She nodded. ‘I get that. Do you think he might like you … you know, in that way?’
I scoffed. ‘Hardly. Besides, he knows I’m with Heath. And seriously, look at him … he’s probably got hot and cold running chicks at his disposal.’
Nelly laughed at my description. ‘Maybe, but he hasn’t got you and that’s an attractive challenge.’
I narrowed my eyes at her.
‘Be careful, Cathy, is all I’m saying,’ she said. ‘Don’t break too many hearts, especially yours!’
Chapter 10– The cast and crew cocktail party
There I was—me, Catherine Earnshaw—on the set at the studio forBetween Night and Day’s cast and crew cocktail party. I was like a deer in the headlights, looking around, trying to take it all in because I’ll never, ever, have this first again. The first time I have been on a film set for the first film that I have ever had a part in. Thank God Nelly was with me; it’s always better to know someone in the room! One day, I’m going to be the big name in the room that people will be sneaking glances at! But for now, it was just me and Nelly being us.
Edgar wasn’t there yet – you could tell because the room had strange nervous energy but no real presence. Everyone kept glancing at the door each time it opened, expecting him at any moment. Nelly and I took a glass of champagne from the waiter as he passed and thanked him with kindness. We’ve all been there and this time next year he might be a star. Or he could be a student studying medicine and paying off his degree, or he could be a professional waiter. I’m raving; I did that when I was nervous. I recognised a few actors from television roles and pointed them out to Nelly. How exciting.
Then I saw Travis Taylor, oh my God! He was in the latest sci-fi blockbuster and he was gorgeous. Edgar must have been teasing me when he said he wouldn’t turn down a well-known actor … he had one lined up for this film! I turned to Nelly.
‘Travis Taylor at 2 o’clock!’ I hissed. She followed my gaze and her jaw dropped.
‘Gorgeous,’ she muttered. ‘He must have the lead. Oh wow, Cathy, this film is going to be big. I wonder who the leading lady is and if she’ll be a name.’
We looked around but didn’t recognise anyone equal to Travis’ star quality, yet. I ran my hand down my dress again – Nelly and I rented our dresses for the evening. Crazy huh? But neither of us had anything decent for a studio cocktail party! I had on a fitted silver dress which the lady at the dress store said complimented my pale skin, blue eyes and auburn hair, thank you very much. Nelly with her brown honey skin, wavy dark hair and hazel eyes looked spectacular in a rose-gold, knee-length cocktail dress. Yep, for the price of a night’s rental, we looked the part.
‘Thank God we dressed up,’ she said, reading my thoughts. We glanced around the room; the guys had dolled up as well. Everyone from the set dresser to the television actors that we recognised were dressed to kill. And then the door opened and he stepped through. Edgar Linton, with his sister, Isabella and casting director, Tamara, and—oh wow—one of the hottest Indie actresses out – Holly Bale. Following her were a few other people whom I’m guessing were the producers and the movie’s investors. Everyone started to clap and cheer as we all got caught up in the excitement of the moment. Edgar grinned and gave a small nod. He stopped to grab a drink and handed the ladies one first. Clearly, he wasn’t going to go straight into speech mode.
‘The beautiful people are here,’ Nelly whispered in my ear. ‘I saw Holly Bale’s last film.’
I turned slightly away so I didn’t look like a voyeur studying them and gave Nelly my attention.
‘And?’
She wrinkled her nose. Mm, a not-so-good film review from Nelly. I grinned and introduced myself to the girl next to me.
‘Hi, I’m Danielle, but everyone calls me Danni,’ she said. Her make-up was impeccable, and her eyebrows were amazing.
‘Hi, Danni, what’s your role?’ I asked, after introducing Nelly too.
‘Make-up artist,’ she said. And there it was.
‘I knew that,’ I said, admiring her and she laughed. ‘You have eyebrows to die for.’
We made small talk for a while, all the time I was secretly watching Edgar, Travis and Holly, like everyone else in the room. Nelly hadn’t let Tamara the casting director out of her sight, she wanted in for this film and she was zeroing in on her!
About fifteen minutes after their grand entrance, we heard the sound of a glass being tapped to get everyone’s attention and we turned to the front to find Edgar in the middle of a stage that was about a metre off the ground. A middle-aged woman stood next to him holding the microphone. The room was hushed. I forgot to breathe for a moment but feeling Nelly beside me, I came back down to earth.
I’m okay, I’m here, I’m meant to be here, I’m fabulous!I reminded myself.
Edgar’s gaze ran over the couple of hundred people present and landed on me. He smiled and raised his glass; I blushed and did the same. I felt eyes turning towards me. I loved it. Nelly nudged me.
‘Uh oh,’ she said under her breath and gave me a wicked smile.
Fuckmore like it. This was trouble. I was kind of thrilled; it was a weird feeling this rush of excitement and flirting. I’ve never had that. I’ve only ever had the solid love of Heath – that has been my world and my strength. This was a buzz.
‘Hi everyone,’ the lady beside Edgar said, ‘and thanks for being part of Mr Linton’s next film.’
We all cheered again, after all, it was our pleasure.
She continued. ‘My name is Naomi Thornbury and I’m the Executive Producer. Shortly, our production team is about to hand out scripts to everyone. These are for your eyes only so no releasing them to the outside world or putting them on social media. You know the price for doing that,’ she warned. The room was quickly sobered. ‘If you haven’t got your contract yet, you will have it by the end of the week. It’s never too early to learn your lines. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Tamara Lang of T.L. Casting for all her hard work and for finding all of you.’