Ms. Perfect

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Nobody in the restaurant would guess that Zac’s anxiety levels were peaking as he casually kissed the amazing, the legendary, the timelessly beautiful, Grace Woods on the cheek. He had mastered the art of covering up his emotions as a child, long before his first acting class. It was one of the reasons he enjoyed acting as a career. If he was constantly pretending to feel one way or another he never had to show his true emotions.

“Zac,” Grace cooed as she turned in her chair and looked up at him. “So glad you could make it.”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” Zac took the empty chair next to Grace and smiled casually at Phoenix and Rigby. Though his stomach twisted with nerves, his hands were steady and his smile, he knew, exuded confidence.

“We were just finalizing Australia as the location,” Grace explained.

“That’s great!” he answered. There was no reason to hide his enthusiasm for being the romantic lead in this film. It was a big deal to be chosen by Grace Woods to do anything. He would have said ‘yes’ to being an extra or even a grip on one of her films. Well, maybe not a grip. “So, Fiji was a no?”

Phoenix and Rigby tensed at his question. Zac held his smile and pretended not to notice, instead focusing his blue eyes on Grace who seemed unmoved.

“Fiji was never the best option,” Grace informed him. “Australia is gorgeous…with more of a…oh, I don’t know, a rugged vibe. Don’t you agree?”

Zac’s smile ticked up at the corner of his mouth in a mischievous way. His rakish look. He’d worked on it in the mirror for a solid month before getting it perfect. Grace’s hand had brushed against his when she said ‘rugged’ and an electric charge jolted up his arm. She may be older than him, but dang if Grace Woods wasn’t one of the sexiest women he had ever encountered. On or off the screen.

“I do,” he answered. He wondered how Indi was going to take this news. She was not about working in Australia. A distant relative of hers had been bitten by a poisonous spider there once upon a time and almost died. She had all but made a solemn vow never to go to the place. Indi was all about holding grudges, even against entire countries. “I’m sure Indi will warm up to the idea,” he added.

Phoenix and Rigby tensed up so hard and so fast they looked like they were frozen in place. Only their eyes moved, flicking to Grace then back to each other, waiting for a secret bomb to explode.

“Do you mean Indigo?” Grace asked coolly.

Zac nodded, uncertain what was going on, but sure he sensed a problem in the air. He decided not to say anything else unless absolutely necessary. The movie business was run on relationships and personalities. One misstep, one insult, and his career could plummet. He did not want to jeopardize anything by sticking his foot in his mouth, however innocently. He took a sip of water and waited for someone else to continue the conversation.

Rigby finally picked up the ball, clearing his throat comically before saying, “There’s been a change…” he glanced at Grace whose lips pursed almost imperceptibly. A slight pause while Rigby reorganized his thoughts, then he started again, “We’ve decided to stick with the original casting.” He glanced at Grace, no pursed lips. He grinned like he was about to tell them a secret and continued, “I mean, why bring in just anyone when you have the best there is right at your fingertips?” He gestured both hands palms up towards Grace who dipped her head in the tiniest of bows to his compliment.

“That’s exactly right!” Phoenix chimed in, her thin ponytail bobbing as she nodded in agreement. “I mean, who else in this world could play Scarlet Kensington any better than our one and only Grace.” Phoenix lifted her water glass to Grace in salute. Rigby followed quickly with his scotch and soda.

Zac looked back and forth between the two producers. What was happening? Indigo was supposed to play Scarlet Kensington. That’s what all the buzz around town had been for weeks and weeks. That’s why he had befriended her, charmed her, romanced her. That’s why he had declared his feelings for her and given her the key to his apartment just the other day.

He always worked better if his romantic interest on screen was his romantic partner in real life. That was his process and it worked like a dream. His process had won him MTV’s Award for Best Shirtless Performance, the Teen Choice Award for Male Hottie of the Year, and the People’s Choice Award for Best s*x Scene…two years in a row!

Zac’s heart raced in his chest. The beginnings of a stress headache pressed against his forehead. Still, he controlled his expression, choosing to don his placid, non-committed look, the one he’d perfected playing the sociopathic bank robber in Dirt Dogs. The look had come in surprisingly handy in a variety of awkward social situations since he made that film.

Everyone was looking at him, waiting for a response of some kind, but Zac’s mind wasn’t working fast enough. He was still grappling with the fact that his relationship with Indi was all for nothing.

“Do you have reservations about me playing Scarlet?” Grace asked.

Her tone was as cool as a cucumber and Zac couldn’t read her eyes because of those damned sunglasses. Not that that would have mattered much. An accomplished actress like Grace Woods wouldn’t give away much in her eyes.

He cleared his throat and switched to charming mode. “Absolutely not. I’m just a little overwhelmed by this amazing opportunity. I mean,” Zac turned up the humble response and tried to exude earnestness, “I just hope I’m up to the challenge of working opposite someone of your talent.”

“Hmm,” Grace responded with a quiet smile.

“Great,” Rigby took over the conversation, wrapping it up for all of them. “Everything’s settled. All you two need to do is study the script and pack for down under.”

Zac nodded with enthusiasm. He would study the script, learn his lines, and work with Grace. He would also extricate himself from his romance with Indi…and get his key back. He had to remember to get his key back.