Starlight

by Alexandra Richland

  As she stood on the vacant sidewalk, Aidan disappeared down the moonlit street, a rebellious shadow cloaked in black leather, leaving her with the difficult task of pushing him out of her mind and admitting defeat.

  Chapter Fourteen

  What Beth hadn’t realized when she ran after Aidan at Romanoff’s was that Nathan and Olivia saw her leave the rooftop and raced after her. Her focus on Aidan had prevented her from hearing them call her name over the crowd.

  By the time Nathan and Olivia exited the restaurant, Aidan was long gone and Beth stood on the sidewalk, gasping for breath. Once she resigned herself to the fact that she wouldn’t catch up to him, she turned around and discovered the two of them staring at her worriedly. To make matters worse, Olivia held one of Beth’s pumps in her hand, which she’d found on her journey across the parking lot. They asked Beth why she left in such a hurry. Because she felt embarrassed by her behavior, she lamely replied she thought she saw someone she knew.

  Olivia and Nathan exchanges unconvinced glances, but didn’t pry further. Then Nathan offered to drive the two women home. On their walk back to the restaurant, they searched the parking lot for Beth’s other black pump, but never found it. They didn’t even bother looking for her shawl.

  While Nathan returned to the rooftop to notify Connie and Matthew they were leaving, Beth and Olivia waited for him by the coat check. Thankfully, Connie and Matthew didn’t witness Beth’s hasty departure, and they told Nathan they looked forward to seeing the three of them again socially. Afterward, Nathan took Beth and Olivia home and Beth went straight to bed.

  Over the next few days, she reflected on her inappropriate behavior. She had initially chastised Olivia’s unladylike behavior when it came to Nathan, but in fact, she was the biggest offender. Ultimately, she decided the best thing to do was forget about Aidan altogether.

  ***

  One week later, with a faint double knock on the door, Olivia poked her head into Beth’s bedroom. “Are you awake?”

  “Yes, I’m awake. Come in.” Beth ensured her reply sounded cheerful. She knew it was time to explain her behavior at Romanoff’s so Olivia would finally stop treating her strangely.

  Olivia entered the room, carrying a tray.

  “I cut up some grapefruit for breakfast and thought I’d bring you half with some orange juice.” She sat on the edge of Beth’s bed, setting the tray between them.

  “Olivia,” Beth began. Her friend peered at her with hopeful eyes. “I want to explain my behavior at Romanoff’s.”

  Olivia listened as Beth talked about how intrigued she was by Aidan when she saw him for the first time on set, despite the fact he seemed to find her mistakes comical and she knew nothing about him aside from what Connie had mentioned. Olivia said she understood and offered up comments about how strongly she felt toward Nathan before they even met.

  Then Beth explained that she saw Aidan staring at her on the rooftop at Romanoff’s before he took off to the parking lot and she ran after him, hoping they could talk. She told her friend that, despite her best efforts, she still couldn’t stop thinking about him.

  Once Beth finished her explanation, Olivia hugged her over the breakfast tray.

  “That’s swell news! I thought you were going crazy or something.”

  Beth giggled. “Yes, I know. Please believe me I wanted to tell you sooner, but with everything going on at the studio, and my own doubts over my behavior, I held back. I was also worried what your reaction would be. Connie didn’t exactly give Aidan glowing reviews. I didn’t know whether or not you shared her opinion.”

  “All that matters is you told me eventually.” Olivia sighed. “What a relief. I can’t wait to tell Nathan. He’ll be relieved, too.”

  Beth shook her head. “I don’t want Nathan to know I was running like a maniac down the street all because of some young man I don’t even know. It’s embarrassing. Just tell him I explained the real story to you, I’m completely fine, and there was nothing to be concerned about in the first place.”

  Olivia frowned. “All right.”

  “So what do you think?” Beth asked.

  “Oh, I think it’s great you’re not crazy,” Olivia replied.

  Beth giggled. “I mean about Aidan.”

  Olivia pondered her question for a moment. “Well, since Connie’s opinions are based solely on hearsay, my advice is you might as well try to talk with him and see what he’s like firsthand.”

