Lucky Seven

by Elle M Thomas

 

 

  She sat in a waiting area with about twenty other actresses, some she recognised and others looked like newbies to it all. She was called in, in a group of six and they were asked to read together in various parts. They were asked to stand and sit in various poses and then asked to sit back in the waiting area. About an hour later a production assistant came out and called out the names of five actresses, one of them being Tasha. They were taken to another, smaller waiting area and then called into a room one at a time to meet the producers and the casting director again.

  Tasha was third in and smiled as she shook hands with each of the panel.

  She sat opposite them and the main producer Niall, addressed her, “I believe you are here courtesy of my wife.”

  Tasha frowned. “Not that I’m aware of.”

  “Angie’s your agent? She spotted you at an art exhibition and sent you to audition for Sheena Taylor, my wife,” he explained.

  “Oh, I see. I was confused for a moment,” she said, smiling.

  “I think it was after one of Sheena and Angie’s legendary girl’s nights in when your name came up for this.”

  “Oh, I see,” she repeated. “I wasn’t aware of that. I implore you to employ me, or not, based on my audition, not on Angie or Sheena’s night in,” she said seriously, suspicious that this man had already taken a dislike to her on the misunderstanding she was here as a favour that involved her agent and his wife.

  “I intend to,” he said grimly, confirming his suspicion of Tasha.

  She read for several parts and as she thought they were about to finish Niall explained a little more about the production. “The plan is to film this in and around London for the location scenes, but as we are now being partly funded by one of the big American studios the studio stuff will be in Los Angeles. Is that a problem for you?”

  “No, not at all.” She resisted the temptation to point out that it suited her better because her crazy boyfriend would like her in L.A.

  “I hadn’t realised this was a U.S. and U.K. combined venture.” She aimed for casual indifference.

  “It was originally an independent U.K. company production, but due to some funding issues and jittery TV execs and the offer of some American money it was changed. Plus, the American studios have every facility known to man and I think some agreement has been reached for them to syndicate the first series, so…”

  “A deal too good to say no to?”

  “Exactly.”

  Could she ask which studio? If she asked and they said Jim’s would she take a part if she was offered it? And what if it was a rival studio, she might have to say no thank you. What a stupid situation. She decided ignorance might be better so said nothing.

  “So, Tasha, are you available from mid-August for about six weeks for read throughs and location shoots, then October til mid-December for the studio stuff. Studio time has been extended due to Thanksgiving, whatever that’s all about,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

  With a short smile at his words and distaste for delays due to Thanksgiving, Tasha thought Niall might need to curb his dismissive attitude to American festivities if he was hoping to find work and popularity in The States. She had already heard several stories of Independence Day, Labour Day, Memorial Day and Thanksgiving celebrations from the Maybury clan. They all sounded like big affairs, unless the Mayburys just liked an excuse to get together and celebrate.

  “Yes, I am,” she confirmed, knowing she was free throughout the summer and autumn.

  “We have a few others to see, but I would imagine there will be a role for you, so we will contact Angie, probably tomorrow, when we have made our final decision.”

  She left feeling quite positive and having agreed to meet Lucy at their favourite restaurant Tasha headed straight there. She had chosen to wear black trousers and a see through black blouse, but had taken Jim’s advice and put a black camisole on underneath the blouse and begrudgingly admitted it looked far more appropriate. She was waiting for Lucy when she received a text from her.

 

  Knowing her friend wouldn’t be too long she went with the option of bread and a soft drink at the table and text Jim.

 

 

 

  She reread the message and thought it sounded supportive rather that accusatory. There was a delay of about ten minutes before he replied.

 

  Tasha smiled at his curiosity about her conversation with Amanda, but if Amanda hadn’t told him maybe she shouldn’t either.

 

 

  A huge grin spread across Tasha’s face as she imagined their reunion but then decided she didn’t want to share it with anyone else, especially not Lucy and possibly Ryan through very thin walls.

 
 

  ****

  After a delicious dinner and a much needed catch up about work with Lucy, the conversation moved onto boyfriends.

  “So, what is the story with that bloody Elvis ring tone?” asked Lucy.

