Course of Action

by Gun Brooke

  Carolyn and the other actors signed contracts to read three novels. Annelie had expected only the devoted fans to buy the audiobooks, but when sales of the CDs and tapes not only tied with the hardbacks and paperbacks but surpassed them, Key Line wrote publishing history. Now they were set to expand their market exponentially, and she didn’t have much time left before they began filming. Even Delia Carlton was asking if the lead actress had been cast yet.

  Annelie would have to make her decision soon.

  Not even glancing at the glossy pictures of Carolyn, she clicked on her first e-mail. She had work to do.

  *

  Carolyn had lost count of her laps and the time. Muscles quivering, she climbed out of the pool and reached for a large towel draped over a deck chair.

  “I can make you some coffee and a bagel with cream cheese, if you like, Ms. Black,” Annelie’s housekeeper said behind her. The petite, wiry woman had greeted her at the door when she arrived, informing her that Annelie would be at the office all day.

  “Thank you, Mary. I’d like that. You spoil me, you know.”

  “Ah, think nothing of it. I was going to have a cup anyway.”

  “Then why don’t you join me here on the patio?”

  Mary looked shocked and appalled. “Now, how would that look? I have work to do.”

  Amused over her apparent faux pas, Carolyn walked into the guest room to change. When she returned to the patio, she found coffee, orange juice, a bagel, and assorted fruits.

  Carolyn reached for the coffee cup and, inhaling the aroma of her favorite type of coffee, Royal Copenhagen, she sipped it carefully. Black and strong, it seemed to go straight to her veins, rejuvenating her after her strenuous workout, and she secretly commended herself for bringing two packages as a gift for Annelie.

  A beeping sound came from her bag. Pulling out her phone, she grimaced when she noticed two missed calls from Beth and one from Grey Parker. Immediately worried, she dialed her sister first, but the phone went dead the moment Beth answered. When it wouldn’t power up, she realized she’d probably forgotten to charge it again.

  Carolyn grabbed her wallet and rushed into the house, looking for the housekeeper. “Excuse me, Mary? Is it okay if I use the phone? My cell died on me, and I have a calling card.”

  “Of course.” Mary led her into Annelie’s study. “Here you go. You can use the one on the desk.”

  Thanking her, Carolyn sat down in the black leather chair behind Annelie’s large cherrywood desk.

  While she waited for her call to go through, Carolyn studied the room curiously. The walls were a pleasant forest green and the carpet off-white. The bookshelves, also made of cherry, held numerous reference books and long rows of binders. Two wine red chairs on the other side of the desk were obviously for visitors. Soft classical music from an invisible source permeated the entire house, including the office.

  “Hello!”

  “Beth, I’m sorry. My phone died again.”

  “For goodness’ sake, Lyn. You’re the most technically challenged person I know.” Her sister sounded much more her feisty self, which was reassuring.

  “Was there something you wanted?”

  “Yes, I know you’ll be pleased. I’ve taken a leave of absence, and my boss says whenever I want to come back, my job’s waiting for me.”

  “That’s wonderful.” Carolyn smiled and leaned back in the chair. The scent of leather mixed with perfume soothed her senses. “So Joe’s willing to let me help?”

  “To be honest, he was more willing to accept than I was.” Beth paused. “I was worried about his pride. You know what I mean.”

  “I know.” In Carolyn’s experience, Joe didn’t have an ego. He focused on what mattered. “Listen, I won’t have any problem helping you guys out during the pregnancy. If you need help around the house, just hire somebody. The sky’s the limit.”

  Beth’s voice was warm. “You’re so thoughtful, sweetie. Thank you. Tell me, does anyone else ever get to see this side of you?”

  Carolyn smiled. Sisters were allowed to see through one another. She had to keep the rest of the world at arm’s length or they would eat her alive. “No. I have to maintain my image as a witch on wheels to keep them on their toes.”

  A small sigh. “Are you coming back this weekend?”

  “That’s the plan. I’ll call you when I know which flight I’ll be on. Take care of yourself and hug Joe and Pamela.”

