FALLING AGAIN ON SET

CHAPTER 3

‎Chapter Three

‎

‎"You're awfully quiet," Chloe said. I looked up from my coffee. She was staring at me from across the small table in the café, one eyebrow raised.

‎"I'm drinking coffee," I replied.

‎"You're staring at your coffee."

‎"I'm thinking."

‎"That's worse," she said.

‎I rolled my eyes. "You're annoying."

‎"And you're avoiding the subject."

‎"What subject?"

‎She gave me a look."Ethan."I sighed. "We agreed we weren't talking about him."

‎"I agreed to let you pretend you don't care for five minutes," she clarified.

‎"That's different."I deadpanned.

‎She smiled innocently. I took another sip of my coffee, deciding to change the subject."So, is anything interesting happening at work?" I asked.

‎Chloe immediately leaned back in her chair.

‎

‎"Oh, finally. Something I actually want to talk about," she said.

‎I laughed. "You've been waiting for me to ask?"

‎"Obviously." She adjusted her sunglasses on top of her head.

‎"My life has been extremely interesting lately."

‎"That sounds dangerous," I said.

‎"It's not." Chloe laughed.

‎I smiled. "Go on."

‎Chloe took a dramatic sip of her drink.

‎"I've been working on a new collection."

‎"Already?"

‎"Already," she replied proudly. "And before you ask, yes, I'm exhausted."

‎"How exhausted?"

‎"Yesterday, I fell asleep with a measuring tape around my neck."

‎I burst out laughing. "You're lying."

‎"I'm not," she said. "I've been working nonstop. Fittings, fabric choices, sketches, meetings, models, photographers, clients who think changing an entire dress design twelve hours before a show is completely reasonable..."

‎

‎"That sounds horrible."

‎"It is horrible," she agreed. "But I love it."

‎I smiled. That was Chloe. She could complain about something for twenty minutes and still make it obvious that she wouldn't trade her career for anything.

‎"So where have you been lately?" I asked. "You said you had a few events."

‎Her eyes immediately lit up."Oh, the gala?"

‎"And the parties."

‎"Oh." She sat up straighter. "Those."

‎I laughed. "Why do you look so suspicious?"

‎"Because I have stories," she said.

‎"Of course you do."

‎"Last Friday, I went to a charity gala."

‎"With who?"

‎"Nobody. I went alone."

‎I frowned. "That doesn't sound like you."

‎"I was working."

‎"You always say that."

‎

‎"I was!" she protested.

‎I laughed. "Okay, okay. What happened?"

‎"I met this incredibly handsome guy."

‎"Of course you did."

‎"He was tall."

‎"How tall?"

‎"Very."

‎"That's not a measurement."

‎"Enough for me to wear heels and still have to look up," she clarified.

‎I shook my head.

‎

‎"What did he do?"

‎"Investment banking." Chloe smiled dreamily.

‎"Interesting, My Chloe finally got a steady spec for once."

‎"Not really."

‎I laughed. "So why did you flirt with him?"

‎"Because he was handsome."

‎"That's your only reason?"

‎"Do I need another one?" I couldn't argue with that.

‎"So what happened?"

‎"Nothing."

‎I blinked. "Nothing?"

‎"I flirted with him," she explained. "We talked for a while, and then I left."

‎I stared at her. "You spent all that time telling me about a handsome guy just to tell me nothing happened?"

‎"I told you the important part."

‎"What important part?"

‎"He was handsome."

‎I shook my head, laughing. "You are impossible."

‎"I know."

‎She took another sip of her drink.

‎"Then there was this other guy at a party on Saturday."

‎"Another one?"

‎"He was gorgeous."

‎

‎"Of course."

‎"Dark hair. Nice smile. Expensive suit."

‎"Did you flirt with him?"

‎"Obviously."

‎"What happened?"

‎"Nothing."

‎I stared at her. "Again?"

