Chapter 1 #3
Belinda’s eyes dart to the side and back to my face. “That’s really not the point. Someone had to back out, yes, but she wanted you. Focus on that.”
“Who is willing to go against William Markland for me?”
My ex’s father has a hell of a lot of influence in this town.
There’s no way he’s letting this slide. Not after whatever awful lies his son told him about me.
Who knows. Maybe there were no lies. Maybe they were both in this together.
Salvage Brad’s career and make him look like the hero by tanking mine.
Apparently, my agent doesn’t get the memo that this isn’t the time for dramatic pauses.
“Please, just tell me.”
She shrugs as if it’s not a big deal, but there’s a sparkle in her eye when she says, “Only Maggie Young.”
Maggie Young? My dream showrunner and director? The youngest woman to win an Oscar for directing? That Maggie Young?
Now I’m the one indulging in dramatic pauses.
“Maggie Young wants me? And she’s doing a TV show?”
Belinda is grinning like she just won the lottery. “Yeah, full season pickup by GenFlix.”
Inside, I’m screaming and doing cartwheels and backflips, but in the interest of professionalism I try to keep my expression more pleasantly surprised and less OMG-OMG-OMG as I nod. “Okay.”
“So what do you think?”
Some of the OMG slips out when I say, “What do you mean, what do I think? You know I’ve wanted to work in a leading role for Maggie since I did that cameo in And Then I Ran.
But I figured she’d written me off like everyone else.
“ In fact, if I hadn’t still been tied to Paisley Creek, I might have been able to snag a bigger role in that film.
As it was, they barely let me do the cameo.
She nods. “That is what I thought. Just wanted to confirm.” A pause. “There is one little thing.”
My excitement wavers. I don’t love that tone in her voice. “What?”
“They won’t be filming in LA.”
I snort, the creeping apprehension receding. “Say less. I’d love a break from this fake-ass place. Where are they filming?”
All dreams of filming on a sunny beach in Australia or on the busy streets of London where nobody gives a shit who I dated are smashed with her next words. “Alberta, Canada. It’s set on a ranch, and the location is a real working ranch. That’s the other catch.”
There had to be something. “Mmm-hmm.”
“All the main cast needs to know how to ride a horse. It’s a major part of the show.
Of course, you’ll have a stunt double for any fast-paced shots, anything dangerous, but you need to be able to look comfortable on a horse.
You’re going to spend a reasonable amount of time in the saddle if you take this.
Please tell me you went to horse camp in the summer, or your parents felt like riding would be a great way to further your career as an actor? ”
There is so much hope and excitement on her face, and I hate to dash it, but since my hopes are now officially dead, I may as well squash hers.
“I’ve never been on a horse. Never even touched one.” I neglect to mention the fact that I might even be scared of them. They seem pretty intimidating even from a distance.
“Well, shit.” She glances at the ceiling, stands up, and does one lap around the large room before returning to plant herself in front of me. “I guess you’re going to have to learn.”
My heart pounds in my ears, fear and anxiety warring with despair as I consider her words?
What’s worse? A massive animal with large teeth and scary-looking feet, or the ultimate death of my career?
Surely the horses will be well-trained, if they’re used to working on a set.
Maybe it’ll be fine. “Well, when does filming start? If I have a stunt double, all I’ll really have to do is sit there, right?
Maybe steer a little bit? That shouldn’t be too hard to learn. ”
She drops beside me, somehow managing to look elegant even sinking into the overstuffed couch.
“You’ve got six weeks to pull this off, but I think you can do it.
Scratch that—I know you can do this. I’ve seen you go into superhero mode.
I’ve seen you fight, learn to play with swords.
So many things. I know this sounds like a lot, but you can do it.
You don’t need to be perfect, just passable.
And if this show performs nearly as well as I think it will, you are going to be on it for a long time. Plenty of time to improve your skills.”
Would I try to pull off something this crazy if my career hadn’t flown off the rails? Maybe. Maybe not.
Probably. Because the chance to work with Maggie Young doesn’t come around every day. She is an amazing director, an amazing human, and an incredible advocate for women in Hollywood, equal pay and equal rights.
“So, where exactly do I go about finding someone to teach me to ride in six weeks who won’t sell my secret to all the world?”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ve got a plan.” There’s a wicked gleam in her blue eyes as she says this, and my stomach sinks. Nothing good can come from those words combined with that look.
What have I just agreed to?