Chapter Forty-One
One year ago
Aurora
I’ve got a modelling job in a TV advert for an online casino.
Thankfully I don’t have to speak and I’m onscreen with a famous British reality-TV star named Sam Charlton, although as I don’t watch reality TV I had no idea who he was.
Ben would know, though. He laps up all those shows.
They’ve thrown a lot of budget at this, which makes me think this online casino is probably doing OK financially and doesn’t really need to film an advert encouraging more customers to part with their cash.
We’re in California in a clifftop house overlooking the Hollywood Hills.
I have to do a lot of pouting, and the reality-TV star walks past me each time in a different location in the house in one seamless shot while he’s talking to the camera.
This is going to be fun. I’m seeing a lot of sunshine and wearing a lot of different bikinis. And getting paid.
I’m on-set, hanging around at the end of the first scene as Sam Charlton oozes well-spoken heart-throb glamour with his deep-green eyes and mop of curly brown hair.
He’s wearing a well-fitting suit and his tan is off the chart.
When I googled him, I discovered he’d done so well on British TV that he’d moved to the USA to work there too, which probably explains the tan.
He introduced himself to me, and my insides turned to jelly.
It was an immediate response I wasn’t expecting, despite the fact I’d googled him and already decided I fancied him.
But up close, he looks even fitter. As we go for our fourth take, Sam gives me a discreet eye-roll and I try to hide my smile.
We’re only filming together for the day, then I’m gone.
The director told me what to do about ten times, labouring the point, imagining that I had never been in front of a camera before, but I take instruction well and I don’t have to speak, so there’s very little I can do to mess this up.
‘Why are we doing this for a fourth time?’ I whisper nervously to Sam as we’re put back in our starting places again, and the woman from Hair and Make-Up touches up Sam’s face. I’m worried I’m the problem here.
‘Not sure. There’s always something,’ Sam says in his plummy English accent.
The director is busy looking through the footage captured so far, so we have a few seconds and risk a conversation.
‘Have I seen you in an advert of some kind?’ he asks.
‘Maybe,’ I reply modestly. ‘I was in a lot of magazines selling haircare a while back. I’m on Underground adverts again soon for a range of cosmetics campaigns. So you’ll catch me on posters wearing glittery red lipstick from October until January and then tanning products shortly after that.’
Sam smiles. ‘What else have you been in?’ he asks. ‘Any other TV work?’
‘No. This is my first – and probably my only one. And I’m only doing it because I’m playing a model. I’m just doing what I do.’
‘Life imitating art imitating life?’
That smile again. I can see why Liv screamed excitedly when I told her who I’d be with on this job. Is it wrong to say a man is pretty? Sam’s pretty. Thick lashes, good hair.
‘Do you want to grab a drink with me after this?’ he asks and I’m too stunned to reply.
Behind me someone calls, ‘Quiet on-set.’ So I close my mouth again and despite the fact that a hot, famous man has asked me on a date, I prepare myself to look pouty.
‘What are you doing?’ Liv asks when I’m on the phone to her during a short break. ‘Tell me everything.’
‘Just finishing up a scene.’
‘What’s it like?’
‘It’s surreal. I’ve realised I prefer modelling to acting. I don’t feel comfortable acting. I’m not hugely sure I’d do this again. Although … the money.’
‘No, I said: what is he like?’
‘Oh. He’s nice. Nice smile,’ I say. ‘Friendly.’ I don’t tell her my insides turned to mush when Sam shook my hand.
‘How friendly?’
‘He asked me for a drink.’
‘Oh my God, you’re going on a date with Sam Charlton. What the actual!’
‘It’s not a date, it’s a drink.’
‘It’s the same thing. Take photos.’
‘Take photos of him while I’m sitting across the table from him? Do you think that might be a bit weird?’
‘Oh yeah,’ she replies thoughtfully. ‘That won’t work, will it? I’m very excited for you, though.’
‘I can tell. I’ll let you know how it goes instead. How’s that?’
‘Next best thing. I’ll take it.’
I look up to see the man in question walking towards me purposefully. ‘Gotta go,’ I say, ending the call rather abruptly.
‘You know how to keep a man waiting, don’t you?’ Sam says.
‘Am I supposed to be somewhere?’ I reply, way more coolly than I feel.
‘Not yet. I asked you for a drink and you were saved from having to answer. I wondered if it was a yes or a no or …’
‘Or?’ I query.
‘A maybe?’ he goes on with a laugh. ‘I’ll take a maybe.’
‘I’d love a drink with you,’ I reply, putting the man out of his misery.
His shoulders visibly relax. ‘Oh, great. That’s great. Um, after this scene you’re finished for the day, right?’
‘I am, yes.’
‘Great,’ he says again. ‘I checked your call sheet to see what time you were done. I wanted to check I wasn’t going to miss you.’
‘Oh, sweet. Also stalky.’
‘Ha!’ Sam’s eyes widen and his face breaks into a full laugh. ‘Yes, I suppose it was. Sorry. Um …’ he says and he’s giving off this air of confidence mixed with total insecurity. It’s keeping me interested. ‘Do you want to wait around or …’
‘Or?’ I ask again.
‘Or go back to the hotel and we can meet there? I don’t mind. You choose.’
‘You choose,’ I throw back at him with a challenging smile.
‘OK,’ he says and lifts himself up to his full height. ‘Stay here. Wait for me. I’ll only be an hour. Unless we have to retake ten or twelve more times.’ He makes a face. ‘It’s an impromptu drink, after all. If you go back to the hotel and get changed, then it stops being impromptu.’
‘Fine,’ I reply, my challenging smile a bit less challenging now. ‘I’ll wait for you. Grab me when you’re done.’
‘I will. Great,’ he says again, and I find myself twirling a piece of my hair around my finger, which prompts the lady from Hair and Make-Up to run back over to fix her hard work, which I’ve just ruined.