Chapter 7
A few weeks passed and Annie tried to forget about the audition and her lunch with Rossen, but the memory kept returning to haunt her. It cranked up her embarrassment and anger, but between taking extra shifts at the restaurant and showing up for every audition in town, she was crazy-busy. Gramps was getting better and she knew she had to make a decision soon about whether to extend her stay in Los Angeles on the chance that her lucky break would show up, or return to Georgia and her sick grandfather.
She spent more and more time with Daveed—he’d become a true friend, and one of their favorite spots was the spa. When she could afford it, she’d hop on the back of his bike and they’d zip across town on her days off to get her mani’s and pedi’s. She felt more comfortable with the place now. The people were fabulous and they made her feel right at home—especially Bruce. He always tried to get her to experience something new, whether it be massages, facials or hairstyles. He really knew how to take care of his clients.
The Cavern, as she liked to call the hidden area, was still on her mind and maybe Daveed was right that she needed sex with a stranger to calm her nerves and fulfill her needs. God knows, she had the baby smooth private parts that were begging for a man’s attention. Mr. Rabbit could take care of her sexual desires, but she wanted some kissing and cuddling from a hot man.
More than once she’d sigh into her mirror as she combed her hair… God, I need to find a man!
***
One afternoon, she was getting off the lunch shift when her phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number but she picked it up and shifted her bag to the other arm.
“Uh, hello?”
“Hello, Annabelle? Vic Rossen. You might remember me from bef—”
Annie didn’t wait for him to finish and she set her bag down so she could grip the phone tighter to her ear. “Mr. Rossen, yes, I remember you. I thought I’d made myself perfectly clear. There is no way—”
“Please,” he said in a quiet voice. Just the eerie tone of his voice was enough for her to feel an anxious churning in her stomach. Get a hold of yourself, she thought, as she waited for him to speak.
Vic dove right into his reason for the call. “Look, Annie. I totally understand, and I apologize for being such an ass. I’m calling about the part, we haven’t been able to cast it yet and shooting starts next month in Hawaii.” He cleared his throat, “I’m calling you on behalf of the director. He wants you to come in for another audition.”
Annie was speechless. Hawaii? Her head was spinning and after a second, she realized that he was still talking.
“I know it‘s short notice, but if you could make it tonight, we would be truly grateful.”
Annie gulped. “W – w - what? Audition? Hawaii?”
He repeated the request, more urgently now. “Yes, Annabelle. I’m calling to ask you to come back in.”
This time, Annie squealed in excitement. She couldn’t believe it. Without another thought she said, “Great! Where and when? I’ll totally be there.”
She heard him laughing as he repeated the details and told her what to bring to the audition. She furiously dug in her purse for a pen and wrote everything out on her palm.
She felt giddy at this unexpected turn of events and it took her a moment to get into gear again. She’d have to rush if she was going to be ready in time for the evening appointment and it was a stroke of luck that she didn’t have to work that night. She texted Daveed, Rossen just called...callbacks yay!
Daveed: you go girl!
Annie: hawaii…
Daveed: hawaii? with rossen?
Annie: no, filming ill holler
Daveed: break a leg :)
She drove up to the studio building, and with her audition notes in her hand, she walked towards the entrance. Butterflies were turning flips in her stomach. It had been a while since she’d had a call-back, and never before for such a prestigious part. She was excited and terrified, all at the same time.
The area around the building was practically deserted, with only a few other cars in the parking lot. She felt uneasy coming back to the scene of her epic failure, but this time would be different, she told herself. This time she would leave with a plane ticket to Hawaii and a chance at top billing.
Several beautiful women wandered through the halls and she assumed they’d all be competing for the same part.
For a brief moment, Annie wondered why Daveed wasn’t there taking charge of the logistics, or at least the other assistant, Gerti. There were less women sitting in the stiff chairs of the waiting room, and at the sound of the buzzer, they took turns entering the inner sanctum, Vic Rossen’s office.
Annie heard doors opening and closing in the hall and she assumed that, after each read, the actresses were leaving through a separate exit. The readings were taking much longer this time and Annie was glad about that as it was a sign that each applicant was being given careful consideration. She knew that she’d be able to blow away the director if she was given a chance to show off her acting ability. Now, she was the last girl waiting for that chance, and at the sound of the buzzer—her signal to enter the office—she gathered her things, took a deep breath and opened the door.
