Forever and a Day Page 6

  JJ gave her a sympathetic look.

  “I don’t think I can win this one…”

  JJ watched a shadow of sadness wash over her friend’s flawless face, “I’m sorry, I wish I could do something to help.”

  “Listening to me whine and complain is more than enough. Hey, did you check out the Oregon guy in the office’s security cam?”

  “Nope, not yet.” JJ giggled a little, “I always feel like such a sneak when I do.”

  Halo gave JJ a playful push towards the office door, “Well girl? Go check him out and report back!”

  JJ groaned and left Halo’s office for the adjacent room. Looking into the monitor, she gave a squint as she made out Xander sitting on the couch. JJ stuck her head back into Halo’s office, “Hey!” She whispered loudly, “Come here!” She giggled, “I think he’s asleep!”

  Halo grinned, “Really? Ok, I gotta see this!” She snickered and joined JJ in the adjacent room. She squinted at the image of the person on the monitor, “It’s hard to tell, but looks like he is… his eyes are closed.”

  JJ pointed at the monitor, “He looks different from his head shots. Is that really him?” JJ squinted again at the monitor.

  “One sec.” Halo went back into her office and retrieved his file. Back at the monitor, she pulled out his 8x10 glossy headshot and held it up so they both could see it. She paused for a long moment as she looked at his picture, “Oh, uh, his hair is done differently, but yes I think it’s him.” She looked on the back of the headshot, “Xander Kostinos is his name, sounds Greek to me!” JJ joined Halo in giggling.

  JJ pointed to the headshot, “Nice looking guy.”

  Halo gave JJ a big smile, “Hey, why don’t you go in there and say hi. Grab a water bottle or something…” Halo elbowed her friend, “that way we know for sure!” Halo bounced her blonde eyebrows at JJ.

  JJ’s eyes widened, “What? No way!” JJ begged off with her hands waving at Halo, “Oh come on, please don’t make me go in there! Halo!”

  “Come on JJ!” Halo gave JJ a little playful push, “Just go in there and introduce yourself and ask him, um… about Oregon or something!”

  JJ opened her mouth then quickly closed it, hoping Halo would change her mind by her staying silent.

  Halo pouted and patted JJ’s arm and began moving towards the door, “Ok, I’ll go in there then…”

  JJ grabbed Halo’s hand, “No! Holy cow Halo, you can’t be serious. You might make the poor guy nervous! The first thing he needs to see is you. You know how guys get around you…”

  Halo wrinkled her nose at JJ, “Alright. Then you have to do it.”

  JJ rolled her eyes and looked up at the ceiling and raised her palms up in the air, looking back to Halo she nodded, “Fine, FINE! I’ll go be your spy.” JJ sighed, “Do I look ok?”

  Halo shrugged, “Don’t hunch, you are always hunching. Be happy you are tall, and yes you look fine.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” JJ said and headed out the door.

  “Oh, JJ?” Halo said and watched JJ turn to her.

  “Yes, what now? Want his marital status too?”

  “Sure. But I want you to ask him how his meeting with Ari Ascher went today.” Halo watched JJ’s jaw drop and Halo let out a laugh.

  “Oh my God! He met with Ari today! How?” She exclaimed.

  Halo waved JJ off with her hand, “Forgot to tell you. Caleb called me with the details. I guess he sat next to Christina on the plane down here. What are those odds? Anyway just kidding about asking him about Ari, I think I’ll give Ari a call myself.” Halo made a shooing motion at JJ with a mischievous smile.

  “Fine, boss lady. I’m going!” JJ huffed.

  “Oh, don’t mention you are my assistant.” Halo watched JJ throw her hands up in the air as she disappeared from view.

  Halo chuckled as she went back to her office. Sitting down in her chair, she reached for her Dolce and Gabbana, black satchel, dug out her cell phone and dialed up Ari Ascher’s private number. She swept back her long wavy golden blonde hair and put the phone up to her ear. She heard the phone ring once before a man’s voice answered.

  “Good afternoon, Halo. I was expecting your call, albeit sooner. What question can I assist you with? I do assume it’s about Christina’s… excuse me, for some ungodly reason it’s now Tina.” Ari cleared his throat and continued, “Tina’s new crush and benefactor, Xander Kostinos.”

  “Hello Ari, hope I’m not catching you at a bad time?” Halo asked.

  “Halo, my dear. Honestly it’s never a bother taking your call.” Ari replied.

  “So what can you tell me about my mystery man, who was seen by my driver talking to you this morning, please?”

  “Of course, but first I must remind you that as a producer you have to stay on top of events and being a young woman here in the business, you have to be doing everything exceptionally better and always stay a step ahead. I keep explaining this to you out of my affection for you and out of respect for your father and mother.”

  “As always Ari, thank you. My Mystery man?” Halo did her best to hide her impatience.

