by Vivien Vale
It takes every ounce of self-control not to do something I might regret later.
“I can’t work like this,” announces Emma and walks out of the studio.
Someone touches me on the shoulder. I spin around. Todd is right behind me.
“You know she’s wrong.”
I peer closely at him. All my confidence has vanished.
Words are so powerful. They can caress, they can declare love, and they can destroy a person. Emma’s words have left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth.
“Sophie.” Todd lifts my head and looks me direct in the eyes. “Repeat after me. Emma is wrong. I’m a great director and actress.”
Despite my low mood, my lips curl into a smile.
“I can’t believe she just walked out.” I shake my head. “This means a day totally wasted. And we’re not going to be able to finish the scene today.”
Todd leans toward me and murmurs something in my ear.
I slap the back of his shoulder lightly.
“I’m serious, Todd. It’s a total waste of a day.”
“Come on.” Todd takes my hand. “Let’s have a little break. We’re all getting a bit tired.”
I shake my head. It’s nice of Todd to stand up for me and try and cheer me up, but I’ve got to talk to Emma.
“I better go and talk to her and see what’s really eating her.”
Easier said than done—Emma is not keen to speak to me. At first, she won’t even open the trailer for me to come in.
“Look, Emma,” I start and search for the right words.
“I don’t know why you’re here,” Emma cuts me off. “I told you. You shouldn’t be playing the lead role and directing. You’re not as great an actress as you think you are, and don’t get me started on your ability as director.”
Where has this evil beast come from? Did Emma have a twin sister and they switched places to play a trick on their work colleagues? If so, at what point in time will someone say fooled you?
“I’m not sure my ability as director has anything to do with your inability to play your minor scene correctly today.”
Emma has her hands on her hips and glares at me.
“If this film had a proper director, my acting would be a lot better. I would shine.”
Anger is taking hold of me. How dare this little bitch insult me and blame me for her shortcomings.
Her acting wasn’t fantastic before she took this role. Some of her critics even went as far as saying she couldn’t act, and she only got parts where she could sleep with the producer or director.
“Perhaps you need some time to go over your lines,” I say and leave the trailer. There’s nothing more to say to her. And I really don’t want to hear how useless I am again.
Alice and Eric find me.
I’m close to tears, and Alice notices it. She hugs and wraps her arms around me.
She’s good that way. Reassure first then ask questions next.
“What happened?”
I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. I know I’m overreacting.
“I just went to talk to Emma, and she keeps telling me I shouldn’t be in the lead role and directing the film. In fact, she says I shouldn’t do either roles.”
Eric laughs.
“And on what does she base this?”
I shrug. I don’t want to share my theory of evil twin sister.
“Don’t worry, Sophie.” Alice hugs me again.
“I’ll go and have a talk with her,” Eric says. “Let’s call it a day. We could all do with a bit of a rest day.”
I watch them leave arm in arm and feel a sudden wave of sadness.
“So…will you hang with me now?”
I turn to see Todd behind me.
Todd
My fingers play with the back of Sophie’s hair. I love curling strands of her hair around them and watch it run over my skin before it falls onto her swanlike neck.
She sighs, and I watch her chest rise and fall. I lean forward and kiss her gently on her naked shoulder.
Lucky for me, Sophie really wanted to…ahem, hang out. And here we are now, lying naked on my trailer’s bed. But there’s an expression of concern on her face, one I don’t like.
“Something troubling you?” I’m amazed at my own question. Not that long ago, I would never have asked a chick if something was troubling her.
In fact, I doubt I’d even think to ask.
Sophie rolls onto her back and looks at me with sad eyes, maybe they’re thoughtful, but they certainly aren’t sparkling with happiness.
At first she just shrugs. Words seem to elude her.
“Oh, you know,” she mutters and grabs the white sheet scrunched around her feet to pull it toward her.
Any other time I would have stopped her or said something funny, but not this time. I sense her tension.
“The way Emma spoke and what she said has rattled me,” she confesses and plays with the sheets.
I furrow my brow. What does she mean? How could anything that low-level actress says affect her? She’s a Palmer, and the Palmers are godlike in the movie industry… surely Sophie knows this.
“Really?” I know it’s not much, but right now I can’t think of what else to say. “How can you pay any attention to her?” I try and stress the word her as much as I can.
Another shrug from Sophie.
“What if she has a point?” Now she’s gnawing on her bottom lip. “I mean, what if I really have chewed off more than I can chew, and what if I am no good at directing and acting in the movie at the same time?”
I’m sure my frown deepens.
“Sophie Palmer, earth to Sophie Palmer.” I gently shake her by the shoulders. “Are you listening to yourself?”
Sophie avoids my gaze. “Stop it,” she mumbles.
“Sophie, Sophie, Sophie,” I murmur into her hair. “I don’t know what to do. I should spank you.”
“Stop it.” Sophie’s face is stern. “I’m not joking, Todd. What if she’s right?”
“What if, what if? What if a meteorite plummets out of the sky and lands on our apartment? Or what if I get run over by a bus on my way to work tomorrow or, here is a novel thought, what if your movie cleans up at the Oscars?”
