7. Sierra
SIERRA
“ W here are you?” Ro asked.
“Just got to the production lot.” I put my phone on speaker as I reached for my bag on the passenger seat, making sure it had my favorite fabric scissors—I brought them to every new job for good luck—my copy of Every Day Is Sunday , and the current script.
I’d spent all weekend marking it up with notes on the characters and had even started on some initial costume sketches for Tommy and Evelyn.
“So…” Ro said. “I just got an email from X.”
I stopped rifling through my bag and grinned. “And?”
“He wants to interview me this morning. I assume you worked your magic?”
“I might have subtly hinted to X that I knew a great intimacy coordinator who was available to start anytime.” This business was part hustle and part who you know.
Ro and I looked out for each other on that front, always name-dropping for each other when there was an opportunity, and I was not about to pass up the chance to work on this film with my best friend .
“I’ll text you after the interview to let you know how it goes.”
I was certain it was more of a formality than anything. “Sounds good.”
“Have a kickass first day. You’re going to rock it. Don’t forget you can poke Finn with a pin if he gets out of line.”
I laughed, though I was secretly hoping he’d be busy doing producer things far away from me and I’d get to work in peace. “Good luck with the interview.”
Ro hung up and I climbed out of my car, tossing my oversized bag over my shoulder as I strode toward the main building that housed the workshops. Stepping inside, a thrill of adrenaline washed through me.
I loved the beginning of a project when everything was fresh and new: New ideas. New passion. New coworkers. And despite the fact I was working for Finn Lockhart, the most frustrating—and frustratingly gorgeous—man I’d ever met, doing costumes for this movie was a literal dream come true for me.
I checked in with security and then spotted Finn’s assistant Brenna hurrying toward me. She wore a gorgeous maroon pantsuit and sturdy heeled boots. I imagined she needed the sturdiness when she spent all day with Finn barking orders in her ear. Whatever he was paying her was not enough.
“Hey, Sierra,” she said, holding out a lanyard to me.
“Got your ID here. This’ll get you into all the places you need to go.
” She handed me a printout of a map next.
“This is security right here,” she said, pointing to a small letter S .
“And this is the costume shop.” Her finger drifted across the page to where she’d circled the shop in red marker.
“That’s handy,” I said, turning the page to orient the map properly. “Thanks. Having a good morning? ”
“It’s definitely a morning,” Brenna said with a frazzled smile. “But I’ve gotta run. Security stopped Shaw at the gate and won’t let her through.”
“Oooo, rough morning to be the leading lady,” I said. That wasn’t exactly the welcome you wanted on day one.
Brenna rolled her eyes. “It’s always something these first couple of days. The real question is where our leading man went. But once I’ve dealt with Shaw and tracked down Kaiden, I’ll bring them by. Finn wants them in with costumes first thing for initial measurements.”
Yeah, big shocker that Mr. Bigshot was a stickler about every second of that timeline I’d fought so hard for.
“Sure thing,” I said. “We’ll be ready.”
Brenna checked her smartwatch, then her gaze snapped back to mine. “Are you good to make it down to the costume shop by yourself?”
“I’ve got a map and an ID badge. I think that makes me very good. You go avert crises and all that.”
She laughed. “You are my favorite person this morning. See you in a bit.”
Brenna ran off, her boots ticking along the floor as she disappeared outside, and I gave the map a brief once-over before setting off down the hall.
The building was massive, housing multiple departments including props, set design, and hair and makeup.
There was also a dedicated area for craft services where employees could take breaks and eat.
When I reached the costume shop, my jaw dropped.
I’d worked on some pretty low-budget films in my career, which meant the costuming spaces were treated as an afterthought, stuffed into some cramped room with shitty light, but this space…
Well, I’d never admit it , but Finn could have sold me on the production just by showing me this place.
The interior of the workshop was large and open, with high ceilings and tons of natural light cascading down from the skylights. The walls were lined with industrial shelving and already stocked with an endless array of bolts of fabric and accessories.
There were multiple stations with sewing machines and ironing boards and cutting tables. Off to the side were smaller rooms separated by curtains with fitting platforms and mirrors.
There was also a small kitchenette, an office for the head costume designer— me! —and a dedicated area for repairs with an industrial washer and dryer. I did a slow three-sixty spin, taking it all in. “Holy?—”
“Nice, right?”