  “Of course.” Ari replied and Halo thought Ari might be smiling into his phone as he continued, “As you know we all usually fly Virgo, apparently Tina’s flight was cancelled and Annabeth put her on the next available flight. Unknown to myself, Tina took it upon herself to pass on a tranquilizer.” Ari paused and mumbled to someone from where ever he was, “Apologies, where was I? Oh yes, Xander, your mystery man, was seated next to Tina and was able to assist her through her anxiety spell. Rather odd fellow, he had the flight attendant help her with her seatbelt rather than tighten it himself. Very proper and polite I’d say. As a matter of fact he respectfully declined my offer of assistance in calling you personally about his audition today.”

  “Really?” Halo said interrupting Ari.

  “Yes. As I recall he said something to the fact: ‘I will kick myself later, but I feel I must do this on my own with my abilities. Oh yes, and that I promised I would keep it quiet, as his agent would terminate him as a client if he found out he passed on my offer. I offered him my discretion and expect the same from you.”

  “Of course Ari.”

  “Halo, other than what I described, he apparently is a good fellow and as Tina reported, very intelligent. Concerning his acting ability? I have no clue, though if my daughter had her way she would be rallying the troops at your door for his cause.”

  Halo heard Ari let out a short chuckle, “So, how is um, Tina doing?”

  “Fine, her new ambition is to become a pilot to overcome her fear of flying. This I owe due to your mystery man’s conversation with Tina. Other than that, she wants to grow up to be you.”

  “Aww.” Halo gushed, “Well give her a hug and kiss for me please.”

  “Certainly. Halo, have you completed the audition as of yet?”

  “Soon, we are waiting for Joel to get back from lunch.” Halo sighed into the phone, “Joel and Deacon are adamant on keeping Johnny Stone on…” Halo heard Ari grunt quietly.

  “Speaking of the devil himself… about Joel Miller.”

  “Ari, thank you but my dad already warned me about him.”

  Ari interrupted, “My dear, there are things even your father does not know about Joel Miller. Please take heed when I tell you this.” He paused.

  “Yes Ari, I’m listening.”

  “Good. About Joel… watch your back with him and do not ever embarrass him in front of people. If you were my daughter, I would advise you to limit your time alone with him. I am sure he will behave, as he knows your father and I do business together. Now listen closer, if Joel ever threatens you, you will call me. I have people who can help. You understand my meaning?”

  “Um… yes Ari. I—I do. I’ll be careful.”

  “And stay one or more steps ahead at all times.”

  “Thank you Ari.”

  “Yes, and if your Mystery man proves to be a decent actor I will expect communication f
orthwith.”

  “Of course Ari. Oh, Ari?” Halo smiled into her phone.

  “Yes?”

  “Hope you have a happy birthday!”

  “Oh?” He chuckled, “My thanks. Good day to you Halo.”

  Halo heard the line go dead. She smiled bigger as she put her phone in her jeans pocket. Ari Ascher was one of the biggest Producers in Hollywood, as well as the most mysterious. Most people only knew him by his name and his appearances at charity functions, other than that he kept to the shadows. She had deduced it was his birthday or something special as Christina was visiting while school was in session.

  Halo got up and checked the security monitor. She saw JJ sitting on the couch with the Mystery man, close but not too close to be awkward. They were both chatting away and JJ was clearly enjoying it.

  Halo’s phone vibrated, it was a text from Joel saying he was on his way back from lunch.

  Halo quickly shot off a text to JJ to come on back. Soon she heard JJ coming down the hallway and met her at the door. JJ was smiling ear to ear, “Ok JJ, what’s up? You looked like you were enjoying your conversation with my Mystery man!” Halo giggled and grabbed JJ’s hand and pulled her into her office, “Fess up!” Halo urged.

  “Well, he is a very, very nice guy! He has these really intense deep green eyes, and he’s got that beautiful skin tone…” JJ gushed and smiled at Halo, “He told me his father was Greek and his mother was from England…”

  “Oh! What else?”

  “Well wanna hear the bad?”

  Halo sighed, “Might as well…”

  “Married and runs his own care business with his wife.” JJ gave Halo a frown, “The good ones seem to always be taken or gay…”

  Halo interrupted by blurting out, “Hey now, I never said I was interested, nor am I looking…”

  “Yeah, right… well I think you will like him—regardless.”

  “So what did you two talk about, other than his wife?” Halo said as she sat down in her chair.

  “Besides that?” JJ stopped talking and shrugged, “Well, he pretty much asked about me.”

  Halo saw JJ’s cheeks blush pink, “Oh? Like what?” Halo quipped.

  “Well, like things I liked to do, any good places to eat at, or any fun places I like to visit… you know? He made me feel important, uh, like I mattered. It was nice…”

  “Was he like hitting on you JJ?” Halo asked surprised.

  “Oh no! Not at all, he was sincere… nice.” JJ smiled sheepishly and shrugged her shoulders.

  “I see…” Replied Halo giving her friend a raised eyebrow, “According to Ari, he helped out Christina on the plane. Hell, he even turned Ari down on his offer of help, oh and that stays between us. I thought he might be a bit arrogant because of that, but what you described? I’m impressed, I sure hope to hell he can act. I think I like him already…”

  “Oh you will. By the way he seems kinda familiar…”

  “Yeah…ok, stop. I don’t want to hear anymore. I want to see him on my big screen where I can get a good look and decide for myself.”

