Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
If Mom’s eyeballs could spin like a slot machine, they’d have just come up straight dollar signs. Jackpot. “When?”
He shrugs. “I’m not sure. It’s all very tentative and none of this leaves the table, understood.”
“Yeah, yeah. How much?” Mom asks.
Roger smiles widely. “Obviously nobody is making official offers yet, but based on the hype and what we know about their other projects, I think mid six figures to start. Potentially more if it does well and we can renegotiate for later seasons. It’s always a gamble with new IPs.”
My chest goes tight, stealing my ability to breathe. That’s so much money, at least when you’ve spent your whole life just trying to make ends meet. Oh my God. I could pay off everything, and actually afford to live in my apartment without credit cards.
“That’s it?”
Roger and I speak at the same time. “Sheila—” “Mom!”
“I’m just saying! You’re hot right now. Don’t sell yourself short.”
I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff. I know this is what I’m supposed to want. And part of me does. I love acting. It’s fun to put aside who I am for a while and slip on a new identity to challenge myself to imagine what someone else’s experience would be like. And working together with the cast and crew creates a bond that’s the closest I’ve ever felt to being part of a real family.
But I don’t feel excited. I’m terrified. “I—”
Mom cuts in. “She’s in. We can’t pass up on that opportunity if that’s the best we’ve got.”
Roger looks my way, giving me a chance to say something. We both know what Mom’s like, but she’s right. I can’t afford to pass this up, even if it scares me. The moment when the curtain goes up and I’m about to walk on stage is scary, too, but it’s always worth it.
So I nod. “Yeah, tell them I’m interested.”
“Alright. I’ll let them know. I don’t think we’ll hear much until at least the end of the summer, so just keep your nose clean and keep doing what you’re doing. They’ll be stupid to not pick you up while your name is hot. It’s good for both sides.” He makes some notes on the laptop before closing it.
We spend the next hour having lunch while we keep him company and catch up. We go over my interview with Cliff, and I tell him all the good parts of what’s been happening, leaving out anything that might worry him. In the back of my head the whole time is the wild concept of being successful enough to not worry about money. There’s no point in worrying about it yet, but eventually I’m going to have to talk to Mom about my finances.
I was a kid when I started picking up modeling and acting jobs, so it made sense for her to be in charge of everything. But now? Of course she should get paid for being my manager, but I shouldn’t be living off an allowance from my own paychecks.
When finally the door closes behind us, and it’s just her and me, she drags me along to the car, grinning ear to ear. “Did you hear that? All my work, everything I’ve sacrificed. It’s finally happening! Aren’t you excited? God, you’re such a killjoy sometimes.”
“I am! Honest! I guess I’m still worried about what happened at the party, and the message. Have they found anything out?”
“Hm? Oh, yeah. I passed everything on to our contact.”
“Was there anything in the drink? Erika saved it, right?”
She glances at me. “I’m sure they’re getting it tested. Trust me, baby, keeping you safe is my top priority. There were a lot of people there that night taking pictures. So far everyone agrees that the message probably wasn’t related. Just bad timing.”
“Right. What makes people send stuff like that?”
“Takes all kinds.” She pulls up in front of the apartment and stops.
“Do you want to come up? Get dinner or something?” I ask.
“Why? We just ate.”
Right. “Never mind.” I nearly manage to get the car door open on my own before Clarke is there.
“Ms. Callahan,” he greets me with a smile.
“Do you ever get a day off?” I tease.
He laughs. “Don’t know what I’d do with myself if I did to be honest.”
“Don’t forget your walk with Erika tomorrow!” Mom reminds me like she won’t be video calling me hours beforehand to make sure I’m wearing something she approves of.
“I won’t.” I roll my eyes and Clarke smirks.
He leans in. “You got a delivery earlier.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, looked like something big.”
I thank him, then take the elevator up, punch in the code for the door and look around. No packages here. Maybe Clarke made a mistake? I check the other rooms, and stop dead in my tracks.
There’s no way Mom did this, which leaves only one other possibility. I pull out my phone.