CHAPTER 10 : WHAT'S THAT FEELING?
1125 Words
“Ellie's role is absolutely essential in THE BEST PART OF ME. You really need to bring this character to life. I've watched the majority of your previous films, and I must confess, you are the perfect fit for this part,” declared Thomas Fletcher, the movie director, who is not only renowned for his artistic vision but also for his striking looks, making him one of the most handsome and sought-after figures in the film industry today.
“Alright, Director, I promise to…” My words were abruptly cut off by the shrill sound of a feminine voice echoing through the room.
“Where’s the b***h that stole my role?” she shrieked, her tone heavily laced with indignation.
“Oh my God, is that Phiona Derek?” one of the other women present, presumably the production assistant, whispered in disbelief.
“Miss Helena Taylor… you’re welcome, albeit late,” Thomas stated, his voice steady as he acknowledged the unwelcome interruption.
“I need my role back right now!” she demanded, her voice dripping with entitlement and anger.
From the way she carried herself, it was clear to me that she was one of those actresses infamous for her lack of decorum, someone who thrived on creating drama and chaos, always ready to destroy the reputations of others in the relentless pursuit of her own success.
“Excuse me, Missy, what role are you referring to?” I interjected, trying to maintain the professionalism that I knew was expected in this setting.
“My role as Ellie Theon! That was supposed to be mine until you, Miss Whatever, decided to steal it from me.” Her challenging tone was meant to intimidate, but I had little time or patience for her theatrics.
“When do we start, Director?” I redirected, eager to move past the tumultuous exchange.
“Start what? We’ll settle this amicably, alright? We’ll just switch characters,” Helena declared, an overconfident smirk plastered across her face.
“Pardon? Were you addressing me?” I asked, incredulously raising an eyebrow at her audacity.
“Miss Taylor, with all due respect, that role is no longer yours. My boss personally assured me that under no circumstances were you to be given this role,” Thomas explained calmly but firmly, clearly trying to maintain control of the situation.
Really? I marveled silently. She must have been quite the tempestuous actress if the CEO himself had to intervene and remove her from this part.
“Do you have any idea who I am, Director? I am…”
“Miss Helena Taylor, yes, we are all quite familiar with that,” Thomas interjected sarcastically, clearly unimpressed by her attempt at intimidation.
A ripple of laughter spread through the crew, and I couldn’t suppress the giggles either.
It was utterly mortifying for her, and the irony was not lost on me.
“You are defying my orders, not just mine, but the orders of the entire Taylor family,” she continued to rattle on, a mix of anger and desperation in her tone.
“Sorry, ma’am, but I only take instructions from my employer. If you persist, we can assign you the role of GLADYS WICKS, the real daughter of the Theon family and the antagonist to Ellie Theon,” Thomas countered, delivering a strong rebuttal.
“No… I’m not taking that role!” she stubbornly protested, crossing her arms fiercely.
“Then you’re free to quit and leave the movie, Miss Taylor,” Blake’s deep voice echoed from behind, cutting through the tension in the room with his effortless authority.
“Blake! Oh, thank God!” Helena exclaimed, her voice brightening as if she had just spotted her knight in shining armor.
The familiarity in her tone made me wonder if they had some history, perhaps she was one of his former conquests, this thought churned in my mind, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disgust that such a reckless man was tied to my past as the father of my child.
“Hold it, Helena. This is my company, my movie… and ultimately, I will decide who stays and who leaves,” Blake responded sharply, letting her know exactly where he stood on the matter.
“But Blake…” she started, her voice softening in a way that seemed to betray her earlier bravado.
“Are you taking the role or not?” he asked nonchalantly, a slight yet authoritative eyebrow raised.
“Fine, I’ll just go with it,” she conceded, though her stubbornness still shone through, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at her defeat.
His gaze shifted to me, and I felt a rush of vulnerability under his penetrating stare.
At that moment, I was transported back to that unforgettable night, recalling how his strong hands had roamed over my body, igniting flames of desire that only he seemed to provoke in me.
Was I really so easily affected by him after all this time? Despite being fully dressed, I felt underdressed in his presence, just the memory of him made my heart race uncontrollably beneath his lazy, sexy gaze.
A lopsided grin crept across his lips, and I couldn’t help but think how unfair life was; with each passing day, he became increasingly more attractive, defying the laws of aging while I was left mere mortals, fighting with my past.
I couldn’t avoid admiring his well-defined, muscular chest that strained against the fabric of his shirt. I swallowed hard, acutely aware of the way he watched my clumsy reactions, completely aware of the power he held over me.
Yet, deep down, I was determined not to grant him any satisfaction; I refused to be the naive, helpless girl I once was five years ago.
“Good day, Mr. Anderson,” I greeted him professionally, attempting to re-establish the boundaries I had so desperately tried to maintain in the past.
He walked towards me, casually slipping his hands into his pants pockets, shifting effortlessly back into that professional CEO demeanor that commanded respect and attention.
“I need this movie to be spectacular. Do me a favor and put all our differences aside,” he whispered directly into my ear, the proximity sending shivers down my spine.
I nodded in response, but his eyes remained locked on me, trapping me in a web of unexplainable emotions.
I felt weak in the knees at that moment, longing for his strong hands to once again explore the contours of my body…
Gosh! I jolted back to reality, reminding myself that he was the man I had vowed never to engage with again, and it was imperative that it stayed that way, devoid of any inappropriate thoughts or lingering desires.
- Writer
