Limelight (Hollywood Stardust)

by Kim Carmichael

  With ease, she plugged in her cables. “You think it’s safe to drink wine by that climax uranium thing, right?”

  Everything with Erin came with two sides, black and white, yes or no. They were together or apart, on air or off, fake or real. The only trouble was he was never sure what side he stood on. “I suppose we’ll either climax or explode.”

  HOLLYWOOD STARBURST

  EXT. ROLLA, MO, AT A GAS STATION – DAY.

  Roxy is on the payphone outside the station, the Lincoln is in the background by the gas pump.

  ROXY

  Well, one thing is certain, I am really sick of all these tiny towns. Right now Indianapolis is looking amazing. I am ready to see it.

  CUT TO:

  William in his bedroom.

  WILLIAM

  Are you ready to see anything else?

  CUT TO:

  ROXY bites her lip.

  ROXY

  I would be lying if I said I don’t want to see you.

  WILLIAM (O.S.)

  (Filtered)

  I shouldn’t have left you.

  ROXY looks down.

  ROXY

  I understand, I didn’t give you much choice. The question is, will you be there when I get back.

  CUT TO:

  WILLIAM is sitting up.

  WILLIAM

  Just say the word and I’m there.

  ROXY (O.S.)

  (Filtered)

  I’ll be home tomorrow. It’s only six more hours of driving.

  WILLIAM

  How do you want to work it?

  CUT TO:

  ROXY takes a huge breath

  ROXY

  I better talk to my parents then I’ll call.

  WILLIAM (O.S.)

  (Filtered)

  I missed you. I’m glad you’re almost here.

  ROXY closes her eyes.

  ROXY

  I’m going to find a hotel and see you tomorrow.

  WILLIAM

  Be careful, I need you all in one piece.

  ROXY hangs up the phone, runs her fingers down the receiver and shakes her head. She turns toward her car then back to the phone, then lifts the receiver and shoves another coin in the phone. She almost hangs up, but then dials.

  CUT TO:

  STEVEN’S LIVING ROOM – DAY.

  Steven sits, feet up on the table, television blasting in the background. He rolls his eyes, uses the remote to lower the volume on the television and picks up the phone.

  STEVEN

  What?

  ROXY (O.S.)

  (Filtered)

  Maybe you mean who?

  STEVEN runs hand through his hair.

  STEVEN

  Are you home?

  ROXY (O.S.)

  (Filtered)

  Do you care?

  STEVEN

  That’s why I asked, princess.

  CUT TO:

  ROXY’S hand is pressed against her chest.

  ROXY

  Why do you call me princess?

  STEVEN (O.S.)

  (Filtered)

  Because if you ever let me, that’s how I’d treat you.

  ROXY shivers

  ROXY

  Why did you drive away that day?

  CUT TO:

  STEVEN sitting with his head back staring at the ceiling.

  STEVEN

  Did you ever think I was waiting for you to run after me?

  ROXY (O.S.)

  (Filtered, her voice lowered)

  Is that what you wanted?

  STEVEN

  Why do you think I said it?

  CUT TO:

  ROXY leaning on the building.

  STEVEN (O.S.)

  (Filtered)

  When are you due home, princess?

  ROXY

  Tomorrow.

  STEVEN (O.S.)

  (Filtered)

  Where are you going to run?

  ROXY licks her lips.

  ROXY

  Where do you want me to run?

  STEVEN (O.S.)

  (Filtered)

  I didn’t ask the question for nothing.

  ROXY

  I better go.

  STEVEN (O.S.)

  (Filtered)

  I’ll be here.

  ROXY hangs up the phone and presses her forehead to the receiver.

  Chapter Twenty

  THE TINGLING THROUGH HER BODY, the smiles, the glances and the holding of hands. Somehow after one of the worst nights together, they captured the magic, found common ground and though they didn’t actually say the words, the implication they wanted to be together was definitely out there.

  Now as she watched Drew walk around the SUV, they shared another one of those looks, the kind that made her heart flutter, her stomach swirl, even made her want to giggle as her cheeks heated.

  With his computer case and bag of products in hand, he opened her door and held his hand out. “Are you ready for your meeting, Miss Holland?”

  “I’m ready for you, Mr. Fulton.” She put her hand in his and managed to get out of the car without tripping on her own feet.

  “You’re going to be the end of me.” His gaze traveled over her.

  “You always knew that, but I promise you will love every hour.”

  “Erin?” He leaned in closer.

  She held her breath, maybe now he would kiss her first and a little noise escaped her throat.

  “Do you want to hold the samples when we walk in?” His tone teased her.

  She exhaled and tried to determine if she was going to kick him in the shin or laugh. “Are you sure that’s what you want me to do?”

