Page 66 of Best Served Hot
The bartender produced a bottle and two glasses, and Nicole resisted the urge to ask the price. Money came, and money went. Jobs came and went. Optimism was in the air, and that was a rarity. You had to grab those moments when they came.
Nicole poured two glasses and handed one to Alex. ‘To—’
‘Ooh, what are you two toasting?’ asked a voice. They turned to see Kendall Evans had escaped the clutches of Ethan.
‘Oh, just the end of the season,’ Alex said, adding honestly, ‘Been quite a ride.’
‘I’ve been meaning to say, I don’t know exactly what happened before, but I hope you know everyone thought Ethan was a shit to sack you,’ Kendall said sincerely.
‘They did?’ Alex asked. She looked so surprised; it fairly broke Nicole’s heart. She didn’t think anyone cared about her at the show. But of course they did. How could they not? She was Alex.
‘Of course,’ Kendall assured her. ‘I’m really glad you found a way to come back. We were glad to see you.’
‘Oh, uh, well…’
‘And actually, I think you were where you should have been all along. You’re a great energy to have on the set,’ Kendall said with moderate passion.
Alex looked like she might explode from embarrassment. ‘Thanks, Kendall. That’s nice to hear.’
‘You’re a great team, actually,’ Kendall said, addressing Nicole, too.
Nicole looked to Alex. ‘Thank you. I couldn’t agree more.’
‘Look, I’ve been meaning to have a chat with you both,’ Kendall said, her voice quietening down.
Nicole and Alex leaned in. ‘Oh?’ Nicole asked.
‘Yes. Well, the thing is—and please keep this under your hat—but I’m leaving the show.’
Alex arched an eyebrow. ‘Yeah? Greener pastures, I assume.’
Kendall smiled humbly. ‘I hope so. Gonna do a three-ep arc next season, tie off my character. Ethan’s still trying to get me to stay. He keeps upping the offer, but I just think it’s time. Don’t get me wrong, I got my start here, and I’ll always be grateful, but…’
She didn’t need to finish the sentence, both Nicole and Alex were nodding sagely, and it was understood without words that the show, whatever it had been at one time, sucked now. No rational person with a chance to leave should let that opportunity slide.
‘So I’ve been looking for the right role for a while, and I found something by an unknown writer that I just think is gonna make a hell of a movie. I’m producing it myself,’ Kendall told them.
‘Wow, good for you,’ Alex said happily.
Kendall looked pained. ‘I wish my agent was as happy. I’m getting offers for this and that, and he wants me to take the money and run. But I want to have a satisfying career. I don’t want to play the lead’s girlfriend in action movies.’
Nicole nodded. ‘That’s smart. You’re a talent. You should have the career you want. And it sounds like you will.’
‘Thanks, Nicole, that’s really kind of you to say,’ Kendall said, beaming. ‘But the thing is, we’re looking for the right director. And you’ve been great for the show. You know, for what it is,’ she said as kindly as possible. ‘I was hoping you—well,bothof you—might want to take a look at the script. It’s low-budget, I’m afraid, so maybe not the fee you’re used to, Nicole, but I’m kind of hoping you might like the script enough to do it anyway?’ Kendall asked with a touching shyness.
Nicole smiled, pleased. She’d have been very glad to take a look at the script. ‘That’s actually…’ She stopped mid-sentence. She’d been struck by a thought. A naughty thought. But an irresistible one. ‘That sounds great, but I’m booked with projects for the foreseeable future,’ she lied.
‘Oh, damn. I knew that was likely, but I guess I hoped to get lucky,’ Kendall said sadly. ‘We probably couldn’t afford you anyway.’
‘Hey, did you know that Alex isn’t just my assistant? She’s a director in her own right?’ Nicole asked brightly.
‘Nicole…’ Alex sputtered.
Nicole was undeterred. ‘She went to BSF, has a BAFTA and everything. She’s kind of been knocked off track, but she’s moving back into directing.’
Kendall looked at Alex anew. ‘You are?’
‘You’ve got a showreel, right?’ Nicole asked Alex, who was agape.
