Chapter 1
Oh, Gramps. Why now? Why do you have to be sick today? I love you more than I can say, but how can I give up the most important audition of my life to fly back to Georgia?
Annie looked at her watch as she tried not to worry about her only living relative—maybe lying on his deathbed—maybe not. Gramps was three thousand miles away on the opposite end of the country and today was Annie’s chance of a lifetime.
She fidgeted. What was taking this Mr. Rossen guy so long? Sure, casting directors were busy ad important, but this was taking longer than she’d thought it would. And this particular casting director was so important—he could change her life, make her a star, and make all of Gramps’ sacrifices for her more than worthwhile.
She’d been asked to call the hospital in half an hour for an update on Gramps’ condition and she wasn’t getting a strong cell signal in this warehouse-turned casting set. If she went outside to make the call, she could miss her turn.
Annie paced nervously up and down the hall outside the waiting room. She had to get away from the other actresses who’d be trying out for the same part. They were more beautiful and more talented than she was. An Annie knew that Vic Rossen would probably pick one of them instead of her.
“UGH! Stop it!” she whispered to herself, she was just as, or even more qualified to take on this part. Hell, she’d been in Hollywood long enough to know most of these actresses were fresh faces that’d never been to acting school. They’d thought their wit and charm could get them a role like this. Annie knew it well, because when she first landed, she felt the same way as they do now.
The door opened, a leggy blonde came out with her face buried in her hands and Annie heard her sobs all the way to the elevator.
Oh, God, she prayed. Please don’t let that happen to me. To take her mind off what Rossen might have done to the girl to reduce her to tears, she looked at her watch again and then back to the wall. She glanced at her fingernails—they were clean, well-manicured, and professional-looking. Without thinking, she raised her hand to her mouth and chewed on the little bit of growth that remained, and then stopped herself when she realized what she was doing. She hadn’t chewed her nails in years, and this Mr. Rossen guy didn’t need to see her with raggedy, chewed-up fingernails. It was bad enough that she worried her deodorant wouldn’t hold up.
She ran her fingers through her hair. That’s all she’d need for her grand entrance—bloody cuticles and sweat-stained armpits. Not a good first impression for a professional actress. She needed to calm down—and fast. She’d been to hundreds of auditions and reminded herself that this was just another audition, like all the rest—even though it wasn’t. This one wasn’t just big—it was fucking huge.
Annie couldn’t stand the suspense and went back into the waiting room to see what was happening. All down the side of the wide expanse of plush carpet and art deco walls, sat dozens of beautiful girls who were more similar to Annie than not. Each one of them would be trying out for the same part—a dream role in a film directed by the hottest name in Hollywood. A role that could launch their career to the stars—if they were successful.
As if she hadn’t already been nervous enough, she thought about how much was on the line this morning, and it made her downright terrified. She tried to calm herself and remembered the countless hours she’d spent rehearsing her lines for this one audition.
“Annabelle Gibbons. Annabelle Gibbons!” The high-pitched voice came from a man with a clipboard. He stood in the doorway with his hand on his hip as he impatiently shouted her name. His tight, black leather jeans showed off his junk, and his light blue, sequined t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showed off his smooth, dark muscled arms. His black hair was perfectly gelled into a faux-hawk and his shoes—well, his shoes were black Harley boots but that was no use to her. It was the sequins that gave him away.
She waved, “That’s me.”
“Okay, let’s do you. You’re up, sweetie,” he said as she began to walk toward him.
Her heart pounded in her head, but she smiled a warm thank you, and ducked behind him into the room. As she walked in, she felt dwarfed by the large open space which contained only a cluttered desk and a long table. Stacks of résumés and headshots were spread haphazardly across the table, but, it wasn’t the table that drew her attention. It was the gorgeous man who sat behind the desk that caught her eye. She’d been to more of these open auditions than she could remember and she’d never seen anyone as yummy as he was.
Please, deodorant, she prayed to herself, don’t fail me now. Breathe.
The guy looked to be in his late twenties, with a chiseled jaw and piercing grey eyes. Even though her heart was pounding and her palms were sweaty, she smiled her brightest smile.
“Mr. Rossen,” she said. “I’m Annabelle, Annabelle Gibbons. I’ll be …”
He didn’t even look up, and her voice faltered a little. “I’ll be trying out for the part of Kate.”
It seemed like an eternity while she waited for him to acknowledge her. Finally, he glanced up and he scanned her body until at last, he looked straight into her eyes.
“Obviously,” he said disdainfully as he waved her résumé at her and she immediately felt like an idiot. His voice had a trace of European accent—German maybe, Polish? He looked back down at the papers in front of him. “So? Begin.”
She swallowed hard. She expected a little more questioning, or at least politeness before she began, but apparently, Mr. High-and-Mighty had more important things to do than to show some manners.
She scowled and took a deep breath to calm herself. She’d show him—she’d give him the best reading of his life.
Annie straightened her back, launched into the role and gave it her all. She wasn’t just reading Kate, the character filled with despair at losing her husband in a motorcycle accident. The thought of Gramps, possibly dying back in Georgia came to her mind and suddenly she was the grieving Kate, with every fiber and cell of her being. When she finished, slightly out of breath from the emotions of the part, she stood in front of him and waited. His hand idly reached out to grab her résumé off of one stack and slipped it onto another.
“Thank you for coming in,” he said. His voice sounded bored, “Tell Daveed to send in the next girl.”
