Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
He sat in a comfortable chair in the conference room of K-Talent’s LA offices along with the casting director for the movie. Lena was chewing gum and talking loudly on the phone, ignoring Harrison as she checked in on clients. They waited for the first audition to arrive, and he couldn’t help but think about how everyone’s path to stardom was different.
In his case, he and his friends had been hanging around a movie set, the cast on their lunch break. Harrison had been goofing around, acting out the role in front of his pals. He’d always found memorization easy, so after a morning of listening to the same scene over and over, he’d had the words nailed.
He’d performed, having no idea an agent was watching. Before that moment, acting hadn’t been on his radar. Once in Hollywood, he’d booked a spot as an extra on a TV show, then his first movie, and suddenly the stars aligned. His first part exploded overnight.
A knock sounded on the door and the first audition walked in. After that, the morning ran smoothly, and soon they broke for lunch. He walked across the street to the sandwich shop, knowing he’d run into fans on the way. He graciously signed a couple of autographs and paused for a selfie with a mom and her daughter who’d seen and loved the indie movie he’d made, the one which had earned him an Academy Award nomination.
Sandwich in hand, he walked to a small park and ate, keeping his head down and enjoying the weather and sunshine before he returned to the office.
The waiting room was filled with talent, and he wove his way through the crowd toward the doors leading to the interior offices.
“Harrison? Harrison!” A voice he hoped never to hear again called for his attention.
Clenching his teeth, he turned to see his ex-girlfriend, Sharon, in the waiting area.
When they’d met, he thought she was a sexy woman. Three years younger than him, she was confident, poised, and he’d found it impressive how she was willing to mingle with people and push where others might hold back. It was only when he’d been smacked in the face with the truth of her betrayal that he saw her for who she really was.
In the years that followed, each time he ran into her, she seemed more aggressive. She’d obviously crossed into desperate territory, as her outfit told him she was trying too hard. She wore a tight turquoise dress, one he’d heard his brother’s wives call a bandage or body-con style. Her tits were larger and obviously new. Her heels were high, her tan fake, and her makeup overdone.
“Harrison! It’s so good to see you,” she said, walking over and wrapping him in a floral-scented hug, her long brown hair brushing his cheek.
He stepped back and out of her reach. He couldn’t say he was glad to see her, but he wouldn’t be rude. “Hi, Sharon. Listen, I can’t stay and talk. I’m needed back in the office.” He turned to head inside, and she stopped him with a hand on his arm.
“What?” he asked.
“I’m auditioning, and I was hoping you could put our past aside and consider me. For old times’ sake.”
Lena opened the door leading to the offices and poked her head out the door. “Harrison, are you ready to begin?”
“Coming,” he assured her, relieved to have been given a legitimate excuse to leave. To his ex, he said, “You can audition like everyone else.”
“But we haven’t had a chance to catch up,” Sharon said on a whine, clearly unhappy.
Ignoring her, he walked away and took the encounter as a lesson to check the list of who was coming in the next time he sat for auditions. At least he’d have been prepared to deal with the viper. And that’s what she was. Someone who’d had no problem betraying him.
He sat through the afternoon auditions, unsurprised at the number of people waiting for a chance to try out for a small role in their next movie.
The hours until he could leave dragged, but he gave every actress his full attention and took notes on each. Sharon walked in last. As she acted opposite someone who read the other role, she lost herself in the performance. As much as he hated to admit it, she’d nailed the part, not that he’d tell her as much. He’d give his opinions to Lena and his partners.
“Thank you,” Lena said to Sharon when she finished. “We’ll be in touch with your agent.”
Sharon smiled widely and blew him a kiss he ignored before she turned and walked out.
“And that’s it for the day,” Lena said as she closed her iPad and put all her personal things into her bag. “I have to run across town to another meeting. We’ll reconvene by Zoom or FaceTime and discuss our top choices?”