“What does it have to do with this actor? I don’t understand.” Dana was confused.
His smile became wicked. “They are going after one of the most sought after actors in Hollywood. If they can get him for this movie it’s a guaranteed hit. They found out he’s a huge fan of yours and he is very interested in your next book. They want to create his dream movie, the movie he would love to do. In order for that to happen you would have to be available on the set for him to share ideas.”
“So, to get him to work on this movie I have to basically write a book for him so that he’ll sign on to do another movie with the studio?”
“Exactly,” he said smugly.
Deana put her pen down and looked at Rick. “May I ask who is so important that a studio is willing to hire a famous author just to appease him?” That’s what Dana loved about Deana, she didn’t play games. Deana waited for her question to be answered with her arms folded tightly over her chest and a glare aimed at Rick.
“Are you ready for this?” Rick asked.
“Sure,” Dana said, not really sure if she was or if she really cared. She was still trying to wrap her head around the idea of her book being made into a movie.
“Edward Pierce.”
Dana nodded and shrugged casually. It wasn’t a name she expected. She hadn’t thought of the actor for a year now, not since she found freedom. She found herself not really interested in the selection. It didn’t matter to her who it was. She would do it if it meant she would get more work. She loved what she did and never shied away from a challenge.
“Oh my God!” Deana jumped up out of her seat and bounced around. Apparently she cared if her little happy dance was any indication.
Rick pointed at Deana. “See, that’s the proper display right there. Come on, Dana. This is a big deal!”
She smiled. “It is. I’m just trying to wrap my head around it all. When do I have to meet with them?”
“See,” Rick said, pointing at her. “That’s why they want to work with you. You’re laid back and don’t get star struck. There’s no way you’ll scare this guy off, unlike…” He looked pointedly at Deana.
She froze. “I’ll behave! I swear!”
Dana chuckled at Deana’s swift change in attitude. Dana knew Deana was half in love with Edward Pierce like ninety percent of the women out there, and she teased her mercilessly about it. She understood what a big deal this was for Deana. If she wasn’t planning on doing this already she would for Deana. She had done so much for Dana and her two kids in the last year.
“So, when do I start working?” she asked.
“If you sign these contracts today then they'll go ahead and meet with Edward tomorrow. They’re just waiting for your approval, Dana. I’ve read the contract, it’s more than fair. Read it and then sign it.”
She took the pen and opened the contract. Rick had never led her wrong. He made sure she avoided bad deals and wouldn’t play around with a movie deal. She looked over the contract and had to take a deep breath when she saw the monetary figure they were willing to pay for the right to do the movie. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the separate figure for the book. She signed the contracts ten minutes later and handed them to a grinning Rick.
“So, when do we get to meet him?” Deana asked as she practically bounced in her seat.
“Well, if all goes well tomorrow and they cast a leading lady for the role of Bailey, I would say in a month.”
That was too much for Deana. “Oh my lord, I’m going to meet Edward Pierce!” She giggled and jumped to her feet. She ran over to Rick and hugged and kissed his cheeks. “Thank you!”
Dana sat in her seat and watched as poor Rick tried to fight off Deana as she damn near squeezed the life out of him.
**********
“Is this where we pull in?” Deana asked.
Dana looked up from the large packet Rick sent over the night before to see what Deana was talking about. They were in front of a large gate with “Rascal Productions” printed on the side panel.
“I would say so,” Dana said.
“Fine,” Deana mumbled.
“Mommy, why is Deana mad?” Cole asked from the back seat. Dana turned around to look at her baby boy. He suckled on a sippy cup of apple juice while looking outside.
“Deana is just upset because she thought she was going to be stuck with Mommy here all day until this movie was done. Instead, she gets to spend her time with the most handsome man on earth,” Dana said in an upbeat tone she knew Cole would love.
“That’s me!” Cole said. “She also gets to spend time with Elizabeth after school.”
“Yes, I do little man." Deana sighed heavily. “At least I get spend time with a gorgeous man, albeit younger than I thought.” She blew a loose strand of her black hair out of her face.
“Hey, at least I agreed to let you drive me today. I could have driven myself,” Dana said defensively.
“I know.” She turned to look at Dana. “Remember you promised we could come here two times during the shooting to grab lunch, you know so um, Cole can see what you do.”
Dana chuckled softly. “Of course, for Cole.” She winked at her friend.
Deana pulled up to the security guard and showed him Dana’s Rascal Production employee badge. They drove into the parking lot where Deana drove as slow as possible, looking everywhere in case Edward Pierce was around.
“Deana, just let me out here. He won’t be here for a few hours,” Dana said, trying not to laugh at the intense expression on her assistant's face.
Deana shot her a dirty look. “A little warning would have been nice.”
Dana laughed at her and said goodbye to Cole. She was still laughing as she made her way into Studio Eight where she was met by two security guards. She showed her pass and made her way inside.
Immediately she felt out of place. She was dressed in loose fitting cargo khaki pants and a black tee shirt that showed her curves, but not too tight. She didn’t like her clothes feeling like skin. Her trusty laptop was in its bag hung over her shoulder. It was the only thing that made her feel better. It was her security blanket after all.
All she wanted to do was find a dark corner somewhere, open her laptop, toss her head phones on, blast some music, and work. Standing in the middle of a busy production floor was not something she wanted to do. She quickly moved off to the side, out of the way of men and women scrambling here and there.