  JJ smiled and with her fingers, she pantomimed a zipping motion over her lips, “You got it boss lady.”

  Both women stopped talking and turned, as a high-pitched man’s voice came calling from the doorway, “Ladies! I have returned! I saw that we have a little fish out in the lobby. I think he needs to go back to his little mud puddle where he spawned from. So let’s get this shit over with already.” Joel Miller sneered and walked over to one of the vacant seats in front of Halo’s TV.

  Halo watched as Joel settled into the chair. At thirty years old, Joel still had the body type of a nerdy teen. He stood about five seven and Halo thought he might weigh about one hundred and twenty soaking wet. The guy missed the call when they announced the looks genes were being handed out. His nose was long and big, much bigger than his pinched face could handle. He had thick black eyebrows and when he smiled, he always seemed to be leering. His hair was black and he styled it in a messy look, but by the end of each day, it would fall straight down and look stringy. He sported black thick framed glasses, which did little to help his looks but it did help hide his gray thick hooded eyes.

  Her father had characterized Joel as being the typical spoiled rotten kid. Who would use his high-end Italian cars, money and family name to influence and bed any girl who struck his fancy. Halo knew Joel carried the so-called torch for her, and she had let him know in no uncertain terms that she was all business and never let him forget it.

  Halo sighed, “Joel, this guy flew down here at the last minute for us. Johnny Stone is your buddy and all, but YOU don’t have to have Johnny pawing his hands all over your body. He makes my skin crawl…”

  Joel turned and held his skinny arms out wide, “Halo…”

  Halo voice was terse, “Dammit Joel, do not cut me off! If Johnny leers at me one more time I will exercise my option, pull out as Producer, and take my financing with me. Do I make myself clear?”

  Joel held up his hands, trying to placate her, “Fine, fine. I’ll watch your little fish—I mean the guy. Hey, we all know you like to give new peeps a shot, and in a way, I respect that. I saw the guy when I came in, he looks ok but too friendly, and his eyes are too wishy-washy. Yeah, Johnny is my bud… but he does like you.”

  Halo pointed her finger at him, “Likes me?” Then she raised her voice, “All he wants to do is feel me up so he can go home and get his jollies off. I can feel him undress me every time he sees me; he is not one bit discrete about it!”

  “Wow! Ok babe, sorry I hit your nerve there…”

  Halo stood up and leaned over her desk towards Joel and glared, “Don’t you ever fucking call me ‘babe’ again. Do I make myself clear?”

  Just then, a deep baritone voice full of calm sounded out from her office doorway, “Are we at this again?”

  Joel rolled his eyes, “Isn’t it obvious enough?”

  Halo felt the aggravation rise up in her and she simply glared silently at Deacon James, the film’s DP. Halo took in a deep breath to calm herself. Deacon was a first class Director of Photography, and knew his craft inside and out. His last four films were huge moneymakers and she knew she needed him as much as the film needed her. Despite him being in his fifties, she thought his looks would fit in well with all the surfer boys down at Zuma beach. She watched Deacon nod at her and sit down in front of her desk next to Joel.

  “Halo, this next audition is the guy from Oregon?”

  “Yes. He’s flew down here this morning last minute and he has been waiting patiently for quite some time.”

  Halo recalled their earlier conversation, Deacon told her to she had to think with her producer ‘hat’ on while pre-production was happening, instead of her acting ‘hat’ to which she was accustomed. He was right up to a point. If it were not for her revulsion with Johnny, Deacon and Joel would be dead on with having Johnny on simply for name recognition.

  It would be bad for the film if she and Johnny started fighting on set. She recalled a story of a famous actress, much like herself, bite her co-star so hard during a kissing scene that he had to have stitches which forced a delay in filming. She did not want it to go that far.

  Deacon had told her that even if any of the new auditions ‘killed’ it, he would more than likely side with Joel. He speculated discretely to her that he thought Johnny Stone had something on Joel and now Joel was being held accountable. She thought if that was the case, it must be big.

  Halo changed her tack. She sat down and faced the screen as the two men eyed her, “I feel so bad making him come down here.” She sighed and continued with remorse, “I remember all the hopes and expectations in all my past auditions…”

  Deacon made sour face, “Even if he proves to be decent, we don’t even have a bone to throw him. All the parts are cast, at best we can ask him to be a backup for a minor role.” He looked at Halo and gave her a little smile, “Well, let’s see what he’s got.” He pointed to his blonde unk
empt hair, “Remember, Producer hat.”

  Halo simply nodded. She reached for her earpiece and put it in. Depressing the send button, she called JJ in. She sat back in her chair and nudged one of her black Louboutin pump’s off her heel and began surreptitiously slipping it nervously off and on. JJ quietly slipped in and took a seat next to Halo.

  “Susie?” Halo said into her headset.

  “Yes Halo?”

  “We are ready. Go ahead when you are ready with Mr. Kostinos.”