Jaz slipped the contract into an envelope and passed it across the table to me. Then she pulled out a folder and began on projects and offers for Nelly.
I tuned out. Heath and I in a commercial together. It would only be a couple of days of filming. Could we do it without killing each other?
*****
Edgar laughed with a sinister edge. ‘You’ve got to be kidding! Of course Heath will sign up for the commercial, it was probably his idea. Isabella will have a fit.’
I sat on the edge of Edgar’s desk in his London apartment and told him about my meeting with my agent, Jaz. He looked very handsome in his casual wear … Edgar always looked like he had just stepped out of a commercial – he does tailored well.
Then I realised if Heath turned down the commercial, how hurtful that would be. God, it was a no-win situation.
What if they cast someone else as theWyldegirl and still made the commercial with Heath?
What if they cast Isabella?
She’d have Heath and my commercial. Now my insecurities were showing. I’m so sick of it all, the mess, the tangle, the connections. Maybe I should just walk away from it and let them fill my shoes. Make sure I put it out there that I’m saying goodbye to theWyldegirl, but that would be crazy reckless given the amount they were willing to pay. I stared out the windows of Edgar’s home office as the thoughts ran through my head and he ran through the contract.
Edgar got to the last page. ‘Holy crap, is that what they are offering? They must expect the tension between the two of you to sell some serious perfume,’ he said.
‘That’s what I said to Jaz, more or less,’ I agreed.
He put the contract down, moved to put his legs around me as he sat in his chair, and shook his head. ‘You’d be an idiot to turn this down … it’s only a two-day shoot, can you get through it?’
Clearly, money came before Edgar’s insecurities and jealousy; I was just a little pissed off but a bit impressed too that he was so focused and secure. I secretly and stupidly hoped he’d be outraged and wouldn’t want me to take the job. So much for that.
‘So, are you saying that I should do it?’ I asked.
He tightened his grip on my legs.
‘It’s easy money, isn’t it? How do you feel about it?’ he asked.
I took a deep breath. ‘I could do without the tension, but if it is similar to the last time, we shot the campaign, we’ll be constantly surrounded by the crew—make-up, dresser, cameraman, lighting, and the director—so we’ll have little time alone. I could manage that.’
‘Where will you stay?’
‘At Wuthering— ah, at Thrushcross Grange.’
He smiled. ‘Good, because I imagine he’ll be staying at Wuthering Heights. I guess it comes down to whether you want to do another one of their commercials for them?’
I smiled at the thought. ‘Having been on the journey since day one, I like being theWyldegirl.’
He grinned. ‘I like it too,’ and then he began to undress me in his office. It seemed like my relationship of late with Edgar was about eighty per cent sex. I quickly glanced to the windows where the blinds were open and he leant over, pressed a button and the shades went down. He continued his good work.
Chapter 32– Wylde girl again
Two weeks later … the commercial shoot
We were lucky; the moors were being kind to us. It was cool, the light was soft, the vista was green and the wind was yet to reach its full force – the benefit of starting early;7am early! The sun was just rising when I came in for hair and make-up, so we had a good long day to shoot.
I hadn’t spoken to Heath about the commercial and he hadn’t contacted me, but we both signed up for it and showed up as expected at the time on our call sheet. My start was earlier as I had hair and make-up; Heath would take less work. Edgar stayed in London; he was still working with Tamara on casting another film and Isabella informed me via Edgar that she and Heath would be staying at Thrushcross Grange the weekend prior and during the shoot. That was just perfect as far I was concerned. I much preferred to stay at my place, Wuthering Heights – I felt safer and at home, even if I was staying there by myself. Edgar didn’t object; he just wanted me to stay wherever Heath wasn’t staying.
I arrived the night before ready for work in the morning. I suspected Isabella would show up sometime during the shoot … although 7am might be too early even for the insecure! I was in the hair and make-up marquee looking particularly glamourous with hair rollers in and a huge bib around my collar when Heath entered. My breath hitched. I knew everyone would be watching us and expecting a reaction.
‘Morning everyone,’ he said, in his lovely baritone voice. He smiled my way. ‘Looking particularly lovely this morning as always, Catherine,’ he said, winked, and made everyone laugh including me. It was a good way to start. I could be a good sport and take a ribbing, and then I turned my eyes back to the mirror and focused on the work being done on me.
I had read and approved the script – there were a lot of separate scenes with us both staring off into space, a scene where we encounter each other like prey and I guess you could interpret the last scene of the commercial as Heath conqueringWyldegirl as she gets on the back of his motorbike and they leave the moors behind. No kissing. Sure, let’s just do this.
It took all my self-control not to make eye contact with him as his make-up was being done while my hair set. I could feel him watching me, but not once did I weaken.Hard work.He was finished in no time, declared himself a natural beauty and got another round of laughs. He left to start shooting his solo parts pretty much straight away. An hour later when I was ready, I was sent with a cameraman and director to do the same. The wind had got up now and the sun dipped between clouds now and then. The mood added to the shoot. They were amazing shots. I stood on the edge of a small waterfall where the sound of the water falling reminded me of bells. I had to lift my dress and wade with just my feet in the water … it was freezing but the water was so clean and clear. In the next shot, the wind whipped around me as I walked along a small stone wall in the most amazing full-on silver ballgown, my auburn hair floating around my head like a witch. I was directed to look this way and that way, to look determined, sad, relaxed, one with nature … I think I just looked constipated but let’s not go there. It was a long day posing but I was on my moors and very happy to be. During the day I changed three times – from a fitted leather pantsuit to two huge ball gowns; it was good fun wearing those amazing, expensive outfits.