Sophie rolls her eyes, and I can’t help but take her into my arms and smother her in kisses.
I wish I could do more. But how do you tell someone they are brilliant? And why is it she’s more inclined to believe that Emma girl over me? Human nature, I suppose…we always latch onto negative comments and ignore positive ones.
Her hand reaches for her pendant. I smile.
“Come on, Sophie, you seriously can’t believe a word that comes out of that shallow bimbo?”
Before Sophie can reply, my own phone buzzes. I reach over her and pick it up. Jordan has sent a message. What does he want?
I open it and click on the “must read” link.
Sophie rolls onto her front and rests her head in her hands, elbows on the pillow.
I roll into the same position and put the phone down. As soon as I do, the swirling color wheel changes to an image of none other than Emma.
“I can’t believe I agreed to work on this second-rate film.” Her red lips tell the world as a reporter holds a microphone in front of her face.
I want to click out of the interview, but Sophie stops me.
“I knew it was an indie film,” Emma continues and stares into the camera with rather large eyes. “But we all know some of those can be really quite good. Not this one. It has Sophie Palmer direct and star the main role. I mean, how can you do both those things well? I mean really?”
Her eyes roll around her head and look as if they’re at risk of popping out. Has she smoked or taken something? To his credit, the reporter doesn’t say anything, and I wonder if his plan is to let Emma make a fool of herself without any help from anyone else.
“Everyone goes on and on about how she’s a Palmer,” Emma continues, “as if that means anything. I can ass
ure you she’s no good at either of her jobs. If you ask me, she should be back at acting school.”
“Let’s turn it off,” I plead, knowing Sophie’s close to tears. Thankfully, before she can say anything else, it’s over.
I glare at my mobile as if it’s faulty. Why would the bitch do such a thing?
Deep within me, something stirs. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Why oh why?
And then it dawns on me. She’s paying Sophie back because I rejected her. Shit, is my ego so big I’m actually believing this? No, I’m sure I’m right.
I pull Sophie toward me and kiss her—slow, gentle, and with as much love as I can put into it.
“She’s wrong. Trust me. Actors should be professional, and even if she doesn’t like you, she should stay professional. You’d never badmouth her like that. I know.”
Her lips curl up ever so slightly.
This time I kiss the tip of her nose.
“Do you want to come to dinner at my parents’ house?”
The question blows me away. Sophie Palmer is inviting me, Todd Alexander, to have dinner with her…at her parents’ house? Her parents are both legends.
“If you don’t want to, I understand.”
“Are you kidding?” I hop out of bed and grab some clothes. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go.”
She laughs, and a little of her spark returns.
“I better have a shower first and find some clothes.” She skips past me, and I grab her.
“I don’t know,” I tease her. “You look just fine to me.”
She pulls back and pouts.
“Only fine?”
I slap her on the ass and grin. “You know I worship the ground you walk on, Ms. Palmer.”
Sophie
My right hand flips down the visor in the car, and I examine myself critically in the little mirror.
“You look fine, babe.” Todd’s hand rests on my thigh, his fingers caressing my naked flesh.
I push desire aside and roll my eyes.
“Fine?” I pout.
He leans over and plants a kiss on my cheek.
“Beautiful, angelic, gorgeous.” His lips caress my face.
“Stop it,” I giggle and quickly get out of the car. My parents are sticklers for punctuality.
The door opens as my feet scrunch on the fine pebble garden path leading to the front of the house. I stop to smell one of the roses. Its scent is intoxicating.
“Hello, love.” Mum comes out to greet me. We hug. I relish the cuddle before I pull away to introduce Todd.
“Mum, meet Todd.” I step aside so Mum can see him. “Todd, this is my mother, Olivia.”
“It’s an absolute pleasure and privilege to meet you, Mrs. Palmer, a woman of such beauty, elegance, and talent.” Todd bows and kisses the back of my mother’s hand.
She giggles like a little schoolgirl and winks in my direction.
“My, my, Sophie.” She links arms with me and motions Todd to follow. “You’ve caught a real charmer here, haven’t you?”
Once we are inside, Mum lets go of my arm.
“Come into the dining room. I’ll just walk ahead to let your father know you two have arrived.”
Todd stops next to me.
“Your mother is something else,” he whispers in my ear. “I feel like one of those teenagers meeting their idol for their first time.”
I chuckle.
“My mother has that impression on most people.” I take his hand. “I hope you didn’t pee yourself with excitement.
“Well…” Todd doesn’t finish the sentence.
We laugh.
“I can see how you would feel pressure living up to expectations,” Todd speaks quietly.
“Wait till you meet my father, and you’ll really understand where I’m coming from.”
Todd pulls out my chair, and I sit down.
“Such good manners are rare these days,” observes Mum who has come back into the room.
“Sophie, what a delight to find you here today.”
I push my chair back and run to greet Dad. His arms wrap around me. I must make sure to visit more often.
“Hi, Dad,” I say and kiss his cheek.