‎She shrugged. "I don't want a relationship right now."

‎"Then why flirt?"

‎"Because flirting is fun."

‎She leaned closer.

‎"Besides, there's something satisfying about knowing a handsome man is interested in you."

‎

‎I smiled. "I suppose."

‎"Exactly."

‎She pointed at me.

‎"And that's why you need to come out with me tonight."

‎I immediately shook my head. "No."

‎She frowned. "You didn't even let me finish."

‎"I don't need to."

‎"Why?"

‎"Because I know where this is going."

‎"To a club."

‎"No."

‎"Yes."

‎"No."

‎"Valerie."

‎"Chloe."

‎"Come on."

‎"I'm tired."

‎"So am I."

‎"I have work tomorrow."

‎"So do I."

‎"I don't like clubs."

‎"I know."

‎"They're loud."

‎"I know."

‎"Too many people."

‎"I know."

‎"I don't drink much."

‎"I know."

‎"I don't dance."

‎"I know."

‎"Then why are you asking me?"

‎"Because I'm your best friend," she said as if it were obvious. "And because you need to live a little."

‎I looked down at my coffee.

‎"I do live."

‎"You work."

‎"I like working."

‎"You work."

‎"I enjoy acting."

‎"You work."

‎"I have a life."

‎"You have a schedule."

‎I laughed. "That's not the same thing."

‎"Exactly."

‎

‎She reached across the table and grabbed my hand.

‎"Val, you've been doing the same thing for years. Work, home, work, home. You barely go anywhere unless it's related to your career."

‎"I go out."

‎"When?"

‎I opened my mouth.

‎Nothing came out.

‎She smiled triumphantly.

‎"Exactly."

‎I sighed. "One night."

‎Her eyes widened.

‎"Is that a yes?"

‎"Don't make me regret it."

‎She squealed. "It's a yes!"

‎"Chloe, calm down."

‎"I am calm."

‎"You're literally bouncing in your seat."

‎"I've been trying to get you to come clubbing with me for months!"

‎"That's because I don't like clubs."

‎"Tonight you will."

‎"I'm already regretting this."

‎She laughed. "Pick you up at eight."

‎"Eight?"

‎"Yes."

‎"Don't worry. You're going to love it."

‎"I'm starting to worry."

‎She laughed.

‎"You'll thank me later."

‎By the time I got home, the sky had already begun to darken.

‎

‎I walked into my apartment, kicked off my shoes and dropped my handbag onto the couch. I barely had time to sit down before my phone rang.

‎

‎Dad.

‎

‎I frowned and answered.

‎

‎"Hello, Dad."

‎

‎"Valerie, where are you?" he asked.

‎

‎"Home."

‎

‎"Good. Your mother and I want to see you."

‎

‎"Now?"

‎"Yes," he replied. "We just need to talk."

‎My stomach tightened."Is something wrong?"

‎"No. Nothing is wrong," he assured me. "We'll discuss it when you get here."

‎I sighed. "Okay."

‎"Your driver is already there."

‎"You already sent a car?"

‎"Of course."

‎I shook my head. "Fine. I'll be there soon."

‎The Sterling family home was as impressive as ever.

‎I walked inside and found my parents sitting in the living room.

‎My mother smiled when she saw me."There she is," she said.

‎"Hi, Mom." I hugged her before sitting down.

‎My father looked at me seriously. I immediately knew this wasn't going to be a casual family talk

"What happened?" I asked.

‎

‎He exchanged a glance with my mother before looking back at me. "Your mother and I have been discussing the future of Sterling Holdings," he said.

I blinked. "What about it?"

‎"You're taking over."

‎I stared at him. "What?"

"The company will be yours," he clarified.

‎ I laughed lightly, thinking he was joking.

‎"Very funny, Dad."

‎

‎"I'm serious." My smile disappeared.

‎"You mean... eventually?"

‎"No." He leaned back. "After you finish your current commitments, you will begin taking over the company."

