The quiet on Weston’s end of the line was almost too much for Stella. It was so still that she could hear every little detail of the background noise on her side. Weston sat on his leather sofa, the cool black material pressing against his skin. The rest of the room matched his calm demeanor—serene, almost cold.
“Where are you?” he asked, his voice cutting through the silence.
Stella quickly explained everything that had happened. After she finished speaking, there was a long, uncomfortable silence. Weston didn’t respond right away. She held her breath, waiting for him to say something. Finally, she hesitated before asking, “Can I… go home a little later today?”
Weston glanced at the time. “How late is ‘a little later’?”
Stella bit her lip, scanning the set around her. People were shouting, rushing back and forth. The area felt chaotic, and even though she had found a relatively quiet corner, she was still in the way at times.
“I don’t know how long this will take,” she said. “Once I’m done, I’ll let the driver know.”
Weston didn’t say anything further. Stella’s heart pounded as she waited for a response. She never knew what mood Weston would be in, and she feared his temper, not knowing if his displeasure would lead to something unpleasant.
The silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity before Weston finally ended the call. The beeping sound of the phone disconnecting was a sign of relief for Stella. He hadn’t been thrilled, but at least he hadn’t outright refused. If he had, he would’ve sent someone to pick her up.
Stella put her phone away and hurried back toward the stage. Ruby was still there, her part not yet over. The assistant, noticing her return, scowled.
“Where have you been?” he demanded, his tone sharper than necessary.
“Just there,” Stella replied, pointing to the quiet corner she had been in.
The assistant opened his mouth to reprimand her further, but then, when his gaze met hers, his anger seemed to dissipate. “Fine…” he muttered, his tone softening. “But next time, please let me know before you wander off. You’re the only one accompanying Ruby today. Mr. Smith and I go way back, so I’d be happy to help keep an eye on her, but I don’t want anything to happen to either of you.”
Stella smiled patiently, not bothered by his earlier irritation. She had been in worse situations before.
The assistant continued, now sounding somewhat embarrassed for snapping earlier. “We should’ve been able to wrap things up a while ago,” he said. “But if it hadn’t been for Guinevere Co—” He stopped himself mid-sentence. Realizing he had said too much, he quickly backtracked. “I mean, it’s just that there’s been a small issue, nothing to do with anyone in particular…”
He quickly corrected himself, trying to salvage the conversation. “There’s been a delay,” he explained. “Everyone is under a lot of pressure right now, so don’t take it personally.”
Stella, flattered by his need to explain himself, simply nodded. “Don’t worry about it,” she said with a reassuring smile. “I understand.”
Ruby, however, wasn’t taking things as calmly. Her nerves got the better of her. She had trouble remembering her lines, and as frustration built up, she snapped. Spotting her dance teacher nearby, chatting away instead of paying attention to her, Ruby’s temper flared. “I… I can’t remember my lines!” she shouted, her face flushed with embarrassment. “I’ve forgotten everything!”
The director, already in a foul mood, stood up abruptly. His patience, already thin, snapped completely. “Don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because you’re a kid!” he yelled, his anger directed squarely at Ruby.
Ruby’s lip trembled as she pouted and started crying. “But I really don’t remember!” she cried, wiping her tears with the back of her hand before sobbing louder.
Everyone on the set was now watching her, the tension palpable. The director’s patience was clearly wearing out. “This is an important scene!” he roared. “If you can’t do it, I’ll replace you!”
The assistant director quickly leaned in and whispered in the director’s ear. “She’s the only one here today. There’ve been some issues, so the others didn’t make it. If we don’t finish this scene, the entire schedule will be delayed. And if that happens, Guinevere Cohen will throw a fit.”
The director took a deep breath, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. He rubbed his nose, trying to compose himself. After a few moments, he turned back to Ruby, his voice now much softer. “Come on, clear your mind. This is your chance to become a star. Just try to remember your lines.”
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