by JS Taylor
I risk a look in the mirror. It looks beautiful. The lace is so fine, so well made. It’s like the kind of bra set a fairy princess would wear.
Next, I pull on the grey dress I picked out earlier and slide the belt so it sits on my hips, adding structure to the fabric underneath. Then I push my feet into the spike-heeled knee high boots and tie up the fronds at the back.
I make a careful study in the mirror and adjust the belt again, so it sits at a slight angle over my hips.
With the underwear soft against my skin and this sexy-casual outfit, I feel amazing. Not quite like a movie star, perhaps. But I like how I look in these clothes.
I don’t have a purse, but then I guess I don’t need one. My gaze falls to the studio card on my bedside table. It’s all I need to buy anything I want. This is a weird thought, but it beats carrying a change purse, I guess.
I pick up the card and head out of the chalet.
I haven’t ordered anything for breakfast, so I decide I’ll head to the restaurant to grab a bite. I’m wondering at which point I’ll get to meet the famous Natalie Ennis, since it’s now clear she’s not far away.
As I exit the chalet, I nearly bump into Callum. He’s jogging past in sweatpants and an old T-shirt, with Will setting the pace dressed head-to-toe in Adidas.
“Hey!” Callum stops, wipes sweat from his brow, and pauses to catch his breath, leaning his palms on his thighs. Will gives me a signal wave and continues to jog on the spot. He looks like a professional athlete. He’s wearing a skin-tight white T-shirt which shows off his huge muscled arms, tracksuit pants, and the whitest sneakers I’ve ever seen.
“You look incredible,” says Callum, looking me up and down with a big smile. “I love those boots.”
He gives a dramatic toss of his head as he says this, as though no footwear ever moved him so profoundly.
“Thanks.” I can’t help but grin at him. If there were an award for most charming person on the planet, Callum would win it, hands down.
“You headed for the restaurant?” he asks.
“Guess so.”
Callum gives me a mischievous smile. “Think you can make it without getting lost this time?”
I grin at him. “Only time will tell.”
“Ok,” says Callum, “well, we’re headed that way now. Catch you in a few minutes.” He straightens, and him and Will jog away.
“See you there.” I wave him off and decide that, on this occasion, I’ll make it without getting lost.
Chapter 16
There seems to be a large amount of people inside the restaurant as I arrive, and none of them look familiar.
Crew members? Extras?
To my relief, I see a friendly face. Camilla leaps from her seat and races towards me.
“Issy!” she squeals. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She looks around distractedly. “I don’t know anyone here,” she confesses. “They all arrived today. I feel like a loner, sat by myself.”
She takes my arm companionably, drawing me over to where she was sitting.
“Who are they all?” I ask, scanning the mix of arrivals. Yesterday the restaurant was empty. Now it has around thirty diners, and they all seem to be talking loudly in American accents.
“They’re part of Natalie’s entourage,” says Camilla. “They came on ahead of her. To set things up.”
“What things?”
Camilla rolls her eyes. “All her diva demands, of course. They’ve already taken twenty suitcases into her chalet, to make sure she has her clothes already hanging. And all the products and extra things she wants.”
Camilla leans forward.
“She’s had boxes and boxes of Oreos and M&Ms imported from the States. I saw people carrying boxes of them into her chalet.”
I frown in confusion. “But we have Oreos and M&Ms in the UK.”
“She doesn’t think they’d taste the same as the US ones.”
Jeez. What a diva!
“She’s also demanded that the walkway to her chalet is scented with lavender,” adds Camilla. “Apparently, that’s important to calm her nerves. So, half of her crew were out with industrial-sized spritzers this morning, spraying the pathway with scent.”
My eyes widen in amazement. Camilla nods to confirm she’s not joking.
She twists her head suddenly, catching sight of someone entering the restaurant.
“Hey! Callum!”
I turn to see Callum approaching our table. His usual sunny expression is a little turned down.
“Where’s Will?” I ask as he takes a seat on the bench next to us.
