Starbright

by Richland, Alexandra

  “It’s not that I purposely didn’t help you,” Beth replied. “I just haven’t come across a role that made me think of you.”

  Diane placed a manicured hand on her hip. “The least you could’ve done is connected me with the right people in the industry, but I guess you didn’t feel like it. So much for following through on your promise.”

  “It’s not that easy. I cannot convince Mr. Mertz to hire you—”

  “So how did Wade get an audition, then?”

  Beth took a deep breath to prevent from responding sharply. “Casting for this particular film is being handled differently because Mr. Kazan is the director.”

  Diane’s expression remained as icy as the cola Olivia sipped.

  There was nothing Beth could say to change Diane’s opinion. She couldn’t believe this was the same person who, less than a year ago, was her dear friend.

  Olivia shoved her empty plate and cup aside. “Now, you listen here. Beth is the kindest, most selfless person I know. She would help you if she could, but after witnessing your behavior just now, I’m glad she didn’t. You’re nothing but an opportunist.”

  “Fame has changed you, Elizabeth.” Diane served Beth a look of disdain. “Well, regardless of your success, I’ll always remember you as plain, unremarkable Marie.”

  With a flip of her hair, she stalked off, leaving Beth feeling stunned and solemn.

  Olivia shook her head. “I thought you said she was nice.”

  “She was.” Beth twirled her straw in her milkshake.

  “Diane shouldn’t blame you for not helping her get her big break.” Wade picked up Olivia’s dishes. “The truth is she gave up on herself a long time ago. For months, I’ve been encouraging her to attend acting classes with me, or get new headshots taken, but she always says no. She’d rather have an acting career fall into her lap. I know I sound hypocritical because you handed me the opportunity to audition for Kazan, but at least I’ve put in hard work over the last six and a half years to try to perfect my acting and secure a contract in the industry. I haven’t been sitting around waiting for things to happen.”

  “Wade is right.” Olivia touched Beth’s shoulder gently. “It’s not your responsibility to help Diane if she doesn’t want to put in the effort, too.”

  Beth sighed. “Yes, I know. I just don’t like disappointing people.”

  “Beth! Olivia!” Connie stood by the door, wearing her headscarf and sunglasses. She also put on white gloves for her visit.

  Whereas Beth received a modest amount of attention since her arrival, Connie was a different actress entirely. Despite her attempts to conceal her appearance, all patrons in the drugstore identified her immediately.

  Beth waved Connie over. At first, she refused, but when customers began closing in on her, she changed her mind and walked toward the counter, her strut radiating glamour.

  “What’s taking you two so long?”

  “I’m speaking with an old friend.” Beth gestured to her former co-worker. “Wade Henley, I’d like you to meet Constance Murphy.”

  Wade placed Olivia’s plate and cup back down on the counter. He wiped his hand on his apron before extending it to Connie. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Murphy.”

  “Yes, of course it is.” Connie sat on the stool adjacent to Olivia, ignoring his offer.

  Beth considered apologizing for her friend’s behavior, but Wade didn’t look at all ruffled by it.

  “Can you please hurry up?” Connie whispered, as though her cover wasn’t already blown. “Martin offered to see what the holdup was, but I made the mistake of coming in here myself. I thought I could just flag you two down from the door. I didn’t even check the stool for cleanliness before I sat down.”

  “Oh, relax, Connie. Just think of how wonderful everyone in this place feels because you decided to grace them with your presence.” Olivia giggled. “I’m sure you’ve made their day.”

  “Yes, well, I’ve been here long enough to spread the joy.” Connie looked at the menu left on the countertop by the man who occupied the stool previously.

  “A steak sandwich for a dollar?” She balked. “What part of the cow is that from?”

  Beth turned back to Wade. He stared at Connie.

  “Earth to Wade.” She waved her hand in front of his face.

  A blush climbed in his cheeks as he snapped to attention. “I’m sorry. She’s one of my favorites.”

  Beth smiled. “Don’t worry, this happens all the time. Now, Mr. Kazan’s office is located in building—”

  “Do you think she’d like a soda or something?”

