CHAPTER TWO
1131 Words
THE CALL THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
Dreams don't arrive with warnings.
Sometimes they arrive as a phone call.
And sometimes…
The phone call changes everything.
The Los Angeles sun felt different that afternoon.
Maybe it was just my imagination.
Maybe it was the strange feeling that something important had already begun moving behind the scenes.
Or maybe…
My life had already changed and I just didn't know it yet.
I sat on the edge of the fountain outside Velvet Sky Studios, holding the cup of coffee my best friend, Anu had just handed me.
The bitter taste barely registered while mind my mind was still inside that audition room still replaying the way he looked at me.
Director Alex, the man Hollywood called genius, nobody understood and whose movies always carried whispers of controversy.
“You're thinking about him again,” Anu said and I blinked.
“What?”
She smirked. “You have been staring at the same tree for five minutes.”
I quickly looked away from the tree.
“So, she said casually, “tell me everything.”
I sighed and said, “there's not much to tell.”
“You auditioned for the biggest role of your life, and met the most mysterious director in Hollywood, and you are acting like it's nothing.”
She tilted her head.
“Describe him.”
I hesitated a little because describing him felt strangely difficult not because I couldn't remember what he looked like, but because something about him felt intense.
“He is tall, handsome, has dark eyes, and sharp eyes.”
Anu chuckled softly then asked us to leave.
We started walking toward the parking lot to go pick up my car and go home.
Actors and crew members moved around the studio grounds like a swarm of determined bees.
Everyone chasing the same dream and hoping for the same miracle.
My phone buzzed but I ignored it.
Probably another audition alert or spam call or my landlord reminding me of the next month's rent.
It buzzed again.
Anu glanced down and said, “Are you going to answer that?”
“Probably nothing important.”
“Your phone has rung four times.”
“Fine, I said parking the car.”
I pulled out the phone out of my bag and glanced at the screen.
Unknown number.
Great. Probably a telemarketer trying to sell insurance.
I answered anyway.
“Hello?”
A calm voice spoke on the other end.
“Hello, may I speak with Riley Williams?”
My heart skipped.
“That's me.”
“This is Mia Santos from Velvet Studios.”
My body froze and Anu's eyes widened immediately. She could not tell from my face and something important was happening.
“I'm calling regarding your audition this morning.”
The world seemed to slow down and every sound around me faded.
“Yes.”
There was a brief pause then the words came. The words every actor waits their entire life to hear.
“Congratulations, you got the role.”
I nearly dropped the phone screaming, “what?”
“You have been selected as the lead actress in Floral Waters directed by Alex Elliott. The production team was extremely impressed with your performance and filming begins in two weeks.”
“You'll receive the full contract and schedule by email later today.”
I covered my mouth with my hand and Anu started whispering a little in the car.
My heart was racing.
“Thank you.”
“We look forward to working with you.”
The call ended.
For three seconds, I completely froze, unable to speak and breathe.
Then Anu grabbed my shoulders violently.
“What did they say?”
I stared at her and said, “ I got the role.”
Her scream echoed across the street.
“My best friend got the role and is the lead actress.”
She hugged me tightly making me unable to breathe.
But somewhere deep inside my chest…
A strange feeling stirred.
Excitement.
Yes.
But something else, quieter and darker because getting this role meant I would be working close with the mysterious Director Alex.
Anu grabbed my hands and said, “we need to celebrate with dinner.”
But it is just three in the afternoon.
“So?” “We are celebrating at your apartment.”
I smiled. Maybe she was right and I should enjoy the moment and celebrate the biggest opportunity of my life.
Because right now…
Everything felt perfect.
Across the city, inside the quiet office, someone watched the audition footage again.
Director Alex sat alone in the editing room the screen glowed in the darkness playing the same scene on repeat.
The actress. Her emotions. Her raw honesty and the way she delivered every line like it mattered.
He paused the video again studying her face carefully while his assistant, Olivia Chen stood beside him.
“You're certain about her?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“She is inexperienced, so why her?”
He leaned back slightly because the truth wasn't simple but dangerous.
“Because she doesn't know the rules yet.”
Olivia frowned then said, “what does that mean?”
He looked back at the screen at the moment she delivered that final line.
“Some truths should never be hidden.”
He smiled faintly.
“Exactly.”
Because if the movie succeeded…
It would expose things Hollywood had buried for years. Secrets hidden deep inside the industry and powerful people wanted to keep buried.
And the girl who had just been cast as the lead actress… had no idea what she walking into.
Back at home…
My phone buzzed again.
Another message.
But this time…
It wasn't from the studio but an unknown number.
I opened the message and my stomach instantly tightened.
The text read:
“Congratulations on the role.”
My heartbeat quickened.
How did they know?
The casting call had just happened less than thirty minutes ago and the news hadn't been announced yet.
Another message arrived immediately.
“Be careful who you trust.”
I stared at the screen and a cold feeling creeped into my chest.
Anu noticed my expression.
“What's wrong?”
I showed her the message.
She frowned and said, “that's wierd.”
Another message appeared but this one even stranger.
“The last actress didn't listen either.”
My blood ran cold.
“The last actress?”
I whispered.
Because suddenly… the dream role didn't feel like a dream anymore but felt like the beginning of a dangerous mystery.
And somewhere in Los Angeles…
Someone was watching the entire situation unfold.
Waiting patiently.
Because the truth about the movie… and the secrets hidden behind closed sets… were far darker than anyone realized.
- Writer
