CHAPTER 27
@starzwatch Do the PR people for Torres and Brooks’ new movie really expect us to believe that the reason they’re fighting all the time is because it’s an ‘enemies-to-lovers’ romcom and the stars are ‘method acting’? #AnIrishInheritance
Anthony met Jess in the foyer of Linford Castle when she arrived in the next day.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, frowning. “Have you been sick at all?”
“No, I’m fine.” Did she look that bad? She’d concluded that JJ Cahill had never worried about his appearance because there wasn’t a single mirror in Ivy Cottage.
Anthony looked relieved. “Most of the cast and crew are down with food poisoning. One of the doctors at the local medical centre confirmed it. Apparently it’s not too extreme, whatever that means, but Health and Safety has shut down the food trucks until they investigate.
Although it seems to be the chicken tikka masala – everyone who had it for lunch yesterday is sick. ”
She made a mental note to text Emily to see if she’d been affected.
“I assume there won’t be any filming today?”
Anthony shook his head. “Or tomorrow. Although a few of them didn’t eat the stuff. I think Afric and Spencer are okay. And Doug didn’t have it either.”
Jess folded her arms. “What’ll happen now with the food trucks?”
“Mel Winters said they’re not giving the company a second chance and asked if there’s something Linford can do instead?
” Anthony tugged at his shirt cuffs. “It means we’re able to take most of our chefs back on board, draw up a simple menu for the week.
In the meantime, Marco is making consommé for everyone.
The doctor said most people should be able to have it later today. ”
When she got to her office, Jess texted Emily. Heard about the food poisoning R U OK?
A few moments later, Emily replied with three green ‘sick’ emojis.
Jess sent another text. Want me to come over later with clear soup Marco made?
Emily sent a thumbs-up and Jess phoned the kitchen to request a flask of soup for collection.
She was halfway through a press release when Lisa Greensmith knocked and stuck her head around the door.
“Hey, Jess, you got a minute?”
Jess waved her in. “You escaped the food poisoning?”
Lisa pulled a face. “I don’t eat dead animals.
Now, I talked to Afric and got out an official statement denying that TMZ piece about her and Spencer.
I’d love to know who our leak is. Like, do Irish people not understand NDAs?
” Her mouth tightened. “We can’t keep ignoring this.
We’ve only got a few weeks of filming left, and I need to generate some fuzzy feels. ”
Fuzzy feels?
“As soon as everyone gets over this disgusting food poisoning,” Lisa continued, “I was thinking we invite some of the media in for a day to show them what happens on set, give them a chance to connect with the actors and our movie. And I’d like your help.”
As if constant media leaks weren’t bad enough, now she wanted to invite them inside? Jess chose her words carefully. “What does Doug think?”
“He knows I have a job to do.”
“I think having the press hanging around for the whole day might be quite intrusive,” Jess said. “Can I suggest something else?”
Lisa gave her a sharp look. “Something better?”
“The summer solstice is June twenty-first, and Linford Village celebrates with a party. From a PR point of view, it’d be great for the whole cast and crew to go along. Kind of a win-win for you, us and the village.”
Lisa looked thoughtful. “So it’s like a town fair? Who pays for it?”
“The local county council,” Jess said. “A friend of mine was telling me about it. There’s food and drink and music, that’s all I know.”
“Sounds cute,” Lisa said. “Maybe we could make a contribution – get some stuff the village wouldn’t usually have for it, right? Let’s find out what the local kids might like? What about a Ferris Wheel?”
A Ferris Wheel? Talk about thinking big! “That sounds great.” She nodded. “Leave it with me – I’d like to talk to Anthony first.”
After Lisa left, Jess went next door to Anthony’s office and filled him in.
“I don’t think it’d take a huge contribution from us, Anthony.
I get the feeling that Lisa has a big budget and she can afford to splash out a bit.
And it would create a lot of goodwill, not just for the studio, but for us.
Especially if we want to encourage more movies to be made here in the future. ”
He looked pleased. “I’m sure we can manage something, Jess. Let me see what I can do.”