  “I will. You take care too.”

  About to call Grey, Carolyn glimpsed a small picture in a silver frame at the far end of the desk. It was one of the promotion shots from The Passing of Time, taken during the second season. A much-younger Carolyn Black gazed at her with confidence that was only skin-deep at the time.

  Her success as Devon Harper had opened many doors for her in show business, especially when the show’s ratings climbed and she was credited for attracting a wider audience. She’d played Devon Harper for more than two years, at the same time seeking minor big-screen roles.

  Carolyn took a deep breath and stared down at the photograph once more. Why did Annelie Peterson keep a picture of her in her study? The only other picture she could see was a group photo on one wall. It looked like a class reunion—Annelie with a bunch of other women.

  A twitch at the corner of her mouth developed into a smile. Tapping the picture frame with a well-manicured nail, Carolyn thought about it some more. Annelie, it seemed, could be a fan of hers from way back. If she played her cards right, this could prove rather useful.

  Her mind racing, she set the picture back on the desk and dialed her agent.

  *

  Jem stuck her head in the door of Annelie’s office. “Can I talk to you?”

  “Come on in.” Annelie gave her chief editor a quick smile. “What is it?”

  “A couple of things. First, we’re going to have to find at least two more authors in the fantasy genre or we’ll have an unbalanced catalogue. I’m sure I saw a promising manuscript and now I can’t find it!”

  Jem was famous for losing things. Keys, cell phones, wallets…Annelie couldn’t keep track of how many times the whole office had been in uproar—all pitching in to help the energetic editor find her missing belongings.

  “What was the title? Who was the author?”

  “I think it was something with Dragon Dreams.”

  “Ah, sorry. It’s at home. I wanted to read it over the weekend, but I didn’t get around to it. I’ll try and finish it tomorrow morning.”

  “You’re going to read an unsolicited manuscript while Carolyn Black is visiting?” Jem asked, clearly aghast.

  Annelie blinked. “How did you know about Carolyn coming over?”

  “Your housekeeper dropped a hint big enough to sink the Titanic.” Jem grinned. “Smart move. You can ask her about the convention and sound her out about the film role.”

  “That’s not what this is about, Jem. I offered Carolyn the use of my pool while she’s in Florida, and she was truly grateful. That’s it—no agendas.”

  “I can’t believe you’ve had her spending hours swanning around your house in a swimsuit and didn’t say a word! What’s she like in person?”

  “She’s very nice and very charismatic, every bit as fascinating as she seems on stage and TV. Even more so, in my humble opinion.”

  “Is someone I know starstruck?” Jem teased.

  “You know me better than that.” Annelie tried to hide her faint embarrassment with a cough. “She bought first editions of the Diana Maddox books for $12,000 during the auction. I thought that was pretty amazing. She was there with her boyfriend.”

  “Who’s her boyfriend?”

  “Jared Garrison. He’s from the law firm we use for the Nebula Circle’s clients.”

  “Oh, him. He’s a nice guy.”

  “That he is. Great taste in women too, obviously.”

  This drew a small gasp. “Annelie, what are you saying?”

  Stunned at what had jumped out of her
mouth, Annelie lapsed into momentary silence. She did find Carolyn Black very attractive, but she never mixed business with pleasure, and certainly not with involved straight women.

  “Well, she’s gorgeous and has it, don’t you agree?” She stalled, knowing Jem wouldn’t be fooled for a second.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Anyhow, I’ll bring the manuscript tomorrow and we can discuss it.” Assuming her most businesslike tone, she said, “So, are we going to take a look through that convention merchandise?”

  “Yes, but there’s something else.” Jem’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Those e-mails flooding in—our Web guru says they originate in Grey Parker’s office.”

  “Really?” She should have guessed.

  “I wonder if your screen idol knows.” Jem needled her gently.

  Annelie shot her a look. “My first guess would be she doesn’t. I get the impression Carolyn can barely cope with cell phones, let alone computers.”