  “That is absolutely not what I want you to do, but it will have to suffice for now.” He handed her the plastic bag.

  At least he admitted it and at least their trip turned around. They couldn’t go on when they focused on all the bad, they had to remember the fun, and that’s what she tried to bring on the ride. “Well, then while we’re in our meeting, I’ll make mental notes so I make sure I live up to what you are imagining.”

  “I’m sure you’ll have no problem.” He held her hand and closed the car door. “May I introduce you as my Director of Marketing?”

  “Anything you want.” She liked the way he pulled her close to his side as they walked toward the big, red brick building. “I’ll say that later too, just in case you were wondering.”

  They made it to the sliding glass doors and in an abrupt move he turned to her. “So will I.”

  While her insides flipped over, she gave him a smile and a nod and they made their way inside.

  Unlike the spa that buzzed with excitement upon her arrival, Multimodal Health was completely different. The interior seemed to be more like a hospital or doctor’s medical center instead of the hip yet serene surroundings of their first stop.

  Instantly upon their entrance, the whispers and points started. While these things were now accepted every time she went out, she also knew enough to be able to discern the difference between the excited amped up actions of fans versus those who felt she was an intrusion. The energy in this facility was definitely the latter.

  Before they ever reached the front desk with some dour woman in scrubs sitting behind a computer screen, a woman in an ugly brown suit appeared almost out of nowhere.

  "Mr. Abrams, follow me. Mr. Trusdale is expecting you." She stared down at their hands and corralled them away from the lobby and into a hallway.

  As they made their way through the tangled web of corridors, she held Drew’s hand tighter. The woman didn’t even acknowledge her, strange. Even if someone didn’t like her, she always got a look or a comment.

  The woman gave one knock on a dark wood door and opened it into an extremely plain office with white walls, a lot of bulletin boards, and dark wood furniture. Everything about this place was brown and dark.

  A man who matched the office to perfection stood up from the desk. Honestly, Erin had no description for him. If he were an extra in a movie, he would
simply be called a man in an office.

  “Mr. Trusdale, good to see you again.” Drew let go of her and with his hand out, approached the desk.

  Mr. Trusdale? Was this man a teacher or something? She followed Drew, but stopped upon noticing there was only one chair opposite the desk.

  “Isaac, have a seat.” The man kept his lips tight, gave Drew a perfunctory handshake and shifted his focus to her.

  “Mr. Trusdale, I am sure the woman beside me needs no introduction, but may I present Erin Holland?” With only what she would call a manufactured smile, Drew motioned toward her.

  Maybe the man was nervous. It wasn’t unusual. People either shied away from her or glommed on to her, and wanting to make Drew look good, she gave the man a statue-winning smile and held out her hand. “Hello Mr. Trusdale, what a pleasure it is to meet you.”

  He nodded and held his hand to hers though he didn’t really shake it. “Have a seat.”

  The three of them seemed to collectively glance at the only chair.

  “Erin.” Drew took hold of the back of the chair.

  “You go ahead, I don’t mind standing after our drive.” She kept her tone upbeat. After walking in heels yesterday, standing for a while wouldn’t be an issue.

  “Amy,” Mr. Trusdale groaned. “Please find another chair.”

  The woman who guided them here huffed, disappeared for a moment and then returned, banging a beat up blue cushioned chair into the office.

  Drew rushed forward, grabbed the piece of furniture and set it in front of her.

  Well, one good thing this trip would do was an amazing job of thinning out her wardrobe. First the shoes yesterday, followed by the suit, and after she spied the stains on the cushion, this suit would follow. As she sat, she attempted to hide a grimace.

  “Well, let’s get down to business.” Drew cleared his throat. “When we last spoke, we discussed bringing in some products for post-surgery, a post-natal vitamin and a supplement specifically for men. I brought some samples.”

  That was her cue. Playing the part of spokesperson, she jutted out her chest, held up her bag, and swiped her hand under it as if putting the products on display. Yesterday a few smiles and some creative play with products netted Drew a tidy sum indeed. This would be a piece of proverbial cake, or in lab terms, as easy as popping a capsule.

  Mr. Trusdale pursed his lips and held out his hand for the bag.

  Since the man didn’t like the smile or the sweet Erin, she went with her other strength and stood, took her time walking around the desk and personally handed the bag to the man, leaning way down and basically putting her breasts in his face. If she allowed Allan at the orchard, he would have had lunch with her cleavage, and all men were the same. “Here you go, this all sounds promising.”

  “You think this sounds promising?” He took the bag and turned away.

  Maybe the man blushed and couldn’t look at her. Tonight his wife would benefit from the erection he was most likely starting to sprout now. “I think it sounds very promising.” She sauntered back around the desk, sat down and crossed her legs. A little wink in the man’s direction helped her get into character.