  Beth nodded. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  “Now, I don’t mean running down the street barefoot after him again,” Olivia said with a cunning smile. “I just mean if you happen to run into him at the studio or another social function, you should say hello and see what happens from there.”

  “So you think I should still try and introduce myself even after the way he acted toward me on set?”

  Olivia shrugged. “Ideally, you want him to make the first introduction, but sure, why not? Who knows what he was thinking that day. You won’t know for certain until you meet him.”

  Beth smiled.

  “He’s definitely handsome,” Olivia added. “Just think how much more handsome he’d look if he combed his hair once in a while.”

  Beth swatted her shoulder playfully and they erupted into a fit of giggles. Now that she had confessed her interest in Aidan, she wished she’d told Olivia about him before they went to Romanoff’s. It would have saved her a lot of grief and embarrassment.

  After Olivia left, Beth ate her grapefruit and drank her juice hurriedly. The two of them were booked for separate meetings with Mr. Mertz today and she didn’t want to arrive late. Beth received a telegram during one of her dance lessons at the studio during the last week, which requested her presence in her boss’s office at nine o’clock this morning. Olivia found out from Nathan about her meeting with Mr. Mertz at nine thirty.

  A car picked them up at eight thirty. During the ride to the studio, Beth and Olivia wondered what was in store for them. Olivia assumed her meeting was in regards to her designs because Nathan had sent his boss her portfolio, but she didn’t know any specifics. Beth, on the other hand, had no idea why Mr. Mertz wanted to see her. She felt nervous because she had never met him before. She hoped she wouldn’t make a poor first impression and jeopardize her contract.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Mother! No!” Aidan kicked his legs frantically to no avail. Something was wrapped tightly around his body, restraining his movements. Squeezing his eyes shut, he writhed until finally he was free. He leapt to his feet and scanned his surroundings, trying to figure out where he was. When his eyes adjusted to the dark, he recognized the bed and worn furniture that came with the place when he moved in.

  He was in his rented apartment in Hollywood.

  Aidan shook his head sadly. No one had restrained him. He had been tangled up in his bed sheets and his screams had awoken him from another nightmare.

  Breathing heavily, he tugged at the collar of his sweat-soaked T-shirt and collapsed back onto his bed. Closing his eyes, he rolled onto his side and held his knees tightly to his chest, trying to calm his racing heart and longing for the day he wouldn’t feel so vulnerable.

  “You’re okay, Evans,” he said, taking deep breaths in and out. “You’re not fucking ten years old anymore. You’re twenty-three.”

  Despite his self-assurance, it was still difficult for him to shake the images from his brain.

  Since arriving in Los Angeles, Aidan’s nightmares had become much more frequent and intense, like they were before he moved to New York. He knew it was because he wasn’t channeling his emotions through acting like he did at the Actors Studio and they were forced to find release in other ways.

  In New York, he attended Strasberg and Kazan’s four o’clock workshop twice a week, and when he wasn’t at the Actors Studio, he rehearsed and performed in whatever play he was cast in at the time. In Hollywood, Aidan was in limbo, waiting for the completion of costumes and sets. All he really wanted to
do was act. Since landing in Los Angeles, he hadn’t performed one scene and it was negatively affecting his mind.

  Usually when he woke up from a nightmare, he dragged himself out of bed and into the bathroom to splash water on his face. Then he would stare at his pathetic reflection in the mirror and work on getting his breathing back to normal. Since last week, though, he learned there was something else he could focus on which helped him cope with the aftermath his nightmares much more efficiently.

  Beth.

  Right now was no exception. As he lay in bed, he recalled her creamy skin that looked almost translucent under the moonlight, her beautiful laughter, and how gracefully she danced across Romanoff’s rooftop terrace one week ago.

  Once his heart rate slowed and his breathing evened out, he rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. He stayed that way until the sunlight peeked through the blinds and into his apartment. When he eventually looked at his alarm clock again, it was seven o’clock in the morning. Although he felt drained both physically and mentally, he had no choice but to get up and start his day.