The room was just as large as she’d remembered, and she grew more nervous as she stepped inside. She’d expected to see the director himself sitting at the table, but once again it was just Vicktor Rossen. He had a camera set up beside him, which Annie assumed he’d been using to record the auditions so he could review them at a later time.
He looked up as she walked in and did a quick double take. His smile suddenly lost a little of its’ confidence, and he blushed as he watched her walk toward the table. He cleared his throat and seemed to compose himself before he addressed her.
“Ahh, Annabelle Gibbons. Good to see you again.”
Annie eked out a thin smile. “Yes, sir. It’s good to be here.” That much was true at least. She was thrilled to be back auditioning.
He nodded and cleared his throat again. “Well, we’ll try to keep this professional, yes?”
Annie nodded, “Yes, sir,” she answered as she tried to control her quivering voice. She was relieved that he was, at least, acting like a human being this time—almost polite as he motioned her to come closer. She’d expected him to be pissed that she was here, that the director had asked to see her work again after the humiliating scene at lunch, but he seemed to be taking their meeting in his stride. He smiled a dazzling smile and she wondered why he didn’t act or model for a living with a face like that. He certainly had movie star looks.
“All right then,” he said, and nodded once at the papers in her hands. “Shall we start the audition?”
Annie nodded eagerly as she set the papers down. She took a moment to close her eyes and breathe deeply. She tried to channel her acting coach and recall everything the woman had taught her. She needed to be as real as she could possibly manage—to be the part and simply trust her emotional memory.
Victor gave her no direction and she was a little confused about whether she should act for the camera or for him. In the end, she chose the camera, which made her feel more relaxed. Within moments, she was Kate again, reliving the character’s turbulent life.
When she was done, she slumped over—exhausted from the emotional outpouring she’d just played. Vicktor stopped the camera and made a few notes on his iPad. With his attention diverted, Annie took a long look at him. She admired his broad shoulders, his chiseled jaw, and the long sweeping lashes that accentuated his almond-shaped bedroom eyes. As he focused on the paperwork, he ran his hand through his short hair and ruffled it a little. She found the movement stunningly sexy. When he wasn’t acting like a cocky asshole, he really was one hot piece of man.
In that split-second of exhaustion and watching him, Annie wondered if she should take him up on his offer. Sure, she’d made it to call-backs on her own, but like all actresses trying to break into the trade—she rarely got the part. More than that, she was pretty damn horny all the time these days, and between her time at work and all the auditions she was doing, she hadn’t had much time to date.
Annie worked every available shift at the restaurant to make ends meet which left her too exhausted for the club scene. She started to do the math to see how long it had been since she last got laid, but that was too horrible a thought, even for her. She shook her head and tried to focus.
Vic looked up and Annie took a breath as he trained his eyes on her. “Well, Annie—Annabelle, that was amazing. Thank you very much. I’m glad you came in today.” He cleared his throat and looked away.
Annie liked him this way, a little nervous, a bit unsure—he was even sexier like this. A part of her liked his arrogance, that cock-sure confidence he’d shown before, but now he seemed more approachable. He seemed less like the sort of asshole who’d just screw her and never talk to her again. She took a half step forward and wondered again if she should take him up on his offer. It could definitely make her career. She’d be launched into stardom and become every ounce the super movie star that she’d always dreamed of being. The movie star Daveed had insisted she could become.
Her grandfather would be so proud to realize that his faith and support of her had finally paid off. They wouldn’t even have to drive into Savannah to see it on the big screen. This movie would show right in her hometown of Mountain View. She shook her head and brought herself back into the moment.
“Mr. Rossen,” she said as she took another step forward. “Yes?” He replied as he looked eagerly at her.
“Well, I was just—”
Suddenly, she was overwhelmed with the implications of what she was about to suggest. She couldn’t do it. She wanted the part, but she was a good girl who’d worked hard to get where she was. Annie had never been one to cheat, or take the easy way out, and she just couldn’t bring herself to do it now. If she took him up on the offer, she’d never know if she could have made it on her own. She’d always doubt whether she really had talent, or if she was just a floozy.
She cleared her throat. “I just wanted to thank you for re-considering me,” she said in a rush as she blushed again. Embarrassed, she grabbed her portfolio and hurried out the door.