“Hey!” I said as Paisley exited the office and ran over to me, catching me in a hug. She was a tall, lanky woman who favored Hawaiian shirts and space buns.
She was also one of the best assistant costume designers I’d worked with. I’d specifically requested her and had been thrilled to learn she was available. “I think we’re gonna have some fun here.”
“Agreed.” She pulled back as the rest of the team emerged. “Oh, this is Carter.”
I reached out and shook his hand. I’d never worked with him, but we’d rubbed elbows at a bunch of industry events over the years and had always gotten along well, so I’d put his name down on my list along with Paisley’s.
“Love the shirt,” I said. He wore a plain black tee with a pair of scissors on it and the words CAUTION: I’M ABOUT TO CUT LOOSE .
“Birthday gift from my girlfriend,” he said. “I was sucker enough to say I loved it. Now my closet is full of shirts with costume-related puns.”
“I do enjoy a good pun.” We were going to get along great.
“And this is Trin,” Paisley said, introducing the last assistant costume designer.
“Hey,” I said, shaking the woman’s hand. Her hair was wrapped in a silk scarf, and she had bold gold eyeshadow dusted along both eyelids. I’d never met her before, but she’d likely been chosen by the studio. “I’m Sierra. Nice to meet you.”
“Girl, I love that top,” she said. “Look at all the pockets!”
I grinned.
“Sierra is a pocket connoisseur,” Paisley said, laughing. “It’s basically her entire wardrobe.”
I could already tell this was going to be a great crew. “How are things looking?” I asked. “Have we scoped the place out?”
“Lots of fun gadgets I’m eager to test out,” Carter said.
“But we’ve got the world’s worst mannequin,” Trin added, throwing her hand up like it had personally offended her. “We’re gonna need you to ask for another from the bossman.”
I frowned, looking around for what she was talking about.
“It’s back in your office,” Paisley explained.
I headed back there and paused in the doorway. Standing there next to a pallet of my precious RevX energy drink was Merle—the precariously-held-together mannequin from In Stitches. He had an energy drink taped to one hand and a bag of almonds in the other.
“I touched him, and his head popped off,” Trin said .
Paisley cackled.
Apparently, this was Finn’s idea of a joke. Or maybe it was some thinly veiled threat? Like if I didn’t get the costumes done on time, it would be my head rolling? Whatever.
“I’ll deal with it.” I dropped my bag on my new desk and pulled my initial sketches out, handing them to Paisley. “Want to get these up on the board for me?”
She nodded and set off just as the door to the costume shop flew open. Brenna came hustling the leads into the room. Kaiden McKnight and Shaw Houston were a striking pair. I’d lived in LA for a decade, but I was still amazed at how effortlessly beautiful some people were.
Some people were just destined for the big screen, and Shaw was one of them. She wasn’t just gorgeous—she also had a fresh, youthful energy, a sweet smile, and expressive eyebrows I knew would really bring the character’s vibrancy to life.
If she had the dramatic chops to match her looks, she was going to make the whole world fall in love with her in this part. Kaiden was flawlessly handsome, but it was his easy charm that was the most captivating. They were going to dazzle on-screen together.
“Why don’t you two come over this way, and we’ll start with measurements,” I said once Brenna had made the necessary introductions.
Shaw and Kaiden followed, and I got both of them onto fitting platforms in front of the mirrors, separated by a curtain to maintain a modicum of privacy.
Carter worked with Kaiden, and Paisley and Trin worked with Shaw while I bounced between them, double checking the measurements.
“Heard you got stuck at the gate,” I said to Shaw. “Can’t tell you how often that’s happened to me. ”
She laughed, the sound light and airy. “I don’t often get accused of trying to lie my way onto a studio lot. It was sort of refreshing.”
I liked her attitude. It was good to know she wasn’t the type to kick up a fuss over every problem.
“Well, hopefully the rest of your day goes a lot smoother.” I had her turn in a circle, double-checking her waist measurement.
Then I checked some fabric swatches against her skin tone, trying to decide on a complimentary color palette that would look the best on-screen.
“I’m just excited to dive into everything,” she said. “And I love this part of the process. I feel like I understand my character so much better once I’ve got the costume on.”
“That’s always my aim,” I said.
“Just tell me one thing,” Kaiden said from the other side of the curtain. “Do I get a pinstriped suit and wide-brimmed hat?”