CHAPTER NINE #2
“What do you think I mean?” I spat, unable to hide my irritation.
“I told you before and you didn’t listen.
He’s got a Colombian marching powder habit.
One of the reasons the French blogger was able to catch Nate unawares is that, along with Roz and Avery being on calls, your nepo baby stepped out of the interview to do coke.
The supposed ‘professional’ team left an unpaid intern to oversee the interview.
It’s not good enough Luce! I was adamant when I signed with Freiberg’s that I didn’t want to work with anyone who had a drug habit.
” I held my hands up, “I know, I know, the industry is riddled, but I need someone representing me who understands the job and isn’t off their tits!
Benji was barely around and when he was around he was high on coke and god knows what else.
And…you must know he’s fucking clueless about the business.
It’s not on.” Rage had been bubbling under the surface for weeks and even though I regretted the look of horror on Lucy’s face, she couldn’t keep her head in the sand any longer.
“Damn it! I’m so sorry, Jack. He promised me he’d stopped with that nonsense.
He’s been aimless since finishing uni. Miranda pleaded with me to give him a job.
There was a time when a marketing degree got you a foot in the door, but there’s nothing out there for graduates these days.
He has massive student loans,“ Lucy justified. “Miranda thought having a purpose would help him focus and he’d grow the hell up. Really, Jack, I’m so very sorry,” Lucy sighed dejectedly.
“Look, I’ll move my schedule around and I’ll be there for you in Berlin. I won’t send Benji out again.”
“Fine,” I huffed, a little pacified, Lucy had tried to do a good deed, and it backfired, I wouldn’t hold that against her, as long as she was true to her word and I wasn’t left without professional support again.
When I’d first arrived in Paris, Roz Appelbaum approached me and suggested that, if I was seeking American representation, her agency would be happy to look after me.
Yes, the woman was terrifying, but she was Queen Shark among sharks.
She worked wonders for Nate and his career was blazing.
I’d kept the approach to myself and I’d see how the next few weeks played out with Freiberg’s before I made my decision.
The clatter of the serving trolley stole my attention and looking up the train car, I saw a waiter beginning to serve breakfast. I let out a sigh of relief, my tummy grumbling for fuel.
To balance out the greasy burgers from last night I’d ordered all of the healthy options from the menu!
Benji staggered back to his seat, sat heavily and slumped against the window.
He looked like he’d been on an all-night bender, and he probably had!
Lucy and I exchanged looks of concern. She reached across the aisle and tapped him on the arm. He shuddered awake.
“Get some coffee in you. I want you back in the office at two for a meeting.”
“Sure boss, no probs,” he said sleepily. I felt a little sorry for the guy because I knew his ‘probs’ were just beginning!
After an unsatisfying healthy breakfast, I began reading a script on my phone.
I’d told Lucy I wanted to increase my range, so it was a relief when she told me this particular script didn’t feature a lord or a prince.
It was a story about cross-channel people trafficking.
The part that I was considering was a gritty, depressed detective determined to track down a missing British kid trafficked on a small boat to France.
Ten minutes into the script and my mind was made up. “Umm, Luce,” I said to gain my agent’s attention. Lucy looked up from her phone and sighed seeming to know what I was going to say before I said it.
“This isn’t for me,” I informed regretfully. “Do you have anything…lighter? A sexy hit-man, a rom-com, or maybe a paranormal series? I’ve always wanted to be a vampire.” I offered a hopeful smile to dispel the stare of consternation Lucy was sending me.
“Morally grey. Bad, yet hot…that would shake my fans up a bit.” I knew I was being a pain in the arse, and was far too picky when it came to my projects, but the way I saw it, I’d done the years of grafting—played bit parts, a lowly assistant to a detective, a researcher, a charity shop worker, and I’d indulged in every drama student’s baptism of fire—as a corpse.
I’d taken on so many characters before I got my break, and now I was lucky enough to have the wind in my sails.
