Page 23 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
“I’ve no idea. When I went along it was just me and Mel and Doug, so Mel read with me. Dermot was the camera man.” Emily stirred in two sugar lumps. “They have to see what sort of screen presence I have, obviously.”
Jess nodded. “Obviously.”
“I think having Dermot there made me more nervous,” Emily admitted with another sigh. “Like, I want him to notice me but in the right way, you know?”
“I’m sure he was busy just concentrating on the screen test,” Jess said.
Emily looked at her sceptically. “Beforehand, he was joking around with some of the ADs and he wasn’t even looking at me.” She topped up her coffee and sighed. “He could have any girl he wants, Jess. Maybe I should just askhimout instead?”
Jess wasn’t sure if Emily was following a properly thought-out line of reasoning. Still, there was nothing stopping her doing what she wanted. Except that if she rushed things she might get hurt.
“Why don’t you wait a bit longer and see what happens? Even if you don’t get this part, you’ll get to know each other better.”
“I know, it’s just that he’ll only be here for a few weeks.” Emily sighed. “I should have just signed up to be an AD. But, sure, I couldn’t with my job anyway.”
Jess grinned. “Didn’t Robert say they’re glorified gofers?”
“Yeah, but they get to hang around the set all the time.” Emily finished her coffee. “I’d better head off. I’m not working today so I might just go home and get some stuff done.” She pulled at a thread on her jeans.
“Do me a quick favour?”
“Sure?”
“Robert’s friend, Shauna, sent me the promo footage for the new campaign, and I could do with another set of eyes on it before I send it for editing.”
“You wantmeto have a look?” Emily beamed. “That’d be awesome.”
“Great!” Jess got to her feet. “You’ll see it better on the laptop. Come on.”
They left the warmth of the orangery and walked down the east corridor towards the foyer.
“Jess?”
“Hmm?”
“You can totally say no if you want, and like, only say yes if you’re doing nothing or if –”
“Emily!” Jess looked over and laughed. “Just say it.”
“Do you want to come over to mine on Friday evening for pizzas and a movie?”
Jess didn’t hesitate. “I’d love to.”
Emily flushed. “Really?”
“It sounds perfect.”
CHAPTER 13
@starzwatch: Sources on the set ofAn Irish Inheritancehave claimed that on-set tension between director Doug Strathan and his wife, associate producer Mel Winters, has spilled into their personal life, as just weeks after settling into their luxury two-bed cottage in the grounds of Linford Castle, the couple are sleeping in separate beds. #TheLinfordCurse
“Oops, sorry!” Jess collided with a woman around her own age in the doorway of Ted’s store, and crouched down to help her pick up some dropped items.
“No bother.” The woman’s long, blonde hair partly obscured her face as she scooped up her shopping. “Thanks.” She straightened and walked quickly up the street in the direction of Linford Castle.
Idly, Jess wondered if she was one of the ADs on the movie. When Shauna had sent her all the footage for Jess’s new social-media campaign, she’d jokingly pointed out that the five runners who’d been hired were blonde, twenty-something women, all of whom wore a ‘uniform’ of black T-shirt and jeans on the set.
She took a small basket at the door and paused, resisting the urge to head straight for the chocolate. Since she’d arrived down, it had been her go-to snack. In an attempt to be healthy, she threw in a banana and a small net of oranges and brought them up to the counter. At the last minute, her gaze drifted to the Cadbury display and she added a Crunchie. It was all about small steps.
