Xin Street, Mory Estates, Apartment 507- New Jersey.
After going through a few scripts on the table, Sari sighed. Going through these scripts was making her annoyed. They were bad scripts and the contracts that followed them were filled with outrageous demands.
"Have a drink!" Gita returned to the hall with two mugs of coffee. She gave one to Sari before sitting down on the yellow comfy single pumped up couch.
Thank you, darling!" Sari took a sip and sighed.
"Are you going to reject them?" Gita asked.
"Mm! They're not good scripts. June is planning a comeback; we need a script that can give her image a boast. I don't want us to fail after being away for five years." Sari replied.
Over the last few weeks, she has been going through scripts, looking for the right script for June's comeback, but she just couldn't find the right script. Sari was getting frustrated.
Gita placed the mug down and picked her phone from the table. "Hello? Is this news reliable? Alright, thank you for letting me know. I'll buy you dinner sometime, bye!"
"Darling, I have some news to share." Gita hung up and said to Sari.
"What news?" Sari wasn't paying much attention.
"Donna has called it quits with the production team of 'Lovely You ', stating incompatibility with the male actor." Gita laughed. "Whoa! This is the fifth time such a thing has happened. I mean, production is already halfway, and she just quitted. What's even more, she is the fifth actress to quit the production." Gita said in a relaxed tone.
"What exactly does Luigi Oren want? Isn't he tired of being in the news for all the wrong reasons?" Sari shook her head.
"You can't blame him. Luigi gained his fame from his acting, before everyone even found out he's from old money. Now that he's personally investing in the movie, he wants it to be perfect." Gita stated defensively.
"You would support whatever he does, because you are such a sucker for his pretty face." Sari remarked mockingly.
"Darling, do you want me to inquire about who is going to be her replacement? Maybe, we can get our girl that spot for her comeback!" Gita smirked.
"Really? Can you do that?" Sari sat up straight.
"I know someone who knows someone in the production team. But why the hell is our main character? Did she go out?" Gita looked towards June's bedroom.
"She went to the orphanage. I will give her a call..." Sari picked up her phone at the side.
The call connected and June spoke. ,"I'm buying dessert to bring home."
Upon hearing that June was buying dessert, Gita snatched the phone from Sari.
"Darling, can you buy me chestnut cupcakes? I haven't eaten it in a while." Gita sucked her lips.
"Are you not on diet?" June asked, laughing in a low tone.
"Don't even mention it. I don't want to go on diet again. I'm already beautiful the way I am. I just need to maintain my weight of 65kg and I will be fine." Gita replied.
////
Savor Dessert
"Alright! I'm going, will be home soon." June hung up and turned to look at the desserts.
"Hi, one chestnut cake, one cheesecake and vanilla ice cream, thank you!" June gave her order before stepping away.
A distant corner, from the counter, someone mumbled June's name.
"June? I haven't seen her in five years. Can't believe I would see her here. She's still as pretty as before. Too bad, she was blacklisted after that scandal." Tony sighed, shaking his head.
The man sitting across him carefully turned to glance at June. "Who is she?" He casually asked.
"She is June Dame. Five years ago, she debuted in Director Vin's 'Dreaming of you ', and instantly became a household name because of how well she portrayed the character. Afterwards, she got a lot of offers but her fame didn't last. She got into a scandal, and her career went along with it. Of course, that's what everyone said, but in reality, she crossed a powerful person and got blacklisted." Tony explained.
Luigi humped. "Who did she cross?"
"Your uncle, Ziggy Owens! But I heard she wants to make a comeback but hasn't found the right script, and honestly, no one wants to go against your uncle."
"That pervert?" Luigi turned and looked at June again before saying. "Didn't that actress just quit? Give the script to her. Add this to the contract, she will be paid $500,000 dollars for the role and another $50,000 for her wardrobe and other things she might need during filming." He said with an interesting grin.