  The last time Aidan looked at the clock, it read four o’clock. He always tried to stay up as late as possible; he figured the less time he allowed himself to sleep the less likely he was to dream. His plan always failed. No matter how little he slept, the nightmares always came; constant reminders of the horrible day that changed his life forever. He was helpless against them unlike the attacks that hit him when he was awake, which he could sometimes control.

  Aidan winced as he recalled his mother’s tortured screams.

  “Beth,” he whispered, trying to switch focus. “Beautiful Beth …”

  In the days following their encounter at Romanoff’s, he tried to forget about her, figuring that was the best plan of action. Nathan mentioned she was a new contract star and he knew that meant Mr. Mertz could drop her at any time. From what he’d heard, it happened more often than not, so there was a good chance he would never see her again. Still, he couldn’t shake her from his mind. Every day that he was at Starlight Studios in the last week, he scanned every room he entered, every alleyway he passed, and every road he traveled along, hoping she was there. He knew his behavior was pitiful, but he was a desperate, desperate man.

  He did draw the line somewhere. After Romanoff’s, when he realized he couldn’t eliminate her from his life completely, he decided he would no longer actively seek her out. If their paths happened to cross, however, he would talk to her. It wasn’t easy. He especially exhausted his resolve every time he saw Nathan and refrained from asking about her.

  Pressed for time, Aidan crawled out of bed and walked into the bathroom, where he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His complexion was ashen, his hair stuck up all over the place, and he had dark circles under his bloodshot eyes. He didn’t even blink. The sight was nothing new to him.

  The studio car was arriving in twenty minutes to drive him to Preston’s rented bungalow at the Chateau Marmont, so he barely had enough time to pull himself together. Today was the first Spike Rollins script read-through as a full cast before filming began on Monday. Their first rehearsal on set was tomorrow, Saturday, and then they had another rehearsal on Sunday. He just had to make it through one more night and then he could finally release some of his pent-up energy.

  After taking a quick shower, he changed into a dark blue T-shirt and jeans, grabbed his script, and headed to the parking lot to the waiting studio car, eager to get to work. It seemed as though his survival depended on it.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Nathan greeted Olivia and Beth at the front of his office building and escorted them upstairs for their meetings with Mr. Mertz. They stepped off the elevator on the top floor and were greeted by Ethel. Caroline, Nathan’s secretary, was not at her desk. Olivia looked at the portraits hanging on the wall, which had caught Beth’s attention the last time she was here. Beth’s gaze remained locked on the double mahogany doors that guarded Mr. Mertz’s office.

  Ethel called Mr. Mertz from her desk, notifying him of their arrival, and then rose from her chair. “Mr. Taggart, Miss Sutton, Mr. Mertz will see you now.”

  Nathan told Olivia to sit down outside the office and he would get her when it was her turn. Beth’s jaw dropped as she stepped inside her boss’s office. The large space was dimly lit and oval in shape with cathedral ceilings and Roman pillars. The walls were painted blood red and the floor was black marble.

  Mr. Mertz sat at a mahogany desk, staring at her with eyes that looked black. The floor-to-ceiling window behind him presented a spectacular view of the studio backlot. Although customary, he did not rise from his seat to greet his visitors.

  Beth’s shoes echoed loudly as she made her way across the room behind Nathan. On the journey, she noted Mr. Mertz looked the same as he did in the portraits hanging in the reception room. He had thinning gray hair, deep wrinkles, a wide girth, and thick neck.

  She swallowed her intimidation and forced a smile. He didn’t smile back. His expression remained stern and unwelcoming.

  “Miss Elizabeth Sutton.” His deep voice resonated ominously throughout the office.

  “Hello, sir.” She sounded squeaky in contrast.

  “Have a seat. I want to speak with you.”

  Beth glanced at Nathan. He smiled encouragingly, motioning for her to go ahead. She walked to one of the chairs in front of the desk and sat down, crossing her legs and placing her purse in her lap. Nathan took a seat in the chair beside her.

