2. Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Even with the move to Los Angeles taking up all my time, I still can’t help but think of Christian everyday.
When he’d arrived at my door all those weeks ago, looking like he’d seen the worst side of a ten hour flight, he had seemed rattled. I’d been expecting a steamy reunion, but was instead informed that he had slept with his coworker Lucy. Not feeling the need to explain why or give me the courtesy of being the one to end it, he had walked out of my apartment and apparently out of my life.
I just want a conversation from the guy I’ve known for a decade to get some closure to the end of our relationship. I just need to know that despite how it all went down, he did really care about me. Did our relationship really mean so little to him?
After checking to see if he has responded to my text messages, I put my phone back into my bag with a sigh. I adjust my dress for the third time while walking towards the gate. The fit is doing wonders for my shape, but very little in comfort when taking large steps. I pull it down into place once again as I come to the front of the studio.
“Hi, I’m Farrah Darby. I start today on Lot 6.” I step up to the security guard at the entrance. With a glance at a paper, he nods his head once, then the fence swings open, granting me entrance as he waves me forward.
Excitement bubbles in my stomach as I look around. Finally on the set of a movie where actual celebrities will be, I can’t help my giddiness. There is no telling who I might end up seeing. If I’m lucky, I’ll find a leading man to get under who will help me get over Christian. No, Farrah. You need to appear professional, I remind myself.
Mira barely briefed me on where to go on my first day, so I walk into the first building to a barrage of moving parts. People come and go past, paying me little mind as they cart items and clothes from place to place. I stop someone holding a handful of fabric, guessing they are my best bet at making it to where I need to go.
“Hi, excuse me, where can I find the wardrobe department?”
The roll of his eyes forces his head to tilt to the side as he steps around me while pointing to the left.
“Thanks,” I mutter as I head in that direction. Despite being of little help, his guidance brings me to a closed door. I walk in without a second thought, hoping this is where I need to go.
Standing in the center of the room, looking like the boss bitch she is, Mira fiddles with the measuring tape around her neck as she stares down at a notebook.
“Hey gorgeous,” I call out, drawing her attention. I beeline for her opening arms as I let the door slam behind me.
“Farrah!” she screams, dropping everything in her hands. We collide like the two forces of nature we are.
“Oh my god, I missed you.” She pulls back to take in my outfit.
I do the same to her, instantly approving of her black-and-white striped overalls over a gray turtleneck. The layered necklaces of golds and silvers match the heavy hanging earrings that tangle in her thick auburn hair. She did a bold lip to push some color into the otherwise monochrome look, making her creamy skin sing with a matching blush.
“Wow, you’re so brave.” She looks me up and down. “I don’t know if I could wear that if I had your body.”
I know she is referring to the tightness of the black dress, as the shape of my belly protrudes through the thin fabric. Being a big girl with lots of rolls, every tight outfit is a daring choice in the eyes of the skinny.
“Not all are as blessed as me.” I twist the insult into a compliment. “What’s brave is wearing those shoes, knowing you would see me today.” I point out the mismatch of the neon Crocs being paired with her look.
“Well, we’re going to be on our feet all day. Be sensible.”
“I’d rather be uncomfortable than be caught wearing those in public.” I smile to let her know it’s a joke, before I help her pick up the stuff she dropped.
“We have time before the staff meeting. Do you want a tour?”
She ushers me back through the door and out onto the set, while handing me my badge. We move across the space to head back outside, where she shows me the trailers where I can fetch the talent. She also takes me to the different spots where I can find her having a cigarette.
Once back inside, we move through different storage rooms, halls, and offices until we are near the room where I found her.
“Once we start filming, we’ll have craft everyday, but for now we have converted this room into a break area.”
Upon entering, I see a coffee machine and an electric kettle. There are different flavors of coffee off to the side of the microwave, so I instantly start looking for tea. The buzz of her walkie comes to life as her name rings out through the quiet room.
“Go for Mira.” She unclips it from her side.
“Hey Mira, can you meet me in Room 5?”
“On my way.” She turns to look at me as she puts it back. “I have to check on that, but feel free to grab something. We are all meeting at the opening floor in about ten minutes.”
“Okay thanks.”
With that, she leaves me behind, not closing the door on her way out.
Taking in my options, I pick up a packet of each lackluster choice of green tea and black.
“Five different types of coffee, and this is the best they can do for tea. Who decided this?” I ask while trying to talk myself into making a cup. The not so subtle clearing of a throat behind me snaps me out of my rant.