  Beth’s eyebrows came together. “Who?”

  Wade nudged his chin at Connie.

  Beth suppressed a giggle. “I think she’ll pass.”

  When Beth worked here, she never saw Wade act this way. However, she’d also learned over the last few months that most people had at least one celebrity who rendered them star struck.

  Connie straightened her blazer, oblivious to their conversation. The entire room continued to gawk at her, including Diane.

  A young man approached, clutching his fedora over his heart. “Miss Murphy, may I have your autograph?”

  As soon as Connie agreed, Schwab’s customers of both genders and all ages gathered around her, desperate for a moment with Starlight Studios’ most famous blonde bombshell. With a smile that was too wide to be sincere, she signed napkins and notepaper while Olivia and Beth looked on in amusement.

  Word had obviously gotten out that Connie was there because people began piling in from the street in large numbers. Within minutes, the drugstore was packed, more so than what Beth remembered during the busiest dinner hours. Guarded by Olivia, Connie eventually stood from her stool to greet everyone properly.

  Beth turned her back on the crowd, deeming it the perfect time to finish her conversation with Wade. “Can I borrow your receipt pad and pencil?”

  He pried his eyes from Connie and handed over her requested items.

  Beth scribbled down Kazan’s office location and telephone number. “This is where you will have your audition. I would call his secretary as soon as possible to arrange a time for tomorrow. Good luck, and hopefully I’ll see you at the read-through Friday.”

  “I hope so, too.” Wade accepted his pencil and receipt pad back. “Thanks again.”

  “Wade, come on,” Steve called from the other end of the counter. “It’s busy in here. You gotta serve the non-famous people, too. Their money’s just as good.”

  Wade smirked at Beth. “If this Golden Gloves gig works out, I definitely won’t miss this place.”

  Beth paid her tab and joined Olivia and Connie. Diane headed right for them.

  “Miss Murphy, hello.” Diane feigned sweetness.

  Connie turned to her with vague interest. “Yes?”

  “My name is Diane Merritt.” She corrected her posture, flaunting her large bosom. “I deserve to be in motion pictures, and I want you to help me get my big break.”

  “Who do you think I am—a member of The Salvation Army?” Connie shot her an intolerant scowl. “My friend, Olivia, here, told me how poorly you treated Beth this afternoon. There’s no way I’d ever help you.”

  Diane’s expression turned lethal. “Why not? Are you worried I’d take all the attention away from you and be in greater demand at the studio?”

  Connie whipped off her sunglasses. “Honey, remove at least fifty layers of foundation and those five and dime false eyelashes, and then maybe you can talk to me about working as an actress.” She scanned Diane from head to toe. “As for being any sort of competition for me—that’s laughable. You’re tactics are desperate, and if I were you, I’d feel extremely embarrassed right now.” She put her sunglasses back on and shooed Diane away. “Leave. You’re preventing me from speaking with my fans.”

  With a huff, Diane stalked off behind the counter. Olivia and Connie laughed, but Beth didn’t feel as victorious. She felt horrible, actually, but she also did
n’t deserve the rude treatment she had received from Diane earlier.

  Pushing her guilt aside, she signed autographs alongside Connie. When the crowd grew to easily double the safe capacity of Schwab’s, Olivia took control.

  “All right. Listen up, everyone! We’re leaving now, so please make way.” She led Beth and Connie to the exit. “That’s right, people, movie stars coming through. Step aside. Let’s go!”

  The bells chimed above the front door as the trio spilled out onto the street. Martin waited for them by the limousine, puffing on a cigarette.

  Connie sighed. “Well, that wasn’t my brightest idea—going in there to get the two of you.”

  Olivia giggled. “Oh, please. You love the attention.”

  Connie lowered her sunglasses and smirked. “Of course I do. But you know me—I try my best to remain humble.”

  The three women laughed and entered the limousine. As they pulled out onto Sunset, joining the late afternoon traffic, Beth fiddled with the flap of her purse, thinking about what lay inside. She was meeting Aidan at his house tonight so they could go over the script together and prepare for the cast read-through. The idea of telling him about her diaphragm crossed her mind, but ultimately, she decided to hold off for now, hoping to build up the courage to mention it without sounding improper.

