by JS Taylor
I read through the rest of the contract, but can’t find anything particularly untoward. If anything it’s more lenient than normal studio arrangements.
Under the ‘overtime’ category, for example, Berkeley’s studio pledges to pay extra for every twenty minutes over the standard eight-hour day. In the movie world, where actor’s huge pay makes directors drive them to work around-the-clock, this is unheard of.
There is a harsh-sounding clause on punctuality, however, which gives the studio the right to make pay deductions should an actor perpetually show up late.
This seems sensible, since many big names are notorious for being late to set. Legend had it that Marilyn Monroe drove directors made with her lateness.
I think of my own problem with punctuality, and decide it’s not bad enough to contravene the contract.
Then I remember Berkeley promising to spank me the next time I show up late and I feel my cheeks flush.
I put down the rulebook, resolving to read it more thoroughly later, and begin to sift through the rest of the documents.
There is a menu showing daily meals, which sound absolutely incredible. The menu also details other food arrangements laid on. There’s an extra crew of trained chefs to provide for vegans and other special diets. Generally, actors in Berkeley’s studio can more or less have anything they’d like made fresh to order.
Then there are details on the accommodation. It looks as though we won’t be in trailers after all. The extra buildings which I’d mistaken for studios are in fact little stand-alone lodges. One for each actor.
There’s a picture of the interior, and inside the lodges are hotel-style suites, complete with their own kitchen and lounge areas.
On the list of amenities are luxuries I’d never even heard of, including ‘make-up fridge’ and ‘automatic water-filter faucets’.
Maybe this is what it takes to keep modern movie divas happy. But something tells me this is just Berkeley’s way of doing everything perfectly.
My phone rings, and I snatch it up, smiling to see James’s name on the display.
“Are you angry with me?” he says, his deep voice echoing richly down the line.
“No. Yes…” I stutter over the words, realising I’m not longer angry. And he doesn’t sound the least bit sorry anyway.
“Well what is it? Yes or no?” now he sounds amused.
“Yes,” I decide, electing to be annoyed on principle, even though I’m not really feeling it anymore. “You shouldn’t have interfered in my personal financial affairs without asking me.”
“I plan to interfere with a great deal more than your personal finances.”
The way he says the words makes me melt, and I inwardly curse him for having this effect on me.
“It was impolite,” I insist trying to collect myself.
“Well now,” he says, “the last thing I would ever want, is to be discourteous. Especially to you. Did you get the movies documents?”
“Yes. Don’t change the subject.”
“I have some unfortunate news Isabella.” His voice sounds stern, and I feel my stomach turn to ice. My first thought is I’m no longer on the movie.
“I’ve got to go away for a week,” he says, and I feel my breathing steady.
“Oh,” I say, with relief. And then the reality hits me. A week without James Berkeley. That seems like forever.
“An urgent matter has come up,” he adds, “we’ll talk about it on my return. I’m not sure how good the phone reception is where I’ll be.”
Oh. A little part of my heart whimpers. Where could he be going with no reception?
All kinds of paranoid thoughts flood my brain. When a man tells you he’s headed somewhere and he can’t talk on the phone, it can’t be good.
Is he breaking up with me?
“Can’t we talk about it now?” I ask, in a small voice.
“No Issy,” he sounds angry. Then his voice softens. “This is nothing to do with how I feel about you. That hasn’t changed. It’s just something unexpected that has come up. I won’t know what it means for the movie until I get back.”
Oh. So something to do with the movie. Selfishly I hear myself worrying that the picture will be canned.
Listen to you, I scold myself, a week ago you never even wanted to be in a movie.
“Are you OK?” I say, worrying now that he might be in some personal trouble.
“I am absolutely fine,” he says, “you never need to worry about me. But the state you got me worked up unto earlier today….” I hear the promise in his voice, “perhaps you need to worry about what I might do to you when I get back.”
I feel myself smiling, but I’m still not reassured. “When do you leave?” I ask.
“Right now. I’m at the airport. I had to bribe security to let me out to call you,” he adds.
Is he telling the truth?
“Listen Issy I have to go,” says James. “I… I’ll talk to you when I get back.”
And then he’s gone.
Enjoyed Close Up and Personal?
For FREE secret scenes and details of when the sequel is due out, email: [email protected]
Discover what Isabella and James do next in the second book of the Spotlight Series…. The Berkeley Method.
A personal word from JS Taylor:
“Thanks so much for reading my book. Fun books can make a bad day better. So if you enjoyed my writing, it would mean the world to me if you post your thoughts on Amazon review. Many Kindles give the option to do this on the next page. If you really want to make my day, you can even share what you’re reading with friends on Facebook and Twitter.
I read every review, and often test free copies of future books on readers who like my work.”
“I also take every kind of reader feedback very seriously, so if you have a critique, or something you didn’t like, please let me know. This means I can become a better writer for my readers. Contact me at: [email protected].”
ABOUT JS TAYLOR
Jennifer Sarah Taylor won her first story-writing competition aged eight and has never looked back. In adult life she discovered it was much easier to make men do what she wanted in fiction than in the real-world.
So she’s been forcing her male characters to make romantic gestures ever since. As an avid Fifty Shades fan, she was delighted to discover the world was ready for hotter love-scenes. She humbly hopes her readers enjoy reading the Spotlight Series as much as she loved writing it.
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
A personal word from JS Taylor:
ABOUT JS TAYLOR
