Page 19 of Serving the Couturier

“I’m still not sure why you had her read again, Spencer,” Jerry said. “She’s certainly talented, but she must have some emotional issues giving such a poor first audition. What if she freezes up like that in front of a full house?”

“Oh, I’m confident it was just a onetime thing,” I replied, trying to reassure him. “She probably just had a rough day. That’s all.”

“I like her,” Darrel said. “It’ll come down to how she reads against Timothy, but I agree with Spencer. She’s my top pick.”

Jerry and Darrel and I went through the rest of the audition lists, and though we had a few minor differences, we could come to a consensus.

We made a list of callbacks for the next week, and they looked excellent. I was happy about all the promising callbacks, but if I was being honest, I couldn’t shake the excitement I felt for one specific reading. The thought of seeing London again was definitely intriguing.

I quickly reminded myself of the rule I had to never get involved with cast members in the shows I produced. London would be off-limits if she got the part.

I understood this potential obstacle, but dismissed it for now, knowing that I would have to face it if the time came.

ELEVEN

LONDON

I received the callback.

As I walked into the audition room, I steeled myself for the sight of Spencer at the table. He was there, his eyes on me as I entered. I also noticed another familiar face - Timothy Von Vierson, a well-known actor on the Broadway scene. Being slightly awestruck, I assumed they had cast him as Lance, and this callback was to assess our chemistry as the lead actors. If we didn’t have that spark on stage, I wouldn’t get the female lead role.

Timothy’s good looks couldn’t be denied. It was always a bonus when your leading man was easy on the eyes, and despite my nerves, I looked forward to performing with him.

“So good to see you again, Miss McCrae,” Spencer said, his smile polite and professional, with a hint of passion in his gaze.

As I approached Timothy and introduced myself, I forced myself to focus on the task at hand.

“Hi, I’m London,” I said with a warm smile.

“Timothy. It’s great to meet you,” he replied, his smile appearing forced, but he fixed his eyes on me, sizing me up.

I’d heard the rumors about Timothy’s arrogance, that he was a diva. I wasn’t sure if they were true, but I knew how to handle powerful personalities. Growing up around confident people had taught me how to hold my own and not be intimidated by their presence.

“Here’s your copy of the audition piece.” Jerry, the casting director, handed me the script, his face expressionless.

I thanked him and quickly scanned it before turning to Timothy. “Ready when you are.”

He stood, and a change came over him. Gone was any arrogance that came with being a talented and attractive actor.

In its place was Lance, a completely different character.

I was impressed and followed suit, transforming into Canty. I glanced at the script a few times, as the words flowed naturally this time. My eyes met Timothy’s and the energy between us was palpable as he leaned in for the kiss. His hands grasped my upper arms, and his mouth found mine. We held the embrace for a moment before stepping back and letting go of our characters.

I couldn’t hold back a smile after our performance, but my excitement faded as I saw the expressions on the faces of the three men in front of me. Something in Spencer’s expression made me uneasy. Jerry leaned back in his seat and commented, “I’m glad you didn’t need to ask for a second chance this time.” My smile faltered; that wasn’t what had happened.

Spencer chimed in, “She didn’t ask for a second chance. I offered her one because I believed she had more to offer. And it’s clear that she did.”

Jerry responded, “Maybe. Or maybe what Russ Heyworth said was true.” My heart sank at the mention of the name.

“Who’s Russ Heyworth?” Spencer asked.

“A fellow casting director,” Jerry replied. “He told me an interesting story about Miss McCrae.” He gave me a quick glance, but I couldn’t read his expression.

“Miss McCrae auditioned for him a couple of weeks ago,” Jerry continued. “According to Russ, she wasn’t happy when she wasn’t offered the part and proposed to sleep with him in exchange for the role. When he declined, she threatened to report him for inappropriate conduct.”

I was shocked. “That’s not what happened,” I said, my voice shaking. “I would never offer something like that. He made inappropriate advances towards me. He even grabbed my arm when I refused.”

“I believe her,” Spencer said firmly. “Miss McCrae is a highly talented actress. Why would she need to proposition someone for a part?”

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