  If their Actors Studio skit back in October was any indication of how well the Golden Gloves shoot would go, Beth was in for a real treat. After looking over the script, she had been astonished at how rich her part and the overall story were.

  Aidan told her to expect a different approach with Kazan than what she had experienced with other directors, and she was excited for the change. She just hoped she would live up to everyone’s expectations and do the part justice. She had no formal Method acting training, which was a major source of her apprehension.

  One thing that comforted her was Mary’s love for Joe would be easy to convey, given that Method acting was about using personal experiences to portray the proper emotions of a character, and she and Aidan were deeply in love in real life. She couldn’t wait to explore her character as well as grow closer to her beau in the process.

  On the morning of the first cast read-through, Aidan stood on Beth’s front porch following a leisurely ride with the top down on his Porsche. All that was missing on the drive was a cigarette, but he hadn’t lit up since he returned from Las Vegas and planned to keep it that way in dedication to his character.

  He knocked on the front door and removed his sunglasses. Olivia rode to work with Nathan, while Mr. Mertz set up the standard chauffeured car to take Beth to and from the studio throughout filming. Since they were working together, Aidan deemed it the perfect opportunity for him to spend as much time with her as possible, using their costar status to their advantage. Part of his plan included driving her to and from the studio instead.

  Beth opened the door. Aidan took in her appearance immediately. Her camel-colored sweater clung to her bosom and neat waist, and her knee-length black skirt accentuated her shapely legs. A black coat was draped over her forearm, and her hair was curled.

  “What are you doing here?” she said, making room for him to enter.

  Aidan stepped inside and shut the door behind him. “Well, that’s not the welcome I was hoping for.” He pressed his smiling lips to her cheek and took her coat to help her put it on.

  Beth placed her back to him and slipped her arms inside the sleeves. “I’m sorry. Of course I’m happy you’re here. I just wasn’t expecting to see you until the read-through. It’s superb that Mr. Mertz set up the same studio car for both of us. I guess it makes sense since we live so close to each other.”

  “Yeah, not quite.” Aidan cleared his throat. “I was thinking you could ditch the studio car and ride with me in my Porsche instead.”

  “Oh, I see.” Beth bit her lower lip.

  Aidan took her hand and brushed his thumb along the back of it encouragingly. “I’d be honored if you let me drive you.”

  “What about Mr. Mertz? I don’t want to give him an excuse to fire me from the picture.”

  “Beth, he can’t fire you. Nowhere in our Golden Gloves agreement does it state we can’t hang out with our costars off set. Anyway, if he does complain, we can say we’re rehearsing together every morning and every evening throughout filming, so our association comes across as strictly work-related.”

  Beth picked up her purse from the hall table and settled the strap over her shoulder. “I apologize. I sound so ungrateful.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I want nothing more than to drive with you. Thank you.”

  “I never would’ve come here if I thought I was putting your career in danger.”

  “I know. I trust you.” Beth brought their lips together gently.

  A low growl emanated from Aidan’s throat. “You keep this up and we won’t be heading to the read-through today.” He was only half-joking.

  Beth looked down at the front of his pants, where his physical response to their intimacy was most evident. Her cheeks turned an endearing pink. “I’m sorry. I’ll keep my distance.”

  She shrieked happily when Aidan pulled her back into his arms.

  “I don’t want you going anywhere, baby.” He pressed his lips to hers in a pledge of love and possession.

  Beth whimpered and held him closer, as though she was dedicated to fusing their souls as well as their bodies. A honk of a horn outside made her break their kiss.

  “Oh no. That’s the studio car.” She backed away from him and smoothed down her hair.

  Aidan shrugged. “Tell the driver you’re getting a ride from your costar.”

  Beth parted the curtains covering the foyer window and peered outside. “Yes, but then he’ll report back to Mr. Mertz. I need another excuse.”