“There are a few new possibilities in the UK and Ireland to consider.” She scrolled on her phone before adding, “There’s a series called The Start-up, about a group of tech nerds designing the next big app while ducking and diving in the online dating scene.”
“Is it a comedy? It sounds like a comedy.”
“Not sure,” she said ponderously as she scrolled. “Let me get back to you on that. I’ll ask for a script anyway…a tech nerd who’s unable to pull is totally in your wheelhouse,” she said wryly. I pouted in response.
“You’ve got six audiobooks to narrate over the next year, and I’m sorting through opportunities in America too. Roz Appelbaum said that if Need to Know is a worldwide hit there’s a possibility of a sequel.”
I’d heard that rumour too. The movie had a satisfying happy-for-now ending, and if there wasn’t a sequel at least Gabe and Aden were together.
Obviously, I’d love to work with Nate again and I supposed a sequel would be great, but the script had to be right.
I wouldn’t get my hopes up until I had a script in my hand and guarantees that the movie was fully financed.
Lucy’s phone buzzed and she took the call. I watched as her relaxed expression became pinched. “Thanks for the heads-up, Ziggy,” she said, and then ended the call. She leaned sideways toward me and I mirrored her. In a harried whisper she revealed,
“Ziggy’s at St Pancras. Someone leaked your travel plans. He’s spotted paparazzi on mopeds in the drop-off bay, and a group of them are waiting for our train to arrive!”
Ziggy was a runner for the Freiberg Agency.
He ferried staff and clients around the city, and carried out general go-fer chores.
Anger burned under my skin. This wasn’t the first time my schedule was leaked.
Lucy said she was quietly looking into who was sharing information about me to the press and that she couldn’t accuse anyone without proof.
I had an idea of someone who wouldn’t mind making a few extra quid on the side…
and he was seated across the aisle! Personal experience taught me that people make poor choices if they develop an expensive drug habit.
Benji was a na?ve twenty-four-year-old worried about his future and weighed down with student debt.
He’d been given the huge responsibility of travelling with high-end clients for several junkets over the past few months.
I could see he’d gravitated toward the worst aspects of the entertainment industry lifestyle.
If I got proof that he was leaking information to the press I wouldn’t stay as a client with Freiberg unless he was fired.
I’d given Lucy the benefit of the doubt so many times, and now that I’d completed a film with a major studio, I was on the cusp of some big career changes. Maybe I would have a chat with Roz!
My issues with the press began after season one of Harmon Hall.
I played the handsome young lordling, so the spotlight was on me.
The tabloids targeted me, desperately trying to match me with co-stars.
They’d offered me money to be seen with the latest influencers and advertise their products, which I refused.
This refusal didn’t go down well. I’d had to tell my family and friends not to talk to the press and I’d adjusted my daily routines.
The train exited the Channel Tunnel and suddenly we were back to natural mid-morning light.
I leaned closer to Lucy, “Can you ask Benji to take my luggage and give it to Ziggy. I’ve got a house guest, so if Zig can drop it off at my place that would be great,” I said in a low voice.
“I’ll go and make the call,” I added before I rose, eased out of the seat, and walked down the aisle of the train to the vestibule.
When the automatic door had closed behind me and I was blessedly out of earshot of Benji, I drew my phone from my pocket and clicked on a number.
“You busy?” I asked Martine, a long-time friend who owned a motorcycle courier business in the capital. The sound of phones ringing and people on other calls told me her office was busy today.
“Whadaya need?” she replied stoically.
“Ants are ruining the picnic. I need a quick exit from St Pancras, my trains arrives at midday.”
“What’s the offer?”
“Hmmm. I’ll take you salsa dancing,” I suggested. It was a good opening offer.
“What else?” Damn! Martine drove a hard bargain! “Two tickets to my London première,” I proposed.
“And, an intro to your sexy co-star?”
“Fuck…yes. Alright!”
“Deal. I’ll be at the pick-up bay in forty minutes.”
The less Benji knew about my movements the better. I returned to my seat and whispered into Lucy’s ear, “I’ve arranged a pick-up.” She nodded in understanding.