Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Riley was happy to have all the makeup off her.
Even when one wasn’t playing a character that required a completely different look, it still might take an hour to get the makeup required for the heavy lights, cameras, and all that making a movie required.
“How’s that?” the makeup artist, Sabrina Longsworth, asked, spinning the chair around so Riley could look in the light-lined mirror.
“Perfect. Thank you!”
“My pleasure. Now, do you want me to put on your regular makeup for you? Or are you just staying in tonight?”
Riley grinned. Of course, she wouldn’t dare share that she had an appointment at Auntie Athena’s nursery. So, she just said, “I’m going out. But I can take care of it. Thank you, though.”
“You sure? No big deal for me to touch you up really quickly.”
Riley nodded. “I’m sure.”
The conversation was interrupted when Todd Keiser, a production assistant, came into the wardrobe trailer. “Sorry to interrupt. But Riley, your agent is looking for you.”
She sank a bit lower in the chair and stifled a groan.
Obviously reading her reaction, Sabrina said, “That bad?”
Todd stepped closer. “I can tell her to get lost. I won’t say it quite like that, of course, but… you know…”
Shaking her head, Riley rose from the chair. “No thanks. It won’t do any good. She’ll just keep pestering me until she gets what she wants.”
“Hey, you’re the star,” Todd reminded her.
Riley laughed. “Yeah. But Rita is kind of…” She stopped herself before saying pushy and searched for a more diplomatic word. “Dedicated. Where is she?”
“Your trailer.”
“Thanks.”
Riley said goodbye, left the trailer, and walked across the small lot where base camp had been setup just outside the cavernous, curved-roof soundstage.
Even though this was not a location shoot, and they were on studio grounds, it was easier to set up mobile units for hair, makeup, and cast trailers so the talent and workers didn’t have to go far.
It would cost time and money if Riley were to get her hair and makeup done, only to mess it all up in the wind or heat.
So, each production erected a base camp, turning empty lots into RV parks.
She didn’t have far to go before she reached her trailer.
It was supposed to be her private sanctuary when she could take a much-needed a break from filming, but apparently, Rita hadn’t gotten the memo. Or, more than likely, she just didn’t care.
Going inside, the cool air conditioning felt wonderful. The famous California sun was working overtime today, and just that brief walk had brought the threat of sweat.
“Hi, Rita. Come on in. Make yourself at home.”
If the sarcasm registered with the agent, she didn’t show it.
Riley opened the small fridge, pulled out a bottle of water, and sat down in the posh leather chair across from the one Rita sat in.
Rita was fifty-two, had more plastic surgery than necessary, and dressed like she was twenty-five.
Her hair was blonde this week, but next week was always up in the air.
Riley was about to ask what was on Rita’s mind, but she didn’t have a chance to get a word out.
“I watched your takes today.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize you were there.” Riley made a mental note to ask that Rita not be allowed on set. It might be a strange request for one to make about their agent, but… well, it might be necessary.
Sometimes a gal just needed her space.
“You were too nice.”
Lowering the water bottle she’d just put to her lips, Riley said, “Excuse me?”
“We talked about this. You’re being too friendly. We need more diva, honey.”
Not this conversation again!
“Rita, we talked about this. That’s not me. I can’t—”
“Yes, we have talked about this. Do you remember what you were when you came to this town? Back when you were struggling to get parts?”
“Yeah.”
“You were a nobody! Your first gig was a bit part on that cable show no one even watched. And a few supporting roles in those awful made-for-TV Christmas movies nobody likes.”
Riley thought about pointing out that tons of people must have loved those Christmas movies, or else the network wouldn’t keep making them, but she kept that to herself.
Rita was not easily deterred.
“And then you had that little incident. All of a sudden you were hot! Everyone wanted you!”
It wasn’t exactly true, Riley thought. Not everyone wanted her right away. It took a while.
Gossip sites ran with her. Talk show offers started coming, then bigger TV spots and soon the movie studios were knocking.
She was happy about the career she’d built, but it still embarrassed her to remember the incident.
“Rita, a DUI isn’t exactly something I’m proud of. I could have hurt someone.”
“But you didn’t. And getting arrested and cursing out those cops put you on the map, honey. Wear that shit as a badge of honor.”
The leather squeaked as Riley shifted.
For a moment, she thought of defending herself.
I’ve worked hard to get sober! You constantly bringing my past up doesn’t help me any.
Those words never left her mouth though.
One day—maybe even soon—she’d stand up to Rita. But today wasn’t that day.
“As I said, diva sells! No one wants a nice girl. You know, my team spends a lot of time poring over social media analytics. Mentions of you fell by thirty-three percent last week. Across all platforms. You’re doing good, but the offers we’re getting are…
” She grabbed her phone from her lap, tapped a few times, and then started reading from it.
“…cable series. It’s prestige. And you’d probably get an Emmy for it.
But an Emmy isn’t an Oscar, is it?” She didn’t wait for an answer.
“Rom-com over at Paramount. Another one at Universal. I think they’re trying to make you this generation’s Meg Ryan.
” Scoffing and shaking her head, Rita added, “But no one knows who the fuck Meg Ryan is these days.”
She put her phone down and leveled an icy glare at Riley. Heavy silence settled over them for a moment.
“My point is, darling, we need a shakeup. Something to get your name out there again. On-set diva behavior would help. We want you to be Hollywood royalty, so start acting like it.”
Rita stood and started pacing the length of the trailer.
“But we need more than that. We need a relationship that captures America’s imaginations.
” Her face lit up as she snapped her fingers.
“And grabs international attention. The industry is exploding right now in Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Hollywood is trying to get back into China too. Let me see who’s testing well in those markets and we could pair you with him. ”
Rita was already texting someone on her phone. Probably an underling, Riley thought, telling them to research how West Asian and East Asia focus groups perceived various actors.
Riley stood now, too. “Rita. I don’t want to be in a fake relationship. I just want to… do my job.”
The agent didn’t even take her eyes off her device as she laughed. “Acting is actually just a tiny part of… well, acting. It’s all about the game, honey. You gotta play it if you want to get ahead in this town.”
A moment later, though, she did look up and lock eyes with her client.
“You’re going to play ball, right? I’d hate to release a certain photo in my possession.”
Riley stiffened and tried not to gulp too loudly, but it was hard choking down the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat.
And there it was. That old familiar threat. The real reason why she never stood up to Rita.
“I’ll play ball.”
She hated that she was showing fear. Rita was supposed to work for her, after all. This was not the way things were supposed to be!
Rita’s stance and face softened.
“Darling, darling. Don’t be so uptight. I’m doing this for you.
I’ve seen stars and I’m telling you, you’re the real deal.
As your agent, it’s my job to look out for your best interest. Just trust me.
You’ll be bigger than anyone else by the time I’m through with you. You’ll be one of the all-time greats!”
Riley knew the truth: she was Rita’s cash cow.
But now wasn’t the time to bring that up. Besides, it was true that when Riley made money, Rita made money. They would both benefit from Rita’s efforts.
That didn’t make any of this easier.
Right now, Riley just wanted to forget about it all.
At least she was going to Auntie Athena’s tonight.
Perhaps she’d be in a better mood there. Where she could be her true self…