“Oh, uh, sorry, am I in the way?” The words fumble out of my mouth as I take in the gorgeous man in front of me. His onyx eyes lower to mine as a sardonic smile tilts his luscious lips.
“No. Just thought you should know other people can hear you.” The steely tone of his voice slices through all the warmness his appearance brings on, making me feel cold.
“So?” I shift so my whole frame is facing him. Even in heels, I have to tilt my head back to try and meet the fullness of his stare, as the top of my head doesn’t even clear his shoulder.
“So no one cares what you think about the tea selection.” The lines around his eyes deepen as his frown pulls his mouth further down, sharpening the look of his cheekbones.
“It’s too early for this.” Dropping the packets back onto the counter, I awkwardly step around him as he makes no effort to move out of the way.
“Let me guess, you also have a problem with the start time?”
“Actually, yes I do.”
“Typical.”
“What does that mean?” Just as I’m about to walk out the door, his last word pulls me up short, forcing me to look in his direction.
His long thick fingers unravel from one another to point at my heels.
“You just act how you look.”
“And how exactly do I look like I would act?”
The room grows taut as he arches one sharp eyebrow. He looks at me, a small smile pulling at his lips, as if he finds humor in being insulting. The heat of my anger engulfs my body, making me feel flushed. I wait for his response, tasting the tart swill of frustration on my tongue.
“This is a job. Not a bar or party. You look like you came here to socialize.”
“And you look like you got dressed in the dark,” I spit out, pointing at his rumpled t-shirt and clashing pants. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you are wearing mismatched socks.”
His hands twitch at his sides as if he is stopping himself from pulling at his clothes. We both look down to his feet at the same time to see that I’m proven right. Expecting resignation when I look back in his eyes, it throws me when all I see is fire.
“Usually people try to hide the fact that they are vain, but kudos to you for just throwing it all out there.”
I snort. “I’m not the one who remarked on the other one’s looks first. You’re a judgemental jerk who’s mad they got called out on their shit.” I look him up and down, and then turn before he can try and spark another argument.
Slamming the door behind me, I want him to know just how displeased he made me with his behavior. I mean, honestly, if people should look like they acted, his rich brown skin should be rough like old leather. The long dreadlocks that twist his coiled hair into neat lines should instead be rough and crusty. No one who talks to people like that should be that damn handsome.
I find Mira back in the wardrobe room. It takes everything in me not to shit talk about the person I just met, knowing we have to work with them.
“You ready?” she asks, guiding me in the direction of the gathering crowd. Bodies shift to the side as she pushes us closer to the front so she can see. Without heels, she can barely look over the average person’s shoulder.
“What exactly is this meeting about?” I follow behind her and apologize on her behalf.
“Just an introduction and safety guidelines. It’s also to handout the schedules and timeline.” Finally satisfied with our placement, she stops just in time for the passing paper to reach us.
Taking a copy, I hand it to the next person and look down at the expectations. With my eyes glued to the sheet, it’s not until the hum of chatter comes to a halt that I glance up to see the person in charge.
“Fuck,” I whisper loud enough for Mira to look to me for answers. I don’t give them. I’m too busy trying to avoid the eyes of the jerk from the break-room as he waves to get everyone’s attention.
“Okay guys.” His voice is all smooth and condescending. “Can I get you to quiet down please?”
Oh now he has manners .
“Thank you. I won’t take up your time for too long. I just wanted to introduce myself before the production manager takes over. I’m Errol Davis, the director and one of the writers.” Fuck . “Over the next two months before filming, a lot is going to be expected of you, and I want to say thank you in advance.”
His eyes scan the crowd, looking to make contact with as many people as possible. I lower mine and raise a hand to block my face, like that will stop him from recognizing me.
“Now with that out of the way, do we have any questions about the schedule, or do we have any complaints about the start time?”
I look up and catch him staring at me with his hands linked in front of him and his head tilted up. Having already entered into an unprofessional spat with him, common sense tells me to disregard the jab and look away. Unfortunately, that part of my brain shut down after he cleared his throat. I stare him down, letting all my steely disregard for him shine through my eyes. He doesn’t lower his gaze, and the whole room grows antsy from the awkward silence as we death glare one another.
When it seems like neither one of us is going to stand down, someone taps him on his shoulder, forcing him to look away. He hands the reins over to a woman named Priyanka, and I try to remind myself why it’s a bad idea to piss off the director on day one.