Dad shakes Todd’s hand, and they exchange the usual pleasantries, all while M
um busies herself with serving our lunch.
“So my gorgeous favorite daughter, how’s the big film coming along?”
“I’m your only daughter,” I tease Dad and take a mouthful of food.
“No need to become a pedant,” retorts Dad and pours Todd some wine.
“What’s the answer to how is the film coming along?”
“Fine.” I’m reminded of Emma’s comments.
“I must say, Soph…I’m really impressed. You have taken on such a huge amount of responsibility. It takes guts, real guts to agree to direct a film and be one of the main stars in it.”
A lump forms at the back of my throat. Is there something wrong with Dad? He rarely pays me compliments of this magnitude.
“Can I say, Mr. Palmer,” Todd chimes in, “your daughter, Sophie, is amazing. She has so much talent.”
My dad winks at me and picks up his glass.
“A toast to our Sophie. May her film be a huge success and an Oscar contender.”
“Hear, hear,” echoes Mum and Todd.
Mechanically I sip from my drink. Those negative, bitchy comments from Emma just won’t leave me alone.
“You know,” Dad lowers his voice conspiratorially. “I have it on good authority your film is being watched closely by member of the Oscar panel.”
“Dad.” I wag my finger in his direction. “Is this one of your stories?”
He shakes his head.
“No, I’m serious. A very close friend of mine is on the panel and told me the other day there were high hopes for your film. And not just for one Oscar, no…for several.”
Todd hangs on every word of my Dad’s and nods.
“Wait till you see the finished product, Mr. Palmer.”
“Hugo. Please call me Hugo, young man.”
“Sophie’s a fantastic director. She’s able to see things others don’t. I have a lot of respect for her, and she really brings out the best in all of us.”
My mother nods.
“Yes, Sophie’s very good. Once she sees for herself how good she is, she’ll be unstoppable.”
All this praise makes me feel uncomfortable.
Todd rests his hand on my back. He smiles at me.
“I think Todd’s exaggerating just a little,” I finally chime in. “Filming is going fine. You know what filming is like.” I turn to Dad. He nods and smiles.
“Not every day is going to be a perfect day, sweetheart,” he says, and I wonder if he senses my inner turmoil.
Dad can read me like an open book. I find it difficult to hide things from him.
By the time we get to dessert, we have solved some of the major problems in the world. We may not have solved world peace, but we’ve come a long way toward working out what is needed to feed the poor and make sure people get on better with each other.
“Let’s have coffee on the veranda,” suggests my mum, and we follow her.
On the way, Todd stops to admire some family photos, the kind every family has on display. Some of them are of me.
“This is my favorite,” Dad points to a photo where a little girl sits in the director’s chair with a megaphone in her hand.
“A born director.” Dad’s voice is filled with pride.
“And stunning to look at as well,” adds Todd.
By the time we say our farewells, it is near dark, and Todd waits in the car for me.
Mum holds me by the arm and looks me in the eyes.
“Be careful, dear.” Her voice is serious, as is her expression. “I know he’s a looker and on the surface seems like the real deal…but be careful. We have all seen what he can be like in the media.”
I kiss Mum and promise I will be careful.
/>
Now isn’t the time to tell her that there is another side to Todd, a side I’m getting to know and like.
Sophie
Stop thinking about it, I tell myself, trying push my Mum’s words to a deep corner of my mind. Easier said than done, of course.
Truth be told, I’m falling for Todd—and I’m falling fast and hard. My heart jumps inside my chest each and every time I see him, and my whole body seems to be aching for his 24/7. For God’s sake, I even took him to my parent’s house for dinner. I never did that, not even in what I thought to be my serious relationships.
“You alright?” He asks me as we drive back to the city, his Porsche’s engine roaring as we make our way through the freeway.
“I am,” I nod, looking at him and sucking in a deep breath.
I let my gaze linger on him, taking in every single line on his face, and I feel every inkling of doubt and fear I have, simply fading away.
If I’m falling for him, so be it.
“Want me to take you home?” He asks me again, throwing me a carefree smile.
“No,” I reply, laying my hand on top of his knee. “I want to go back to your place.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear,” he grins, and I bet he’d floor the accelerator if it weren’t for the fact I’m inside the car with him.
He might try to act and look like a bad boy, but deep down, Todd cares about everyone around him. God, I can’t believe I’m saying this about him…just a few days ago I thought he was an intolerable asshole, and now here I am.
When we finally park on the underground garage, Todd jumps out from his seat and makes his way around the car. He opens the door for me—just like a true gentleman—and offers me his hand. I take it, and allow him to lead me to the elevator.
With each step I take, my heart seems to drum faster and faster.
Inside the elevator, I press my back against the wall, and simply stare into his eyes. He does the same, allowing that sweet electricity to crackle in the distance between our bodies. We remain like that during the climb up, the tension between us growing so fast, it’s almost surprising I haven’t jumped on him yet.
“I got something for you,” he tells me as we step inside his apartment. He makes his way toward the bedroom, and then he heads out a few seconds later, holding a silk nightgown on his hands.