  “I’m sure she’s smart enough to find people who can. Seems like her agent follows the trends.”

  Annelie knew her chief editor was right. “Well, Grey Parker can do what he likes to stir up the fans. But it’s not going to buy his client a thing.”

  “I hear you.” Jem snapped her fingers. “By the way, I’m going to the Blue Beach Café for dinner with my sister and her husband tonight. Want to join us? We have reservations at eight o’clock.”

  Annelie was not looking forward to yet another evening home alone, especially knowing where her thoughts kept taking her at the moment. “Sounds like a good idea. I’ll meet you there.”

  *

  The Blue Beach Café, located where the most popular beach in Key Biscayne began, was a long, single-floor building with a waterfront deck.

  Carolyn and Grey Parker strolled out on the long porch, the soft, scented evening wrapping around them. Still not over the shock of learning that her agent had flown down to Florida yesterday, she had agreed to join him for dinner. Following the waiter to a table by the railing, the actress wrapped her shawl tighter, feeling a chill. She smiled briefly and politely thanked the waiter who pulled out a chair for her.

  “I’ll have a scotch, please,” she ordered, surprising herself. She was a little cold, and perhaps the alcohol would ignite a much-needed fire inside.

  “A beer, thank you.” Grey leaned back in his chair, glancing around the large deck. “Apparently it’s hard to get a table here. At least that’s what they said at the hotel.”

  “Yes, I believe so. It’s popular.” Carolyn focused on the menu until the waiter returned with their drinks and some iced water. Sipping the alcohol, she realized she enjoyed the warmth it spread through her system way too much.

  “You look uneasy.” Grey frowned.

  “I’m fine, it’s just…I’m…well, I admit I do feel a bit stymied by the last turn of events. I don’t know what to do about the contracts, Grey. Ms. Peterson is trying to be decent about it, so I can cut my losses without actually losing too much.”

  “Not so fast, my dear. I went over the contracts before I left New York, and my advice is for you to hang on to them. We’re not throwing in the towel just yet. It’s going to take a bit of engineering, though.”

  “I was so certain…My mistake,” Carolyn huffed, fumbling in her purse. “Mind if I smoke?”

  “No, go ahead.” He nudged an ashtray closer to her.

  Carolyn lit up and inhaled deeply. She had cut back a lot over the last few years but always craved a cigarette when she felt like this—rattled, on edge. Damn it, what’s wrong with me? It’s not like me to feel so…defeated this early in the race. She had been having trouble sleeping. Worrying about Beth, seeing the Maddox role just beyond her grasp were making the veins at her temples throb painfully. Why can’t Annelie see I’m the perfect choice? She knew the answer. Over the years, she had made a few enemies in the business for refusing to play their game. One of the more illustrious movie reviewers once accused her of being “too much.” Perhaps I am too much. Too much me. Too much Carolyn Black.

  “Maybe it’s better to just bow out,” she murmured. “Peterson’s advisers seem determined to cast Sylvia Goodman. From what I understand, Annelie’s a rookie executive producer. She’s bound to listen to them.”

  “We can still sway them. Listen to me, Carolyn. I have some news for you. A sister company to Supernova Productions is planning an event in Orlando, on Saturday two weeks from now.”

  “What kind of event?” She squinted at him through the smoke.

  Realizing she sounded angry, Carolyn tried to calm down. It wasn’t Grey’s fault she was feeling stung that the role seemed to be sliding out of her grip.

  “They’re holding a Diana Maddox convention, and fans from all over the world will attend. Some of your colleagues from the audiobooks will be there. This tells me they’ve been cast for their respective roles in the movie.” He paused, eyeing her carefully. “Exactly how far are you prepared to go to land this role?”

  “I don’t know what you mean. I feel I’ve earned the right to play Maddox. The audience connects me to this character.”

  “Audience attention is fickle, and you know it. You have to cause some disturbance in Supernova’s plans. Stir the pot, in a manner of speaking.” Grey’s eyes sparkled; the agent was obviously excited at the prospect of causing trouble.

  “What do you suggest?”

