Second Chances – Chapter 44 January 18, 2010
The plane landed and the two movie stars were greeted by a driver who gathered their bags and drove them to the hotel that the cast and crew were staying at as well as filming at. It was more opulent than Beth could have ever imagined. The sun and the tropical environment was perfect for Aria to be swept away by Scott and for Paul and Aria to finally begin their romance. Beth felt she could get swept away in such an exotic location.
Exiting the car at the hotel, Beth parted from Rob’s side and followed the bellboy up to her room on the top floor.
“Is there anything else you need, Miss Edwards?” the young man said.
Flattered to be called Miss, she tipped him well. Quietly, he left as Beth almost overwhelmed, walked around her suite. She had a sitting room, a large living room, a small office, a bedroom that had the largest bed she had ever seen and a balcony with the most beautiful view she’d ever seen.
While wondering around, there was a knock at the door.
“Beth, how are you? I see you got here just fine. May I come in?” It was Paul, one of the executive producers.
“Uh, yes Paul. I didn’t know you were going to be here,” she said as she showed him in.
“I’m just here for a week to make sure things get started up. I see you didn’t bring your children with you.”
“They are staying with their grandparents. I thought it would be better for them to stay with them so I could get my work done.”
“I’ve seen the schedule and there should not be a problem completing the scenes we need to down here.”
“My publisher needs to see a few chapters of my new book,” she told him beginning to wonder why Paul was really there.
“Always working, I see. I hope you enjoy some of the benefits of all your hard work.”
“How could I not. You will have to excuse me. I need to call home to let them know I arrived,” she said trying to get him to leave.
“Sure. Beth, I was wondering if you would have dinner with me tonight?”
“I’m sorry, I already have plans for tonight. Maybe some other time?”
“Yeah, you seem to be spending a lot of time with Robert.”
“Yes, I have but tonight I have a meeting with Harry. He’s been so helpful to me, helping me learn the process and reasons why we do things the way we do.”
“Only the best,” Paul said.
“Of course, and Harry is the best.”
“So are you. You are far too beautiful to be alone.”
“Thank you Paul, but I have my friend and family to keep me company. That is all I need. I will see you later,” Beth said as she rose to show her guest the door. Paul got the hint and left.
Beth was a bit shocked that Paul had asked her to dinner. Paul was a married man and seemed to be after more than just dinner, but he was a powerful executive at the studio and if she did not handle him carefully she could run the risk of destroying her blooming career before it even reaches the silver screen.
Beth met Harry at the hotel’s restaurant, which was as classy as any in LA but with an authentic tropical flair.
“Beth! How are you?” Harry said as he met his star and gave her a big bear hug.
“Great, Harry. This place is amazing,” she replied.
“I’m glad you like it. How are the kids?”
“They’re good. I’m glad there home. I would never get anything done if they were here.”
Harry nodded in agreement as they were shown to their table. “Our trailers are hitting the theaters next week. They are amazing.”
“Really? Which scenes?”
“You and Rob, running with the explosions. You firing the laser with a vengeance and the other one is from the Elizabethan party with the opulence paired the rigidity of the military.”
“I’d love to see them. Which is your favorite?”
“The second one. I brought a copy of them for you to view.”
“Thanks, I can’t believe that we’re almost done.”
“And the movie’s going to be a hit. I’ve even heard rumors of a man called Oscar.”
“Harry, don’t tease me.”
“Why else would you be presenting at this year’s show?”
Beth giggled with nervous excitement.
“This is going to be an amazing movie, Beth. You have a real gift. The passion that has come off the pages and onto film is going to take the world by storm. Girls will like it because of the love story and the strong woman kicking butt and guys will love it for the combat and seeing you, honestly, naked. You should be very proud of your talents.”
“I couldn’t of done it with out you and your expertise.”
“I hope you can handle the talk shows and interviews as graciously as you have everything else.”
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity. When do the interviews begin?”
“We have the cable interviews beginning next week. I’d like you to do some with Rob. You two have a great chemistry on screen; the two of you together pull people into the story. I hope you’ll be able to do that in the interviews.”
“You really thing that we have good screen chemistry?” she asked.
“Electric. There also seems to be some sparks off screen as well. What’s going on between you two?”
“I don’t know Harry. We’re dating and things feel good between us, but I want to take things slow.”
“I just hope that it’s not just because of what you’re doing in screen. I’ve seen that happen too many times and it usually doesn’t work out in the long run.”
“I understand your concern. He says he wants to make me happy. I’m not sure what he means by that, but for now I just want to enjoy things.”
“It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into this. You have had your life change drastically and are emerging from that change as a brightly shining star. Hopefully, your career will run at the speed you want it to. I’ve seen many ‘flash in the pans’, but you won’t be. You do know you can come to me if you need any help or guidance. One can not have too many friends in this business and I am looking forward to having another chance to work with you on a later project.”
“Thank you Harry. I hope we can work together again. Are all directors as wonderful as you?”
“I’m afraid not. You’re in for a challenge with Kenneth MacMillian on MacBeth. He’s very demanding but you will learn a lot from him.”
“That’s what I have heard. I already have a project lined up after that. This fall I will be working with Kevin James and really looking forward to that.”
“Kevin’s good to work with. I think you will like him.”
“I hope so. He’s from New Jersey and I’ve always been a big fan of his work.”
“I look forward to seeing you in it, but you are aware he only pays scale?”
“Yes, and don’t really care. I think of is as an honor to work with him.”
Their food arrived and the conversation changed to project at hand while they ate.
Exhausted from the past few days, Beth went up to her room to get some much needed sleep. She was grateful that she wasn’t needed until late the following day and had no trouble falling asleep that night.
Leave a Reply