  “As someone on the consumer side, I have to say that I would be impressed with the wide range of offerings. They meld different thoughts on medicine and the desire to take a proactive approach to patient care.” Remembering how Drew wanted to talk about the science and what not, she nodded and took her camera out of her bag. This meeting would be perfect in contrast to the first one. “But I don’t want to take over the meeting. Drew knows all the particulars I don’t. I am here as the Director of Marketing and official lab spokeswoman, and I’m putting together a video.” With elegance, she passed the baton to Drew and held up the camera.

  Drew’s account stared at her.

  “Just go about your conversation.” She gave him a little wave and adjusted the focus.

  “Actually, I have a question for you.” At last, the man acted as if she existed.

  “All right.” She handed the camera to Drew. “I’m all ears. Well, not all ears at least not the good parts.”

  Mr. Trusdale’s face didn’t change expression, and she was giving him some of her best work.

  He put the bag of samples down. “What I want to know is since when have you ever been on the consumer side of anything to have an opinion of what is carried in this medical clinic?”

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Drew shift in his seat.

  “Excuse me?” Before she ripped this man apart and then put his sorry ass on her new and improved social media, she wanted to make sure she heard him correctly.

  “I’m asking my patients to come in here and buy products that are not covered by their insurance, therefore I want to know how you, as someone who gets paid to spew whatever the company doling out checks tells you to spew, know what the consumer wants.”

  The strange thing was the man’s tone didn’t change one iota. He might as well have been asking her to sign an autograph as he was insulting her.

  In an effort to properly prime herself for her next batch of spewing words, she inhaled. Then she caught two things in her peripheral vision, the camera and Drew. Instead of snap, she decided to truly answer the man’s question. “With all due respect, Mr. Trusdale, companies and sponsors of all sorts pay actors large sums of money because at the end of the day the public does listen to our opinion.”

  Drew audibly exhaled and the heat within her body lowered a few degrees.

  “So then, as the lab’s spokesperson, why don’t you tell me about these products?” Mr. Trusdale slapped the bag on his desk and motioned toward it. “Let’s hear it from the one who knows how to sell.”

  While she sort of knew the Orchard’s products and her own supplements, she hadn’t studied the entire portfolio the lab had to offer yet. All she knew was that it was part of the Fluency Physician Line.

  “Mr. Trusdale.” Drew held up his hand.

  “Drew, I can answer the question.” Improvisation was something she was taught when she was still a pre-teen. In fact, in more than one scene in Hollywood Stardust both she and Ryder improvised lines. Logan and Drew preferred to stay exactly with the script.

  Once more, she pushed herself up from her seat and took her time walking around the desk. With her mind working in the background she leaned back and picked up the bag of products.

  The room took on an electric silence, the same kind a studio possessed right before the snap of the clapperboard.

  She titled her head and began take one and only.

  “Let me make the blanket statement that just the fact a medical office would recommend certain supplements to me would make it feel like it was a prescription and therefore something I should take for my health. I would be more than thrilled that they were offering something other than traditional prescription medications which we know many of my colleagues have issues with.” She turned the bag around to read what Drew brought with him and glanced at both men. What a compliant captive audience.

  “The post-surgery capsules are a no-brainer. Not only would I want to end my convalescence as soon as possible and replenish my body with the nutrients it no doubt lost while someone cut into me, but…” for effect, she moved closer to the man, her leg bumping his chair, “…anything that could help me look as perfect as possible is something I would pop in my mouth. Especially, if it helps with any unsightly bruising.”

  Mr. Trusdale looked down at her leg and up to her face.

  “Smooth skin, no matter where it’s at, is critical.” She cupped her hand around her mouth. “No matter where.”

  Before anyone could have a chance to interject, she continued. “The post-partum one is crucial. Anything that I could swallow that would make me feel normal after a human being came shooting out of my nether regions is something to take without a doubt.”

  “In fact, speaking of swallowing.” She stood and kneeled down by Mr. Trusdale’s chair. The man had turned positively pale. “
Let’s talk about the men’s supplement. Sell these to the wives in their late thirties and forties for their men. It seems to me certain urges peak for females, while the men may taper off. I’m sure you totally understand what I mean. I’m sure you’ve experienced it yourself.”

  “Erin.” From behind her, Drew growled.

  “Before I leave you and the smartest man I know to your real meeting, I will only impart to you one last bit of my vast marketing knowledge.” With Drew’s tone and her little ploy of tease and denial not making this man froth at the mouth, she knew when it was time to head off stage, and she tossed the bag onto Mr. Trusdale’s lap. “While you may think you’re doing something for the goodness of humankind here, remember at the end of the day you are marking Drew’s little gems up and making a tidy profit. Everything in life barrels down to the sale.”