out!”
    “You can’t kick me out.”
    “Oh, yeah? Watch me do it” Asher strode forward and stood in front of Bryan. “I’ll throw you out if I have to do it myself.”
    “Asher, leave him,” Layla interjected. She didn’t want a fight because of her. That would surely give the gossip columnists something to write about. She was lucky that so far, no one had mentioned her loss of hair, but this would certainly make matters worse. “Bryan, just go.”
    With a loud snort, he gazed into Asher’s furious face, turned on his heels, and left.
    Layla breathed a sigh of relief.
    “The guy is nuts,” Asher seethed. “Don’t know why you put up with him.”
    Bryan was always a little over the edge but ever since she rejected his advances, he’d become even more so. Now, he was downright insulting. Maybe it was time to change her manager. Of course, it wasn’t an easy choice. It would mean starting all over again with someone new, but if this kind of a behavior continued, she wouldn’t have a choice.
    Just one problem to add to my mountain of chaos!
    Layla flopped back into her chair. “Let’s just finish the work and go home.”
    Like a true professional, she didn’t let her personal problems affect her work. Instead, Layla completed her shift and then bid goodbye to Asher.
    “Are you coming to my place tonight?”
    She nibbled at her bottom lip. Layla