“He’s making a call to his wife,” explains Callum. “It’s evening time in LA now, so it’s a good time to catch her.”
“What’s the matter?” asks Camilla, placing a hand on his arm. She has also detected the slight sadness in his demeanour.
“Oh,” sighs Callum, “I’ve just found out there are problems with the paparazzi at the studio. No big deal,” he adds, but his brown eyes look anxious.
“What problems?” asks Camilla.
“Natalie has managed to attract the attention of all the British press,” explains Callum. “And now they’re trying to set up camp outside the studio.”
“Is that bad?” asks Camilla.
“Yes,” says Callum. He rubs his forehead with his hand. “Well,” he clarifies, “it could be. In the past, studios have found it very difficult to keep movies on track, with a heavy press presence.”
“Why is that?” I ask, trying to imagine how paparazzi could ruin things. After all, the security is so tight. They can only wait outside.
“If there’s enough of them at the entrance, they mess up deliveries and scheduled equipment arriving on time,” explains Callum. “It’s logistics. Too many people. One small entrance.” He makes a triangle with his hands to mime the bottleneck.
Camilla and I exchange glances. That doesn’t sound good.
“And the press can find out what’s happening in the movie,” continues Callum. “So, they can issue spoilers before the film is out. And if they get their teeth into a really juicy story, newspapers sometimes pay for helicopters to fly over the set.”
Callum circles his hand above his head and, in typical actor fashion, makes a loud helicopter noise. Several heads turn towards our table.
“Not good for sound quality on a movie set,” he explains.
A really juicy story. Like James Berkeley cheating on Madison Ellis with an unknown actress. I feel my stomach twist in unease.
Camilla is shaking her head. “James should have told Natalie not to attract press,” she says.
“He did,” I reply. “James expressly asked her to avoid press attention.”
They both turn to me in surprise, and I realise I’ve said too much.
“I… Um. I overheard some crew members talking about it,” I lie.
Callum raises an eyebrow but says nothing. None of us have seen any crew since we arrived.
“Surely it was an accident?” says Camilla. “I’ve been a fan of Natalie Ennis since her first movie. She’s super-famous. Probably the press just found her out.”
Callum gives a sardonic smile. “Natalie requested an enormous police escort, so that she didn’t have to wait in traffic,” he says. “The headlines this morning ran with ‘Queen Ennis’.” Callum mimes the headline with his hands.
“Apparently, Natalie demanded greater police presence than her Majesty the Queen has at public events,” he adds. “The media had a field day.”
I let out a breath. Natalie is either completely stupid, or deliberately courting a media circus.
“You don’t think the movie will be cancelled?” asks Camilla. Her pale face looks devastated, and her lower lip trembles. “I’ve been wanting to act since forever. It could be a year until I get another chance.”
Callum shrugs. He, too, looks worried.
“And what about you, Callum?” presses Camilla. “I know how much you wanted to be in this picture.”
<
br /> “It’s a funny thing,” admits Callum. “When I was deep in drugs, I didn’t care if I never acted again. But now James has given me this chance… I suppose I really do care, after all.”
He gives us both a little smile.
Callum looks so vulnerable, suddenly, like a little lost child. From what I’ve read, he’s gone through hell and back fighting his drug problem. He really deserves the chance to show what a great actor he is. I couldn’t stand it, if this chance was blown for him.
I feel a flash of anger at Natalie. How could anyone be so selfish?
“I’m sure it’s all a misunderstanding,” says Camilla, more to herself than anyone. “I can’t wait to meet Natalie,” she adds with an excited grin. “I’ve loved her since her very first movie.”
There’s a sudden shift in tone in the restaurant. The loud voices have all dropped to whispers, and the atmosphere feels super charged.
“Well,” says Callum, “it looks like you got your chance. Here comes Her Majesty. With all her courtiers.”
I twist around to see a tight huddle of people have entered the restaurant.
Then a tiny figure emerges from the centre.
