Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (27 page)

“You’re not Marko.” Madeline let out a laugh. “But speaking of self-insertion…”

“What?” Self-insertion? Scene adding? No flashbacks? This woman was tearing his script to shreds. “What else is wrong with Marko?”

“It’s not Marko, its Lena.” A smile grew over her face. “Let me ask you something.”

His female protagonist. “Yes.” Truth be told, he was still back on scene adding and now he felt desperate for a flashback. Actually, he wanted to vomit, but they were at the studio in a semipublic private place.

“You based her off your past relationships?” She raised her eyebrows.

Not knowing how to answer her, he didn’t answer her.

“Marko is clearly you, or what you perceive yourself to be, so Lena clearly has to be the woman you think you want.” Madeline’s eyes crinkled with her smile.

“Is this a problem?” No way would he confirm or deny her suspicions.

“She needs depth.” Madeline handed him another page of notes.

Fine, he was with a lot of shallow people. Depth, scenes, flashback, self-insertion. He wrote a piece of shit. Why didn’t she just say it? “What do you suggest?” Head hung low, he put his proverbial tail between his legs and waited for the next knife to go in his chest.

“Don’t have her fall in instant love, have her stand up for herself. It’s okay if she doesn’t agree with Marko all the time. She is more than just an accessory to your hero.”

Madeline’s words resonated around him. All her words. She was a seasoned screenwriter, an excellent one. Cora hired her, and he went to her for advice. If he allowed himself a moment to step back, he could see the musical scene, get what she said about adding more to Marko, and deep down he always knew Lena needed work. The heroine was two dimensional, flat and boring. He needed to make her smart, funny, a match for Marko, more like…like…like… “Oh my god.” The blood rushed through his veins at his revelation.

“There it is, that spark. That’s my favorite feeling. What did you discover?” Madeline shifted in her seat.

“I think I got it.” He breathed the words. “Lena is different.”

“Your story is different.” Madeline clapped. “They say we pull from what we know. Make those changes, and you have a great film. Excellent commercial potential.” She handed him the rest of her notes.

“Thank you.” He gathered up the papers. “What can I do for you?” Did he pay her?

“A credit when the film is made would be perfect.” She graced him with another snort and pulled one last thing out of her pile and held it out, transforming once more into the hurricane. “Maybe a signature.”

He took the glossy recently taken of the
Hollywood Stardom
cast. Everyone else had signed it. Once she had his signature, it would make real money, and she deserved it. He grabbed a marker out of his bag, signed his name as not to cover any important part of the picture and personalized it for her. “I have some writing to do.”

They both stood and headed toward the exit. He had to get to lunch with the woman who was truly Lena. She was his key to making this movie and having his life back.

HOLLYWOOD STARDOM

FADE IN:

INT. ARIZONA – ROXY AND STEVEN’S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

STEVEN and ROXY enter their home.

STEVEN

(Closes the door)

We’re ready. Filming starts next week.

ROXY

(Smiling, she backs up, and motions for Steven to follow.)

Oh, Mr. Director, I think I need some extra special tutoring.

STEVEN

(Crosses arms)

Oh, is that so?  Don’t I give you constant attention every day?

ROXY

(Kicks off her shoes and lays down the sofa)

Seems right now I need something more.

STEVEN slowly walks across the room, stops and looks down at her.

ROXY

What is it?

STEVEN

Did you ever think we would make it here?

ROXY

(Holds her arms out to him)

Part of me always knew it, part of me thought we would never be here, part of me thought we would be farther along.

STEVEN

(Joins her on the couch and takes her into his arms)

What if Miss Roxy never gets what she wants?

ROXY

I don’t think you can deny me anything.  You made me a star.

STEVEN

(Let’s out a laugh)

That’s only because I can make you into what I want.

ROXY

And you always get what you want.

STEVEN

Just like I can deny you nothing.

(He pulls her in for a kiss.)

You’ll get what you want when I want it as well.

ROXY pulls back, looks into Steven’s eyes then kisses him once more.

Chapter Thirteen

Cora opened her eyes and held her breath before glancing at the clock. After saying a silent cheer, she had at least another hour before Ryder had to get up for the first day of shooting
Hollywood Stardom
, she turned over onto what was fast becoming her favorite sleeping surfaces. Namely Ryder’s chest.

With a satisfied moan, he wrapped his arms around her and settled back down.