Annie just stood there, appalled—cheated. “Mr. Rossen!” she exclaimed as she found her voice.
At last, he glanced up and his piercing eyes met hers. “Yes?”
“I may be young, I may not have a long résumé, and I might not be the most beautiful or most sexy woman trying out for this part, but I demand your respect and attention. I am perfect for this role, and I am not walking out of here until you actually watch me do this audition!” She exhaled.
One of his eyebrows rose slightly, but she didn’t wait for his response. While she had his attention, she launched back into the reading and threw all of her fire and frustration into it. When she finished, she nodded. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Rossen,” she said, though her words were calmer than she felt inside.
“Yes, thank you. We’ll be in touch,” he said as he slipped her résumé into a different pile. She felt triumphant, and a little surprised at herself over her outburst. She left the room and picked up speed once she reached the hallway. Without looking up, she slammed into Daveed and her purse and portfolio crashed to the floor, causing the contents to spill out across the foyer.
“I’m so sorry.” She looked at him and hurriedly put her things back in her purse. He grabbed her portfolio and handed it to her.
“Hey, no problem, I know he can be pretty brutal sometimes.” She smiled a weak smile and took her things from his hand.
“Thanks.” Tears welled in her eyes.
He turned to yell to whoever was listening. “Gertie, I’m gonna take my lunch, be back in an hour!”
“Sweetie, I was in the back of the room during your audition. We need to talk. Let’s go over to Starbucks across the street and get a mocha frappuccino. You look wrecked. Frappuccino can cure anything. I know Vic can be a royal bitch sometimes, but girl, have you seen that ass?”
Annie was shocked, but couldn’t hold back the burst of laughter. Who was this guy, and was Mr. Rossen gay? Is that why he acted so indifferently to her?
“Uhm…..sure! Hi, I’m Annie.” She stuck out her hand for a shake.
“Girl, I know who you are, I checked you in… and if you’re wondering, yes, I’m gay and no, Vic is not.”
“Vic?”
“Mr. Rossen, I’ve worked for him for a while now and I know what he’s like when inexperienced actresses try to get his attention. Like, you don’t exist, right?”
Annie nodded. Why was this guy taking an interest in her? He hadn’t followed any of the other hopefuls out.
He continued, “Well, Gertie and I both work for him—he’s way too much man for one assistant, so we take turns. I tell you what, sweet cheeks, if we swung for the same team, I promise you I’d be his wife! By the way, I’m Daveed,” he said and rolled his eyes. “It’s Mexican, don’t ask,” he said as he threw his palm up in the air.
They were still laughing when they arrived at the counter and she said, “Well, after that audition, I don’t know how you can work for him? How do you put up with that attitude?”
They picked up their drinks and found a table. Annie felt a lot calmer as she took a sip of her frappuccino. Daveed yapped on about how Gertie had been trying to get into Mr. Rossen’s pants for ages and almost got fired for it. Apparently, rumors about Hollywood casting couches were true. Annie just smiled, sipped and took it all in. He seemed to know a lot about Tinsel Town. Wonder just how much clout this Daveed has?
As if he’d read her thoughts, he said, “OTJ. That’s why I’m here?”
Annie gave him a puzzled look. “On the job training. I have a talent for spotting talent and I want to be where he is in two years. With my own company, casting for all the big directors. I take his abuse, and, honey, you ain’t seen nothing yet—the grief that man can dish out could curl your hair. Anyway, it will be worth it when I’ve learned how the business works and have my own contacts. Then I’ll be calling the shots.”
Annie was too unnerved by the scene with Vic Rossen to pay much attention to another wannabe’s dreams. Daveed was going to become the next great casting director. Sure he was. And Annie was going to win the lottery. She gathered her purse to leave.
“Well, Daveed, I’ve really enjoyed chatting with you, and thanks for the coffee—but I do have to run off to work now. Here’s my number. I owe you a frappuccino,” she smiled, and quickly scribbled her number on a napkin. She handed it to him and he surprised her by pulling her back into her seat.
“Listen, Annie. I’m not in the habit of dispensing TLC and expensive coffee to all the starlets that come out of Vic’s office in bits and pieces. But you have something. Talent shows all over you and we need to stay in touch. You’re hungry for a start and so am I. Who knows, maybe we can do something together some day. You know, like hook up for a big movie role?”
Annie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. A guy who wasn’t trying to hit on her was offering a helping hand? She was suspicious. She knew this town. Everybody was out for themselves.
“Sure thing,” she said without any real enthusiasm, and then hurried to her car.
She couldn’t be late for work—not today anyway. Some bankers from Wall Street would be holding a dinner party at the restaurant she worked at tonight, and that could mean huge tips. She’d just started this job as a server in an upscale restaurant because a friend had said rich men were generous with their tips—and she needed them. She lived in a rundown condo which she shared with two stoners, and her rent was past due. Maybe tonight would pay her rent, and if she was lucky, a little extra for girlie things.
It was only after she’d reached her car that her incredible stupidity hit her. Shit! She couldn’t believe she’d gone off on Vic Rossen. She’d been auditioning for an awesome part in a real movie, and he was sure to write her off as crazy now. “Oh crap,” she thought. “I sure fucked that one up.”
She drove back to her apartment to change into her uniform and work on an attitude adjustment so she could hustle the big time customers out of some big time tips. As she pulled up to her building, the hospital called. Gramps was resting comfortably, but they told her she had to be ready to come home at a moment’s notice. They’d keep her posted.