“It’s Natalie!” whispers Camilla excitedly.
In real life, Natalie is miniscule. She’s only a little under average height, but her frame is no larger than a child’s. I’m guessing she might be even smaller than a size zero.
Next to me, I can feel Camilla tensing with excitement. She’s clearly a huge fan.
Natalie steps a little forward, surveying the restaurant. She wears a bold-print cotton dress, which hangs off her tiny frame, and hot-pink wedge heels, finishing in a strap around her tanned ankles.
She swings her head, but it’s impossible to see what she’s looking for, since a pair of huge sunglasses are balanced on her pixie nose. Her straight lips are highlighted in coral lipstick. And her hair, which had been dark, is now copper-coloured, hanging long and poker straight over her shoulders.
Natalie reaches up and removes the large glasses. I notice that her coral fingernails match her lipstick.
“Callum!” she calls, her eyes settling on him.
“Oh God,” mutters Callum. “Here she comes.”
Natalie sashays across the restaurant. Her entourage follow her at a slight distance, synchronised. It’s like a bizarre dance act, with only Natalie knowing the next step.
“Callum!” repeats Natalie, walking towards him. She throws her tiny arms around him and air-kisses dramatically, coming nowhere near his cheeks.
Then she draws back and stares intently into his eyes.
“No hard feelings?” she says.
“Of course not,” replies Callum, forcing jocularity into his voice. “So long as you promise to behave on this picture.”
“Oh Callum!” Natalie bats his hand with a little more force than is friendly. “I always behave on movie sets. You know that.”
Her accent is pure Californian beach bunny, and despite her fashionable clothing, she exudes an air of wholesome all-American girl. It’s the look which landed her first big parts as a child actress. As an adult, it’s missing a certain sexiness, but it’s a likable image.
“This is Isabella Green,” says Callum, gesturing to me in a clear bid to draw attention from himself. “And Camilla McKinnon.”
Camilla almost bounces in her seat at the introduction.
“I’ve seen all your movies,” she squeaks. “I’m so excited to see you act!”
Natalie turns a quick, assessing glance at Camilla and then gives her a fake smile of indulgence.
“That is, like, so sweet,” she murmurs. In the next instant, she’s zeroing in on me.
“So, you’re the leading lady?” she says with a wide, friendly smile.
Next to me, I notice Camilla is crushed at the slight. My heart goes out to her.
“Um. Yeah,” I manage, not certain at how to deal with this sudden friendliness.
“So good to meet you!” Natalie walks to my side of the table and extends her hand. I shake it uncertainly. She closes my hand in a firm grip.
Now she’s moved closer, I can smell her heavy floral perfume. Her eyes are green. But a hard kind of green. Like bright emeralds.
Aside from the dash of lipstick, her face is almost devoid of make-up. She looks like what parents describe as a nice girl. The kind that soldiers would come home to after war.
Natalie gives me another smile, revealing straight white teeth.
“You know, James was considering me for your role,” she says, releasing my hand and keeping the wholesome smile fixed in place. “So, I can’t wait to see what you make of it. You must be, like, insanely talented.”
She says this last part with a roll of her eyes, and a modest little smile.
I have no idea what to say to this. But, I am aware that Camilla is still heartbroken to be ignored by her idol.
“We were going to rehearse today,” I say, thinking this would be a way for Camilla to see more of Natalie. “Perhaps you’d like to join us?”
“No thanks,” says Natalie, tossing her copper-coloured hair. “I have, like, a really good memory for lines. It comes from acting at a young age.”
She settles her gaze on me, as if remembering something.
“Did James tell you who the leading man was yet?” she asks, her eyes drilling into me.
“I. Um. No.” I look to Callum and Camilla for support.
“That’s a shame,” says Natalie airily. “I should have been told. Really. It’s important who I’m cast with. I can only hope it’s Shane,” she adds, alluding to mega star Shane Peters as though he’s her best friend. “Because Michael and I do not get along.”
