Orla.
“How’d it go?” Armelle asked when I returned to the car after meeting with Sebastian.
“He’s coming home tonight,” I simply said, clicking my seatbelt while she mumbled a “Yes!” in celebration.
Hours On…
I’d given Sebastian two hours. Surely, he wouldn’t dare to act funny because I was so ready to wreck his entire career if need be.
And… he listened.
Peering through the windshield, I caught sight of the figure that just emerged from the front door, steeping his face cap and burying his face. Didn’t need to see it however to confirm it was Mateo. Had stayed together long enough to tell him apart with eyes closed, just from just his scent.
Honking at the figure, he paused midway into the car park and veered in the direction of the sound. Our eyes jammed and he immediately took off the nose mask, baring his smile at me.
Tipping the cap low again, he advanced toward the vehicle, rounded it, and sank into the passenger’s seat.
“Big girl,” he hailed.
“Welcome back, Your Highness,” I replied with a tender smile.
“How much time did you give Sebastian? Dude showed up before me and started barking like a wild dog,” he related jovially, eliciting a mile chuckle that coated the air.
“Was it bearable in there?”
“No one dared to touch me.” Of course, no one would. They had too much respect for our profession to mess with us.
The rest of the drive featured chitty chats, breezy chuckles, and hearty laughter.
In no time, we got back home to the others. He exchanged pleasantries with every one of them in the room, hugging, shaking, and laughing with each other as though he’d been away for ages.
Following the hearty reunion was a meeting in the “office” upstairs to discuss business. We had a project to implement and there was no need for stalling any longer than we had already.
“How’s the scriptwriting going?” I asked Armelle who was in charge of that.
“Ummm…” Her eyes darted to Mateo, showing restraint.
“We’re putting it on hold,” Mateo cut in, replying in her stead.
I flinched an inch in surprise. “Why? This was meant to be the first movie produced by you and from the best of my knowledge, you were pretty excited because of this project.”
“Plans have changed” was all he said.
Was genuinely surprising but no other person seemed as lost as I was, the knowing expressions floating around me making me wonder how much they discussed this behind my back.
Just then he signaled Waylyn who quietly extended his hand across the table behind him and slid out a bulky envelope from the pile lying next to the computer. Then he walked up to me and handed it over.
With scrutinizing eyes, I peeped into the envelope only to see bulky documents held together in clips. Dipping my hands in to unravel the mystery, the silence while I stole glances at them again was featured by the crinkling sound of the envelope.
“That’s the new movie you’re featuring in – ”
I shot my eyes up to him.
“As the female lead,” he completed. “It’s going to be a hit for your career’s sake.”
Silently, I went back to flipping and studying the pages.
“The plot, script, characters, everything you need to know about the movie is included in there,” Mateo explained. “Universal Pictures has been recruiting actors and actresses but the female lead’s role remains vacant. And guess what? They’re hosting an audition for it.”
I paused on coming across a page with listed names and spotting a familiar name. “Kaia,” I muttered under my breath. Beside the MILLS AGENCY in bold letters was her name after a hyphen.
“She was invited as well,” I heard Mateo say and then lifted my eyes to him.
“Am I not supposed to be invited?” That was from the looks of it. And as far as I was concerned, I was only hearing of this now. “I never got any – ” my phone chimed, “mail,” I completed in undertones.
I checked what the notification was all about and voila! The same mail I spoke of seconds ago was blaring through my screen.
Immediately, my eyes leaped to the prime suspect – Waylyn.
“I only clacked the keyboard,” he defended, drawling.
Knowingly, my eyes sought for their ring leader, my lips pouted in ‘You’ve gone and done it.’
“You’re welcome,” he said, smiling greenly.
“Seriously? You put your movie on hold for this?” I questioned in disbelief.
“Listen, Orie.” He stretched toward me, gliding his butt across the sofa outwardly. “This is the first step in taking over the industry.” Crossing one palm over the other as though he was nailing a point, he gestured.
Armelle raised her hand in Concord. “I second that.”
I just stared, the skepticism in my eyes never wearing off.
“This is a big opportunity for you, Orie, C’mon!” he tried to persuade.
“Okay, let’s assume I go there. Do they not know who’s been invited already? I posed doubtfully.
“They would never,” Waylyn cut in impulsively, bringing my questioning stare to focus on him. Then he shrugged apathetically.
“How can you be so sure?”
“I leave no traces,” he stated matter-of-factly, sheer confidence in his abilities oozing his gesture.
“Fear not Orie,” Mateo chirped. “Besides all you need to do is print out the necessary documents in the mail, take it to the audition and you’re good! So how on earth will they know their system was breached without black magic?”
“Rest assured, black magic isn’t a thing in the U.S.,” Elias breezed in.
“I’ve not been in the industry for long. Will that be okay?”
“No one cares about that, Orie.”
“But still, Mat. This isn’t supposed to be – ”
“Since when have I done things how they’re supposed to be, Orie?” he cut me off knowingly, rendering my sense of righteousness short-lived. “Those are just unnecessary barriers made to be broken.”
I heaved a sigh of yielding and just pinballed my eyes among their views. Armelle smiled happily the moment our eyes met.
“Congratulations in advance,” said Elias while Waylyn let his expression stay bland.
Reluctantly, my eyes found Mat’s again and he winked at me.
I puffed out air, sinking my eyes back into the thick document on my lap. This was a humongous project and I wasn’t so sure how to feel about it. At least not yet.
“Since that’s settled, who’s up for chicken?!” Armelle hailed vibrantly, springing to her feet.
The others responded favorably, emphasizing how famished they were.
“You guys can carry on,” said Mateo, exempting himself from the lot while he stood up.
I hooked my eyes to his, to fish out answers to the sudden change in his countenance. More than anyone, he needed to have been the most enthusiastic about dinner.
“I’ll be in my room,” he said simply. Steeping his head a bit lower to me, he whispered, “I need you up there.” He probably just wanted to see me privately, but the air around his gesture could send pretty awkward signals.
Almost making sure no one was watching, my eyes jammed Armelle’s who immediately lowered her eyelids and resumed her journey to the exit.