I stared at him. "But I'm an actress."

"We know," my mother said.

‎"I have a career."

‎"We know that too."

‎

‎"Then why are you suddenly talking about this?"

‎My mother spoke gently.

‎"Because you're ready, sweetheart."

‎I shook my head. "I'm not."

‎"Valerie—" my father began.

‎"No, Dad."

‎I stood.

‎"I've spent years building my acting career. I love what I do."

‎"We aren't asking you to give up acting forever," he said.

‎"It sounds exactly like you're asking me to."

‎"We're asking you to prioritize the company." I laughed bitterly.

‎"So basically, give up my job."

‎"That's not what I said."

‎"It's what you mean."

‎ My father sighed. "Valerie, Sterling Holdings isn't a small business. It's a company that requires someone from the family to eventually take responsibility."

"I understand that."

‎"Then you understand why this conversation has to happen."

‎ I paced across the room.

‎"I always knew I'd eventually have responsibilities here. But I never agreed to quit acting."

‎

‎"No one is asking you to quit completely," my mother said.

‎"Then what are you asking?"

‎"Take over the company gradually," she clarified.My father nodded.

‎"You finish the movie you're currently working on. After that, you begin working with me." I thought about it, I also knew my parents weren't going to drop the subject.

‎"How much time do I have?" I asked.

‎"Until the movie is finished," my father replied. I sighed."Fine."

‎My father looked surprised."Fine?"

‎"I'll finish the movie."

‎"And then?"

‎"I'll start learning the business."

‎My mother smiled. "We're not trying to take acting away from you."

‎"I know." I sat back down. "But acting is important to me."

‎"We know," my mother said softly.I nodded. There was something I wasn't telling them. My male lead. Ethan, they never liked him when we were dating, five years ago.

‎********

‎At exactly eight o'clock, my doorbell rang. I opened the door. Chloe stood outside wearing a stunning black dress, heels, and a small designer clutch.Her hair was styled perfectly, and she looked like she had walked straight out of a fashion campaign. She looked me up and down. Then she frowned.

"You're wearing that?" she asked. I looked down at myself.I had changed into a simple black dress.

"What's wrong with it?" I asked.

‎"Nothing," she replied. "It's just not enough."

‎She walked inside and immediately opened my wardrobe.

‎"Chloe!"

‎"Relax," she said.

‎She began looking through my clothes.

‎

‎"You agreed to come out. I'm not letting you show up looking like you're going to a business dinner."

‎"I thought we were going to a club."

‎"We are."

‎"Then why do I need an outfit change?"

‎"Because you're Valerie Sterling."

‎I rolled my eyes."With a face cap in disguise" I laughed. She pulled out a dress.

‎"No."

‎Another.

‎"No."

‎Another.

‎"Absolutely not."

‎She turned around.

‎"You are very difficult."

‎"I'm comfortable."

‎"That's the problem." She finally held up a fitted dark dress. I stared at it.

‎"That one?"

‎"Yes."

‎"It's too much."

‎"It's perfect."

‎"I'll be freezing."

‎"I'll bring a jacket."

‎"I don't want attention."

‎Chloe smiled.

‎"Too late. You're beautiful." I sighed.

‎"You planned all of this, didn't you?"

‎"Obviously."

‎I took the dress from her."Fine."

‎She clapped once. "Yes!"

‎"But if I hate this, we're leaving."

‎"Deal."

‎"And I'm not getting drunk."

‎"We'll see."

‎"And I'm not flirting with anyone."

‎She paused, then gasped. "That's between you and your heart." I glared at her. "Chloe."

‎She laughed. "Come on. Let's go." I grabbed my purse and followed her outside.

‎I had no idea that tonight would become the first night in years where I would stop thinking about my career, my family, and everything that had gone wrong.

‎I also had no idea that somewhere inside that crowded club, life was about to remind me just how small the world really was.

‎