  Aidan stepped softly against her. “Mertz is gonna find out anyway after we show up at the studio together.”

  Beth remained silent.

  “Maybe I should just meet you at work,” he said, wishing he hadn’t put her on the spot.

  Beth released the curtain. “No, please don’t. I really do want to ride with you.”

  The chauffeur knocked on the door.

  She sighed. “Wish me luck.”

  Aidan moved aside as she opened the door, knowing their visitor wouldn’t be able to see him behind it.

  “Good morning.” Beth’s greeting effectively masked her worry.

  “Good morning, Miss Sutton. My name is Warren Beecham.” The chauffeur’s reply matched her enthusiasm. “I’ve come to take you to the studio for your nine o’clock script meeting.”

  Aidan leaned against the wall and folded his arms over his chest. If the chauffeur gave her a hard time, he’d have to interfere.

  “Mr. Beecham, I appreciate you coming here, but I actually have alternative transportation to the studio this morning—and every morning from now on. I also won’t require your services in the evenings, either.”

  “But, Miss Sutton, I was told I was to be your driver for the duration of filming.”

  “Well… um, I guess you didn’t get the memo. I’m terribly sorry for the mix-up.”

  He cleared his throat. “How strange. I’m usually on top of these things.”

  “I truly apologize.”

  “All right, Miss Sutton. Have a pleasant day.”

  “Thank you very much. Take care.” Beth smiled broadly as she closed the door. But after locking up, her expression became crestfallen. “Goodness, I feel terrible. What if he doesn’t get another assignment?”

  Aidan wrapped his arms around her. “Mertz has tons of employees who utilize studio cars. He’ll give the guy another assignment.”

  Beth frowned. “Truthfully, I’m more concerned about my performance today than anything else.”

  He kissed her lips. “You’ll be fine.”

  Soon Aidan and Beth were on their way to the studio, enjoying the warm sun that blanketed the open Porsche. When they pulled up to the front entrance, Aidan a
nnounced his name into the intercom. A muffled voice gave him the all clear and the gates opened.

  With a rev of the engine, Aidan drove to the security hut to check in while Beth wrung her hands in her lap. He wanted to eliminate her anxiety over the read-through, but that would only happen after she got to know the cast and crew better. She was a phenomenal actress, and he had no doubt everyone else would recognize her talent quickly once they began working.

  Charlie popped his head out of the window to greet them. Surprise beamed across his wrinkled face. “Good morning, Mr. Evans. Good morning, Miss Sutton.”

  Aidan gave him a curt nod. “Morning.”

  “Good morning, Charlie.” Beth waved enthusiastically.

  “Miss Sutton, I was expecting your arrival via studio car number thirty-five.” Charlie perused the couple. “I suppose I can cross that off my clearance list for the day.”

  “Yes, you can.” Beth smiled sheepishly.

  “You two are costarring in Golden Gloves, right?” Charlie surveyed Aidan warily.

  Beth tossed a nervous glance at Aidan. “Yes, and we’ve decided to rehearse as many morning and evenings as we can, outside of our time on studio grounds, to perfect our performances. So you can expect us to arrive and leave together regularly.”

  Charlie offered a credulous grin. “Well, that sounds like an excellent plan. I’m sure you’ll both do a wonderful job.” He tipped his hat in farewell. “Have a great day, Miss Sutton.”

  “You, too,” she replied, sounding much more relaxed.

  Charlie looked at Aidan, his expression now void of suspicion. “And you as well, Mr. Evans.”

  “See ya.” Aidan gave a half-hearted wave and pressed his foot to the gas pedal.

  “He seemed to believe us,” Beth said when Charlie was out of earshot.

  Aidan gave her hand a quick squeeze before changing gears. “You did good, baby.”

  Beth’s lips eased into a proud smile as she settled back in her seat.

  The open Porsche gave everyone on the lot a clear view of the couple as they drove toward the building housing the read-through, earning them more than a few double takes. Golden Gloves was currently the studio’s most important film in production and everyone knew the first read-through was today. However, it was clear by their shocked faces they did not expect Beth and Aidan to arrive together.