Tony's lips parted in shock. "Luigi, that's half a milli. The production team cannot handle that budget."
"Are you not the producer? You can't part with half a milli for the success of your project?" Luigi asked sarcastically.
"Boss, you're the big dog behind the scenes. Surely, if you are willing to negotiate that deal with me, I don't mind. But getting her involved in the project, will mean you want to get at it with your uncle!?" Tony reminded him.
"I've been wanting to mess with him. What better way than with a woman he can't have?"
"You are out of your mind." Tony laughed.
"I'm dead serious. Let her get the script by the end of tomorrow. I want a positive response!" Luigi said seriously.
"Give me a good reason." Although Luigi was a major investor, he was still the producer of the movie.
"She is beautiful!" Luigi smirked. His focus remained on June until she was inside the taxi.
June left the shop, not having any idea how her life was about to change.
.....
Mory Estates Apartment 507.
June opened the door and entered. Without wasting time, Gita stood up and took the bag from her.
"Just in time for me to enjoy these with a cup of cocoa drink. Anyone wants some?" Gita asked, walking towards the kitchen.
"I want coffee." June replied.
"I'm good!" Sari stated.
"I'm so tired. I'm going to change into something else." June went into her room.
A while later, they all sat in the hall, chatting.
"June, what do you think about this script? It's a minor character, but I think it's good for starters. It's the only script that doesn't have weird scenes, and the contract has a few good benefits in it." Sari passed a script to June as she spoke.
"I'll have a look at it." June responded. Her gaze shifted to her phone when she heard it ring.
"Wanda? Do you still keep in touch with that crazy woman?" Gita was sitting next to June, so she saw the caller ID.
"She's crazy, but not fake." June replied before answering the call. "Hello, Wanda. Yes, I'm doing well. Tomorrow? Sure, I can make it. Alright, thank you!"
"What did she say?" Sari and Gita asked, almost at the same time.
"She wants me to audition for 'Lovely You'. They want me there tomorrow morning." June was still shocked as she spoke.
"That fast?" Sari looked at Gita.
"I was planning to ask around to see if you could get a role in it. But this is too fast." Gita looked confused.
"Do you think I should go?" June asked unsurely.
"Absolutely!" Sari and Gita exclaimed.
"This is a God given opportunity, Darling. This movie has a lot of expectations. If you ace the audition, you could launch a big return to the big screen." Gita urged.
"This might be the opportunity we've needed all this while. Darling, it's good you kept in touch with Wanda. Indeed, she might be arrogant, but she's not fake. She's probably the only one in the industry that isn't afraid to associate with you." Sari acknowledged.
"But why is she not taking the lead role herself? She's the second female lead, but she could easily transition into the main role." Gita questioned.
"We will know her reason when we get there tomorrow. Sari, get me every information I need to know about the production team and maybe Luigi Oren too. I don't want to offend him by mistake tomorrow." June looked at Sari.
"Have you forgotten who's crush he is? We can get the information from Gita. She loves that man more than anything else." Sari said and turned to face Gita.
"Leave it to me!" Gita replied proudly.
...
Next day.
Studio Tomorrow.
Wanda's assistant met June and Sari outside the studio and showed them into the meeting hall where Wanda and Producer Tony were already seated.
"You are here? Sit down!" Wanda was looking into her tablet when they entered. She finished and placed the tablet on the table and looked up.
"You haven't changed at all, June." Wanda remarked before glancing at Sari. "And you still have your cousin as your manager." She added.
Sari rolled her eyes.
"This is Producer Tony, he's the main producer of 'Lovely You', and my brother-in-law. Tony, this is my friend, June, and Sari, her manager." Wanda introduced them.
"Hi, I'm Tony. Nice to meet you two. Let's sit down and talk." Tony shook their hands and sat down with them.
"Wanda, why aren't you taking up the role? Are you that kind to recommend my sister?" Sari asked right away.