  Grey leaned closer over the table, speaking in a mock-secretive voice. “I suggest we crash their party.”

  *

  Jem spotted her first.

  “Damn, isn’t that Carolyn Black sitting over there?”

  Annelie’s first reaction was to immediately turn around; instead she made herself casually pivot on her chair, looking over at the smoking section.

  “Yes, it is. The man she’s with is Grey Parker, her agent.” Her voice was calm. “If the Blue Beach Café weren’t so popular, I’d say this was quite the coincidence.”

  “It is a coincidence,” Jem insisted. “Here, come sit next to me so you can see her.”

  Not quite sure why she complied, Annelie rose and changed seats. The first thing she noticed was Carolyn’s erratic smoking. The actress’s hands jerked when she put the cigarette between her lips or tapped restless fingertips against the tablecloth.

  Jem noticed too. “She seems on edge.”

  “Yes.”

  Annelie watched Carolyn snub out her cigarette and toss down the last of her drink. She looked furious, every taut movement a testament to her control. Of course Carolyn would not permit her public to see her having some kind of tantrum. The actress stared into her glass, only to follow the smoke’s journey toward the ceiling, and gazed out over the ocean. When she turned back to Grey, her face was serene.

  A waiter brought the actress a new drink, and the sight of Carolyn holding onto the glass with both hands made Annelie frown, then look quickly away. So far, it seemed Carolyn hadn’t noticed Annelie and her party. She briefly wondered what the New York–based agent was doing in Florida. Not wanting Grey Parker on her case this evening, she decided not to acknowledge the two unless Carolyn spotted her.

  “I don’t get it,” Jem said. “Why aren’t we asking her to guest speak at the convention? She’d be such a draw.”

  “Because if we do, the entire planet will assume she’s going to be playing Diana Maddox in the movie.”

  Clearly Jem thought this was ideal. “I don’t see the problem. I mean, I know you have to go through the motions of casting, but—”

  “The problem is distribution,” Annelie said. “I’m negotiating with prospective distributors as we speak, and, frankly, no one is talking about Carolyn Black. Those guys are hot for Sylvia Goodman.”

  Jem looked startled. “But she’s too young. And that voice—Marilyn Monroe on helium.”

  Annelie laughed at the description. Jem was right. Sylvia’s squeaky breathlessness was totally wrong for Maddox. But although Annelie was financing the movie, she was not a d
istributor. If she didn’t get decent distribution, it would make no difference how good her film was. It would wither at the box office or, worse, end up going straight to video.

  “I know she’s not ideal, but I have to consider her,” Annelie said. “I can’t afford to cast an actress they won’t get behind.”

  “I see the problem.” Jem’s dismay was palpable. “What are you going to tell Carolyn about the convention?”

  “Nothing at all. She’s a busy woman. With any luck, she won’t even realize it’s happening until it’s over.”

  When Jem’s sister and her husband joined them at the table, Annelie was thankful for a change in topic. But despite their friendly banter, she found it hard to focus on the conversation.

  As the evening continued, more people entered the restaurant, now and again obscuring Annelie’s view of Carolyn, who sat smoking an endless number of cigarettes after finishing her meal. Still her eyes constantly sought the actress out, staring hungrily, feasting from a distance, which was utterly unsatisfying. But it was all Annelie could ever do.

  *

  Driving up to Annelie’s house the next day, Carolyn felt resolved and oddly detached. She parked and, pulling her bag toward her, stepped out of the Navigator.

  To her surprise Annelie, dressed casually in white slacks and a light yellow top, appeared in the doorway and waved at her.

  “Hello! You’re early today, Carolyn.”

  The bright sunlight reflected in Annelie’s long hair, which hung down around her shoulders today. Her smile was friendly and open.

  “Yes—” Carolyn broke off before she let the other woman know she hadn’t slept a wink the night before. Adjusting her features to not betray her cold determination, she returned the smile.

  Annelie gestured toward the hallway. “Before you swim, I need to run something by you if you don’t mind. Join me in my study?”