Never Standing Still (The Never Duet #1)(6)
“Then perhaps we should wrap this game up. We can finish it tomorrow after your sister leaves for work.” Nancy was looking at Marcus as she said the words. “Go get ready for bed and then you can pick a movie to watch in your pajamas.”
Marcus grumbled a little, but thankfully made it to his bedroom without much fuss; a small victory.
“I’m sorry, Nancy. I didn’t expect to be gone again so soon.”
“Don’t worry about it, honey. This is your job, and this is a big opportunity. Don’t worry about us.”
“Yeah,” Mr. Bob piped in. “I’ll make sure everything’s taken care of around here.”
I laughed. “Thanks. I appreciate it.” I looked back at Nancy. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“And we’ll be waiting, just like we always are.” Her smile was sweet, motherly. There were a few times I’d wondered why Nancy never had kids. She took care of Marcus like he was her own, and she definitely cared for me, but I couldn’t help but think of how great a mother she would have been to her own kids. I stood up and went to stand behind her chair. I leaned down and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, putting my cheek right up against hers.
“You’re the best,” I whispered. What I really wanted to tell her was that I loved her, but I never said those words to anyone. Any time I’d ever said those words to someone, they were taken from me. I couldn’t even bring myself to say them to Marcus, even though I loved him more than anything in the world. But I justified it in my mind by telling myself that he knew I loved him, that he could feel it from me and knew it, even if I couldn’t say it.
She patted my arms again, gently rubbing her hand up and down my forearm. “You better go to bed early, Kalli. You’ve got a big day ahead of you.”
The next morning I pulled into the parking lot at Satin Look studios with five minutes to spare. I walked into the lobby, shoulders pushed back, head held high, trying to appear confident and professional, all while I was trembling on the inside. This was, by far, the most important job I’d ever been offered; it needed to go amazingly well.
“Good morning. Can I help you?” The friendly greeting came from a tiny brunette behind a desk and her smile was as welcoming as her voice.
“Yes, hi. My name is Kalli Rivers, and I’m here to meet with someone about the Lexi Black shoot.”
“Oh, yes. Hi! We’ve been expecting you. George is really looking forward to your arrival.”
“George?”
“George Lebowitz.”
I choked on the breath I drew in, coughing, sputtering.
“George Lebowitz?”
The receptionist smiled as if she were used to people freaking out over his name. He was one of the most famous directors in Hollywood. I couldn’t fathom why he’d be in Portland doing a music video, but it wasn’t up to me to question his motives. Whatever level of nerves I’d been feeling before I walked in the studio, it had been instantly amplified and dread was now coursing through my veins. I could not be working for George Lebowitz.
The woman wasted no time having me sign the standard contract and I looked over all the terms, finding them very generous. Then she slid a credit card across the counter toward me.
“Here is your card for all purchases. Please just be sure to get receipts for all transactions, and return the card when you’re done purchasing for the shoot.”
I smiled at her and put the card in my wallet.
“Just follow me this way and we’ll find him around here somewhere, I’m sure.” The receptionist took me back through hallways lined with prints from famous movies and videos, presumably stills from videos shot in this studio. My eyes wandered over the stills and I couldn’t help but feel like it was a lot of pressure to live up to. I was beginning to think I’d gotten myself in over my head.
“Mr. Lebowitz?” the receptionist called out as we walked into a huge warehouse. My eyes grew wide as they fell upon George Lebowitz standing in what might have been one of the biggest and nicest sound stages I’d ever seen. The equipment was state of the art, the lighting looked more complex than any I’d ever seen, and the sets that I could see were beautiful.
Yep. I was definitely in over my head.
“Mr. Lebowitz, this is Kalli Rivers, the costume designer you’ve been waiting for.”
My hackles immediately rose and I broke in to defend myself.
“I’m so sorry if you’ve been waiting long. I was told to be here at nine, I apologize if that was incorrect—”
“No, you’re fine,” he said, waving away my panic. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you.” He put his hand out to me, a friendly smile on his face, and I shook it, hoping I hadn’t already ruined my only chance at a good first impression.
“Hi,” I replied, trying to appear less shaken than I was.
He took his hand from mine and turned abruptly, walking away. It took me a second before I realized I was supposed to follow, so I took a few big steps to catch up.
“Video shoot is tomorrow, Lexi is in the back dressing room now waiting for a fitting, the male talent will be here soon—we’re still ironing out all those details.” He was walking very fast, and I had a hard time keeping up. Usually I would have a notebook out, taking everything he said down, but he’d caught me off guard and I only had my memory to rely on. I followed him as he rattled off information that I stored away in the “Not Terribly Important” file in my mind as he led me onto an even bigger sound stage.