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“I’m as you say, old school.”
She winks at Nico, and he smiles in response.
“So, what brings you here?”
Nico angles his body, extending his hand to me. “I have a new agent. This is Willow Duvall. She’s helping me get back on track.”
Shay steps forward and gives me a warm hug. She smells like vanilla and menthol, a strange mixture that makes my nose tingle.
“Nice to meet you, Willow. You’re doing something right if Nico is visiting me after all these years.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” I say as I step out of her arms. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“All good things, I hope.”
“You’re the Movie Star Whisperer,” I joke.
She laughs. “No one’s called me that in years.”
“It’s true,” Nico chimes. “Shay’s made more careers than any acting coach in Hollywood.”
Shay’s cheeks flush crimson. “Stop flattering me.”
“I was hoping to join the group tonight,” Nico admits.
Shay’s gaze travels around the room. The surprised faces in the crowd show they are equally excited about Nico’s presence.
Shay grabs his hand. “It’s improv night. Come on. I’ll introduce you.”
I take a seat a few rows back and dig my cell phone from my purse. A few emails require my attention. Burke wants me to call Carrie Le Blanc in the morning because she has answered none of his calls. We had a successful trip to New York, and Carrie seemed interested in switching from JTA to Brenton-Lake. But maybe, in this case, Carrie just needs a woman’s touch to seal the deal.
I type back a response to Burke and get his Out of Office message. A mid-sized studio sent me a form response email thanking me for my interest in one of their movies. I won’t even bother telling Nico about that. Rejecting Nico by fucking email is harsh. Jerks.
On stage with Nico, Shay announces the first improvisation topic—Boys in Blue. Nico and a redheaded woman have to play good cop-bad cop and interrogate a man suspected of stealing women’s underwear from Victoria’s Secret. It’s a ridiculous but funny scene where Nico shines as an actor. Nico plays the bad cop, getting in the suspect’s face.
I sink back in my chair, laughing along with the people sitting in the first few rows, awaiting their turn. Maybe I’ll find some talent among the group of eager actors. Vinnie Sax discovered Nico at one of Shay’s famous theater nights.
My cell phone buzzes in my purse, and my pulse pounds when I see Firehouse Films flashing on the screen. Nico is in the middle of an improv skit, busy with his acting group. I sneak along the row and rush up the center aisle toward the back of the room and answer the call.
“We’re passing on Nico,” Doug Cavanaugh says. “I thought you should hear it from me instead of my assistant.”
My heart sinks into my stomach. Nico is making progress, one step at a time, and this could crush him.
“Thanks for letting me know.”
“I still have my reservations about Nico,” he admits. “But I might have something for him in a few months. The project shoots in New Zealand.”
“We would love to work with you.”
“I’m looking at other actors at the moment. But if they don’t pan out, we’re interested in Nico.”
“That would be great. Thank you, Mr. Cavanaugh.”
He mutters a quick goodbye, and then the call ends. I stare at the screen, still in disbelief. In a short time, I’m making headway with Nico’s career. Sure, he didn’t get the part in War of the Gods, but at least I have one studio that’s not repulsed by him. Vinnie Sax’s mistake was focusing on big studios, while I’m going the independent route.
I stroll into the theater where Nico and his group are now gathering in front of the stage. People circle Nico, so enamored by him. It brings a smile to my face. He was so worried about getting rejected before we walked into the theater.
I shove my phone into my purse and watch Nico in action. He’s so charismatic and full of energy. Ash had complained about his drinking and disheveled appearance, but since Nico lives with me, it’s as if he’s a different person.
Nico finishes up with his new friends and eventually strolls up the aisle to meet me, greeting me with one of his movie stars smiles. “I guess you can say, I told you so.”
I shake my head. “Nah. I’m happy for you, Nico. I knew they would welcome you back.”
“You never seem to doubt me.”
“I think you’ve read too many negative comments online, and all of that noise has gotten to your head. Their negative energy could be the reason your career started slipping. You’re not allowed to read Variety, or Google yourself, or do any of the harmful, self-destructive things you’ve done in the past. And stay off social media. Understand?”