  Tasha laughed. “It’s a bit of a joke really. From w
hen we first got together he said I would be his next wife and that he’d take me to Vegas. Then he said I needed to make a choice between a justice of the peace and Elvis to marry us. Then one morning I woke up and that was the ring tone for Jim.”

  “Are you going to marry him?” With a frown, she quickly added, “What do you mean, his next wife, how many has he had?”

  Tasha laughed again and explained, a little awkwardly, “Brace yourself. He wants me to be lucky number seven.”

  “Fucking hell! I thought that was a joke,” cried Lucy to Tasha’s amusement.

  “I was shocked at first, but he is something else, Luce. I fully understand why six other women said yes to him.”

  “You’re going to marry him?” Lucy asked as a wide-eyed statement. “But if six other women said yes, they also ended up divorced from him.

  Tasha shrugged, unsure how to explain how she felt when her friend was expressing her own concerns. “I don’t know, but I think I probably will if he really wants me to. In fact, I do just about anything he wants me to, eventually. I know I sound like one of those stupid women who have affairs with married men, but honestly, they didn’t understand him. Other than number one they were all doomed in their own way I think.”

  “Fucking hell,” repeated Lucy. “I can’t wait to meet him.”

  Tasha decided that they needed a change of topic so diverted attention to her friend’s love life. “What about you and fireman Ryan?”

  “Oh, Tash, he is seriously hot. I really like him and he likes me. Enough that he is talking about us getting a place together, but I don’t want to lumber you with the flat on your own,” she said.

  “Don’t worry about me, do whatever makes you happy, Luce. I’m going to be spending more and more time in L.A. so maybe Ryan could move into ours. I assume he won’t want his own room.”

  “Really?” Lucy sounded shocked by the offer and the revelation.

  “Yeah, if I can keep my room for a while,” she said seriously.

  “Cool. That would be ideal. I’ll speak to him. Do you need me to make myself scarce on Friday for Jim’s arrival?” she asked with a suggestive wiggle of her eyebrows that made them both giggle.

  “No need. He has booked into a hotel because we thought Dan and Pippa would be staying still, so I will be in five-star luxury on Friday night, but he may stay over at some point and don’t worry about making yourself scarce. Maybe I can return the favour of you and Ryan getting noisy when you get down and dirty.”

  “No problem. I am very broad minded, which reminds me, did the vibrator arrive?”

  Lucy, grinned while Tasha nodded as a flush crept up her neck and face.

  “Have you tried it out?” Tasha’s deepening blush was the only answer that Lucy needed. “Oh my God, you have. On your own?” she asked in a hushed tone as she positively drooled expectantly.

  Tasha shook her head and hoped nobody was going to walk past and overhear.

  “Fuck, what has he done to you? You cyber shagged with a vibrator?” her friend said in a raised voice now.

  “Ssh.” Tasha was aware of other diners beginning to look at them. “Yes, I did,” she whispered. “And it was out of this world.” She laughed again, with embarrassment at the memory of it. “Oh, and it came with a couple of other devices and they all came in a red leather Prada handbag.”

  “Oh my God, I think I love him, Tasha,” cried Lucy, causing diners to look at them again.

  “Come on, before we get thrown out. I need to book a table for two on Wednesday.” Tasha smiled at the thought of seeing Jim again. “Let’s drop the cars back home and pop into the wine bar round the corner if you fancy it?”

  “Don’t let me get drunk. I have an early start tomorrow.”

  Tasha shook her head at her friend. “I will as long as you listen when I say it’s time to go.”

  “Deal.” Lucy was already linking arms with Tasha.

  As Lucy and Tasha walked into the flat they were both laughing courtesy of several glasses of wine.

  “You have changed Natasha Bailey,” accused Lucy with a wry smile. “I still think of shy, timid little Natasha Bailey from school when I see you and then I look at you and realise Natasha Winters is a different person. I dread to think what Natasha Maybury will be like.”

  They both laughed as they entered the flat.

  “I am off to bed with Ryan,” said Lucy as she gazed down at her boyfriend’s name illuminating the screen of her phone that had just begun to ring.

