Saturday, December 26, 2015

Lexy

Jeremy Covello was getting annoyed.  His client, Alexandra, had had an audition a few hours ago.  Normally the shy girl would check in with him immediately afterwards so they could go over how she felt about it and what she thought she could have done better.  Alexandra was a good kid, but he didn't know how she'd ever make it in Hollywood.  Realistically he wouldn't have bothered representing her except that her daddy was a big shot producer and director.  Jeremy figured it was a small price to pay to get a bit more of the insider scoop around her father's movies.

He glanced out the window in time to see her car pulling up.  Why didn't she just phone him like normal?  He sighed.  Whatever.  She was here now.  Might as well get this over with so he could go back to his more lucrative clients.

Expecting her usual timid knock at his door, Jeremy was taken aback by the brazen young woman who barged into his office ahead of his secretary.  She still looked like Alexandra, at least as far as he could tell under the professionally applied makeup (something Alexandra never wore) and in the beautifully fitting dress (again, something she never wore).  Her hair, normally curly, was ramrod straight, suiting her beautifully.  She walked with the easy confidence that demanded attention, rather than the mousy demeanor he was used to.  She stood in front of his desk for a moment, hands on her hips. 

"A...Alexandra.  I was expecting a call."  He managed to recover himself quickly enough.  "How did the audition go?"

"Well, the part was beneath me.  But I understand how these things work.  I have to start somewhere, right?" 

Even her words took him aback.  "Right."

"I expect you'll be getting a call at any moment, telling you I killed it."

Ring!  Jeremy's eyes widened as he slowly reached for the receiver.  "Hello?  Yes.  That's fantastic news!  I'll tell her right away!"  He slowly replaced the receiver in the cradle.  "How did you know?"

"I told you, I killed it.  But that's not why I'm here today."

"It's not?"

"No, I think we need to do something more about my branding."

"Branding?"

"For one thing, I don't think 'Alexandra' has the right ring to it.  And as much as using daddy's name comes with it's own set of advantages, I don't think I'll be needing those.  I'm going to build my star power on my own merit."

"What..." He was very thankful to already be sitting.  "What were you thinking?"

"Something along the lines of 'Lexy' has a better ring to it.  You can help me with a better-sounding last name since that won't go so well with 'Lawrence.'"

Her phone beeped. She looked down at the incoming text.  "Oh, that's daddy wanting to meet me for lunch.  I simply have to go tell him the good news.  Now be a dear and try to find me a better part than the bookstore clerk who only has one line?"  And she breezed out of Jeremy's office, acting for all the world like she already was a world-famous movie star.