  “Miss Sutton, I heard you were involved in several mishaps on the set of Checkmate last week.”

  Her face grew red. “Yes, Mr. Mertz, I—”

  “Regardless, I watched a rough cut of the film and discovered the camera likes you. I called you in for a meeting today because I want to investigate this further.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Mr. Mertz looked at her pointedly. She realized he wasn’t finished.

  “I do not believe in dilly-dallying,” he said, his tone holding an air of disinterest. “Time is money, so here is what I’m going to do: I’m casting you in a new Starlight Studios motion picture entitled Sparkling Meadow. Your costar is William Everett and you will play the lead female character. Is that understood?”

  When Beth found her voice, it was rich with enthusiasm. “Yes, Mr. Mertz, sir, I understand. Thank you for considering me for this role!”

  “My first choice is no longer available, since she has been removed from my studio permanently. Filming starts this Monday. Therefore, you will have very little preparation time. I’m taking a huge risk in giving you this role, so don’t disappoint me.”

  Beth cast her eyes to her lap. “Yes, sir.”

  “That will be all, Miss Sutton.” Mr. Mertz looked at Nathan, his expression impassive. “Ethel has the papers. She’ll pass them on to Caroline for you to look over, and then you can present them to Miss Sutton.”

  Nathan gave a firm nod. “Sounds good, Luther.”

  Beth was surprised at how casually he addressed his boss.

  Nathan rose from his chair and she did, too, thanking Mr. Mertz once again. He nodded curtly. He never officially welcomed her to the studio, but the outcome of their meeting was still much better than she had anticipated.

  She followed Nathan out of the office.

  Olivia stood as they entered the reception room. “How did it go?”

  “I’ve been cast in a lead role,” Beth replied, reining in her excitement. “I’ll tell you all about it later.”

  Beth wished Olivia good luck before her friend followed Nathan into Mr. Mertz’s office. As Beth waited for them, she wondered what type of character she was playing in Sparkling Meadow and whom the director was.

  Her costar, William Everett, was a very popular leading man at the studio and she had enjoyed many of his films in the past. From what she’d heard around the lot, he and Robert Wagner often competed for roles. Given Mr. Everett’s solid reputation, she looked forward to working with him
.

  Olivia and Nathan emerged from Mr. Mertz’s office almost an hour later. Judging from Olivia’s excited expression, she had positive information to share as well. The three of them rode the elevator with the operator down to the main floor in silence, waiting for the appropriate moment to share their news.

  Olivia squealed as they stepped outside. “Guess what?”

  Beth giggled. “What?”

  Olivia pulled her in for a tight hug. “I have a job at Starlight Studios!”

  “I’m so happy for you!” Beth said as they stepped apart.

  “Luther hired Olivia on a trial basis as a costume designer,” Nathan chimed in. “She has one motion picture to prove herself.”

  “And guess what motion picture that is?” Olivia’s smile widened. “Sparkling Meadow! We’re going to be working together.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Beth replied with the utmost sincerity.

  “And congratulations on your first lead role.” Olivia nudged Beth’s ribs with her elbow.

  Beth smiled. “Thank you.”

  Olivia squealed again. “Gosh, I have so much to do this weekend.”

  “Since filming starts on Monday, wouldn’t the costumes be finished already?” Beth asked.

  “Apparently the first girl who was hired for the role had a completely different figure than yours and blonde hair,” Olivia explained. “The clothes were tailored to her and complemented her features specifically, so when she was let go and Mr. Mertz decided on you to replace her, he insisted all of her costumes be scrapped and completely redesigned.” She pointed at Beth. “You and I have a date at the studio this weekend so I can come up with ideas for designs and take your measurements.”

  “You can’t make all of the costumes in one weekend, can you?”

  Olivia shook her head. “During the first two weeks of filming, you’ll be wearing the same outfit, which Mr. Mertz said I could pull from the studio’s stock wardrobe and get tailored to fit you. That gives me two weeks to work on the rest of the designs, which you’ll wear in the more elaborate scenes.”