  Tasha smiled and decided that Lucy had the right idea so text Jim.

 

 

  Exactly ten minutes later the phone rang.

  “You are very punctual, Mr Maybury.”

  “I like things ordered and in order to do that you have to be aware of time and manage it well. What do you have planned for the rest of the week?”

  Tasha smiled as she considered how unexpected this normal conversation was, but how welcome. “I am expecting a call from Angie tomorrow about today’s audition, and I may go shopping and buy something slinky and sexy for the weekend. Thursday I was supposed to have that other audition, but I asked Angie to cancel it and then I have Gerry’s show. And on Friday I’ll be waiting with baited breath in a hotel room for my gorgeous boyfriend, who I have really missed, to join me.”

  “I like your plans for Friday and am so pleased that you didn’t even mention the idea of sleeping on Friday because I have missed you more than you could possibly know. I, on the other hand intend to get ten hours sleep straight on the flight and then your ass is mine, baby.”

  “I like my ass being yours. I like all of me being yours and I think I may need to get a few early nights in.” She laughed.

  “I think so, honey. Now tell me, why have you cancelled your other audition?” Jim was moving back from the provocative sex talk they were clearly heading into and back into normal conversation.

  “I spoke to a couple of people who have already been cast and they told me that the show is likely to run for fourteen weeks and will be full on Monday to Friday, but with flexibility for weekend work. Filmed entirely in London and I can’t go fourteen weeks without seeing you,” she replied honestly.

  “I know you want to work, Tasha, but I am glad you’ve dismissed it as an option because I have struggled to do the last two weeks without seeing you, kissing you, touching you...”

  She moaned.

  “And I can hear that you feel the same.”

  “Do you want another date?” she asked longingly.

  “I would love to, when?”

  “Now.”

  He laughed loudly. “No can do, not from my office. It would be highly inappropriate, Miss Winters. I think we will have to work on your inappropriateness.”

  “I only want to see you, for you to see me,” she said sulkily.

  “I think you are pouting because you are horny again, honey.” He laughed at her again.

  “So?” Her response and tone immediately made her sound immature and more like the errant child he so often treated her like.

  “Oh my God, you really are. I wish you were in L.A. I would come home for lunch and you would be the only thing on the menu,” he said gruffly.

  “You are not helping my predicament,” she replied with an increasing pout.

  His laughter sounded more like a roar as it echoed down the phone line. “Good, I like you horny.”

  “Change the subject now, please.”

  “If we must. What sexy and slinky clothes do you plan on buying tomorrow?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe something small and thin, possibly transparent,” she teased, thinking that the change in conversation wasn’t really that much of change after all.

  “Whatever you want, honey, it won’t be staying on for long. And you look good in anything you wear, but be sure to bring some sexy shoes with you. I like you in sexy shoes.” He sounded entire
ly serious.

  “I will see what I can do for you, Mr Maybury.”

  “Well apart from the obvious, you can charge your purchases to my account,” he said calmly.

  Tasha sighed loudly, wondering if this was ever going to be resolved, his money and her unease with it.

  “Tasha, don’t make this an issue, please. We can discuss money when I see you if you want to, but don’t start a fight over it now. Not when I am thinking such happy thoughts and you are so horny, baby,” he said, still calm.

  “Okay. Or I could pay cash, using the cash you gave me.” Tasha had no idea if or why that might be any different as ultimately it would be Jim’s money paying the bill.

  “No. That’s for you, in case you need cash. Just charge the shopping, please?” he asked, and it did actually sound like a question.

  “Alright,” she sighed. She didn’t want to argue and fight over this, not now. “But you promise we can talk about it, the money?”

  “Of course we can. Hold on a second, Tasha,” he said and then she heard him speak to someone else. “Give me two minutes, Amanda, then show her through. Baby, I have to go and you need to get some sleep so text me when you wake up.”

  “Or maybe I’ll sext.”

  “Bring it on, baby.” He laughed and then he was gone.

  Chapter 35

  Tasha woke feeling calm, lighter almost as she text a simple message:

 

 

  She laughed at his reply and thought that she was, but in a good way because in two days he would be with her.