“You don’t get along with many people,” mutters Callum, just loud enough for Camilla and me to hear.
There’s a sudden muttering at the back of Natalie’s entourage, and my heart leaps to see James emerge.
Hello baby.
He’s changed from the suit he was wearing last night into a soft Abercrombie sweater and grey cords, and looks sexy dressed-down.
His eyes drop to my face, and I see his eyes soften for a moment. He nods a quick greeting to Callum and Camilla.
Callum gives James a grave smile. They clearly have great respect for one another.
Then James is all business, turning to Natalie.
“Natalie,” he says. It’s a question, a statement, and a telling-off, all in one.
Beside me, I see Natalie quail, like a schoolgirl who’s been summoned to the headmaster’s office.
“Hello, James!” she says brightly. But she can’t keep the unease entirely from her voice, despite her acting ability.
“My kitchen staff tell me that you’ve had your people in there, making demands,” says James.
“Oh, well,” Natalie’s forced brightness is fading fast, “you know how that goes, James.” She licks her lip nervously. “I don’t like to have bread and all that heavy stuff around.”
“You do not dictate what happens in my studio kitchen,” he says.
“Um. Well. No, that’s fine,” stammers Natalie.
James pushes his hands through his hair.
I love it when he does that. I resist the urge to leap up and rush into his arms.
“There’s the other little matter of the press,” says James. His voice is quiet, deadly. The colour drains from Natalie’s face.
“Well, you know,” she says weakly, “I hate to wait in traffic.”
James takes a look around the restaurant and clearly decides it would be fairer to berate Natalie in private.
“Come with me,” he says, turning on his heels.
Now that he’s not staring into her face, Natalie collects herself a little.
“I just got off the flight,” she says, tossing her poker-straight hair a little. “So, I need a lie down. But I’ll come later.”
“Now.” James is walking out of the restaurant. I wince at the tone and notice that Camilla and Callum do the same.
James doesn’t look over his shoulder, and Natalie hesitates only a moment before trotting out after him.
Her entourage turn to follow, like a school of fish.
“Stay here, stay here!” she hisses, flapping her hands at them. “Find something to do for a few minutes.”
In a moment, she’s gone, and the hyper-charged atmosphere of the restaurant dissipates.
“Phew,” says Callum, wiping his brow. “Well, that’s the last we’ll see of her. Apart from every day on-set, of course.” He gives a weary smile.
“It was good to meet her at least,” says Camilla in a sad little voice. She forces herself back to cheerfulness. “I’ll get to see her act,” she adds. “So exciting.”
“Yeah,” says Callum. “I think you might find the excitement wears off when you’ve been waiting for her to arrive on set for three hours.”
He shakes himself, visibly returning to his comedic charm.
“So, whaddya say,” he asks, waggling his eyebrows and dialling up his New York accent. “How’s about we gets some breakfast, and gets to rehearshalrehearsal?”
Camilla breaks into a broad smile. “Yes,” she agrees. “That sounds great.”
“Ms. Green?” Callum is looking at me. I’m still a little dizzied by the force of nature that is Natalie Ennis. And my mind is now preoccupied that she is alone with James.
“Um. Yeah, sure.” I give him a distracted smile. “I’d like nothing better.”
Chapter 17
We’re halfway to the rehearsal studio when I remember I’ve left my cell phone back at my chalet. I don’t really need it, but the truth is I couldn’t bear to miss a call or text from James.
“I’ll catch you up,” I explain to Camilla and Callum. “I just got to pick something up from my chalet.”
“Don’t get lost again,” says Callum as I head back towards the little village of actors’ accommodations.
I arrive to discover that Camilla wasn’t kidding about Natalie’s entourage. Miss Diva is nowhere to be seen, but I can tell which chalet is hers by the raft of staff members buzzing around outside it.
Several people are planting flowers out along the pathway, and packs of burly men are heaving in huge pieces of furniture. I make out an enormous white leather couch and parts of a glittery gold bed. From the looks of things, Natalie likes her interior bling.