Chapter Four #2
Then, in excellent timing, Amelia’s phone started to vibrate in her hand. She held it up. “I better take this. Nice chat as always, Bridget.” She turned and rushed off in the direction of her trailer. Hopefully, Bridget had said all that she wanted to say and wouldn’t make an appearance there too.
Once she was safely out of earshot, Amelia glanced down at her vibrating phone.
It was a FaceTime conference call with both Veronica, her agent, and Helen, her publicist. One that she had not been expecting which meant they wanted something.
Amelia swiped the screen as she walked, and their two faces appeared separately, each of them in their respective offices. “Hey, guys.”
“Hi there, favourite client. How’s it going over there in rainy Ireland?” Helen asked cheerily.
“Now, Helen. I know that you call all of your clients your favourite.”
She tutted. “Yes, but you’re an actress, and you’re supposed to be a talented one, so you could at least play along.”
Amelia laughed. “Fine. Consider me flattered. As for rainy Ireland, I love it. The rain can be charming. There’s so much more to life than just blue skies and sunshine, you know. There are actual seasons to enjoy. I’m currently in autumnal bliss.”
Helen screwed up her face in disgust. “I’ll take your word for it.” Knowing Helen, she probably tried to sue Mother Nature anytime it rained in LA.
“As lovely as it is to hear from you both, was the weather the only reason for your call?” Amelia asked, knowing full well that it wasn’t. Especially not since both of them were there.
“Of course not.” Veronica replied this time. “I jumped on because I emailed you over a couple of scripts and I wanted to know if you’ve looked at them yet?”
“Not yet. I haven’t checked my email today.”
Amelia could see Veronica typing away on her laptop, probably working on something completely different for another client at the same time as their conversation.
Veronica was well known as a master of multitasking.
It was impressive how many balls she juggled.
“Well, get checking and get reading. This weekend if you can.”
Amelia felt herself deflate. “This weekend?”
“Yes. One of the scripts is very time sensitive. Filming is due to start the week after you finish up with Always the Bridesmaid.”
“The week after—”
Veronica cut her off. “I know you said that you wanted a break this time, but this is huge, trust me. Netflix is going in big on this movie. It’s an action flick, which is something you said you always wanted to try. I’m making your dreams come true here.”
“And slowly killing me with exhaustion in the process.” Amelia blew out a breath. “Okay. I’ve got a busy weekend lined up, but I’ll take a look when I can.”
Veronica frowned at her laptop. “Are they shooting the entire weekend? God, they must be running behind.”
Amelia took the four steps up into her trailer and shut the door behind her. “They aren’t. I’m having a personal day on Saturday.” She walked straight through her kitchen and living area into her dressing room. She sat at her white vanity table and switched on her mirror lights.
“Perfect. Then be a doll and personally read over those scripts I’ve sent you. Specifically, the one for Don’t Cross Her,” Veronica said.
“And if you’re interested, then let me know too. I’ll have to put together an image plan if you’re going to make a shift from romcoms to action. We want it to be seamless and believable.” Ah, that’s why Helen was involved.
Amelia set her phone up against the mirror and grabbed some moisturizer to dab on her face. She preferred to use her own before she went into hair and makeup. Call her a creature of habit. “I’ll try to read it, but I have a date this weekend.”
They both went silent and stared at her in surprise. For long enough that Amelia felt like self-consciously tilting the phone away from her face. Then Veronica shifted. “This is your area, Helen.” Her ferocious typing recommenced.
Helen sprang into action. “Yes. Sorry. It’s just you hadn’t informed me that you were dating anyone.” Helen detested not getting a heads up about personal things, probably more than she detested rain.
“I only met her yesterday,” Amelia explained, hoping that would get her off the hook. When Helen took too long to answer, Amelia went on. “What’s wrong? Usually, you love it when I date.”
Helen sighed. “When I have the chance to vet the women and prepare, yes. If it’s this weekend, then I won’t have a lot of time. But you’re lucky I’m good. Give me her details and I’ll check her out. I probably know her people. I take it it’s someone you’re working with?”
“No. She’s a local.”
Helen pinched the bridge of her nose. “That makes it a bit harder, but okay. I’ll see what I can dig up.”
Amelia hesitated. She doubted that Imogen would take kindly to being vetted. It felt like a breach of her trust. Another one. “Do you think we can hold off on that? It’s only the first date.”
“With a local who could be anybody,” Helen added.
“She doesn’t know I’m famous,” Amelia stated. Surely that made a difference. It did to Amelia.
“What?” Veronica let out a low laugh. “Does she live under a rock? Ireland can’t be that backward, can it?”
Helen quickly shook her head. “She must be pretending. Everyone knows who you are. I’ve personally seen to it over the past five years that they do.”
“No,” Amelia said with confidence. “It’s not an act. She didn’t recognise me at all.”
“And you didn’t tell her?” Veronica asked with a raised brow.
Caught. “Not yet,” Amelia replied sheepishly.
Helen’s face remained sceptical. “Uh-huh. Well, if anything that’s even more reason for me to do some research. What kind of a person hasn’t heard of Amelia Whitlock? Text me her name and what you know. I take it you’ll bring security?”
Oh, hell no. “I was hoping not to.”
“Well tough luck, sweetie. You have no idea who this woman is. So, arrange it with the studio or else I will. And you really need to sort out some sort of permanent arrangement for all this. We’ll be making it a priority when you get back.
” Amelia went to argue, and Helen held up a finger.
“Non-negotiable, Amelia. Your well-being comes first.” Which, to be fair, was the reason Amelia valued her team so much.
They not only cared about Amelia’s career and her success, but they truly cared about her too.
Even though it didn’t feel like it when she was being worked into the ground.
Reluctantly, Amelia agreed before finishing up the call.
She only had a few minutes before she had to be in hair and makeup, and there was a long day of filming after that.
Scenes were never filmed in order, and today she was working with Gabe, doing their big showdown after he finds out about Scarlett and Eve’s relationship—Amelia’s and Bridget’s characters in the movie. Thank God she wasn’t in that situation.
But Amelia wasn’t without her own problems. How was she going to explain a security escort to Imogen?
Maybe she could come to some kind of agreement with Steve.
Although he was a bit of a stickler, he had given her some time alone—even if he had been two steps outside the Wishing Well the entire time.
Amelia had been lucky that Steve hadn’t exaggerated—his wife really did like to talk.