Authors: Ruby Preston
Scarlett had seen the list and was thrilled that so many of Broadway’s top actors and actresses were interested in their show. It was a good sign that buzz of their work had already infiltrated the artistic circles. That boded well for the show’s future. Getting one or two big Broadway names onboard would be a huge plus for the show.
“Try to be objective, guys,” Scarlett
said
. “We’re casting a show, not putting together an all-star concert.”
“Would it be unprofessional to ask for autographs?” Jersey Jeremy
asked
. Scarlett and Buff Jeremy opened their mouths to object, but he cut them off. “Only kidding, only kidding.” Under his breath he added, “Sort of...”
Scarlett smiled. It was refreshing to work with people who were genuinely excited about every step of the process. It was a nice change from the jaded and entitled team at the top of
Olympus
. Days like the one she was having, and people like the Jeremys, were the reason she got involved in theater in the first place. She vowed to not lose sight of moments like those.
She reached out and squeezed their hands. “Can you believe we’re doing this?”
“Next stop, Broadway!” Buff Jeremy
said
.
“In our dreams,” Jersey Jeremy
said
.
“Let’s just take it one step at a time, shall we?” Scarlett
said
, not wanting to ruin the moment with pipe dreams. Though Broadway was obviously their final goal, she didn’t want to jinx their current success by getting ahead of themselves. It was an amazing step in the right direction. But she knew how many shows fell off the map, even after great productions at places like that. “We never thought we’d be this far this quickly. Let’s enjoy what we have now.”
“Amen, sister,” Buff Jeremy
said
.
The accompanist arrived at that point, and everyone settled in behind the audition table as the first group of singers arrived. At this stage of the game, everyone who walked in the room was exceptionally talented. Scarlett was glad to have a great director and casting director involved to start honing in on the final candidates. As producer, she didn’t need to be involved in the nitty-gritty of casting, just the final approvals. But she was enjoying the process. Plus, Margolies had always gotten the best results by being as hands on as possible.
At the first break, Scarlett and the Jeremys went to the little snack bar near the elevators to get coffee. On their way through the hallway, they passed rows of benches filled with Broadway hopefuls auditioning for their shows and others. In the various other rehearsal rooms, Broadway and off-Broadway shows were rehearsing. She could hear a brilliantly sung rendition of one of her favorites, “Taylor the Latte Boy,” wafting from one audition room, while a less-successful rendition of “Defying Gravity” was tormenting those inside (and outside) another rehearsal room.
There was a great energy of expectation and possibility in a place like this.
“So, drinks at our place later to debrief?” Buff Jeremy
asked
, sipping coffee out of a paper cup.
“Wish I could, but I have date,” Scarlett
said
casually.
Both Jeremys snapped to attention. That was the kind of dirt they thrived on.
“Pray tell, has our Scarlett been holding out on us?” Jersey Jeremy
asked
.
“Don’t tell us it’s with that hot but too-old-for-you sugar daddy of yours. That’s old news,” Buff Jeremy
continued.
“He’s not my sugar daddy. We’re just friends,” Scarlett
said
.
“With benefits!” Buff Jeremy
interrupted
.
“It’s not with him, anyway,” Scarlett
said
.
“Well then, spill it before we die of suspense.”
“You’re not going to like this, but I actually can’t tell you who it is.” It occurred to her that she should probably keep her relationship on the down-low, at least for the time being. While she was probably just being overly cautious, she didn’t like the idea of word getting out that she was dating the famous gossip columnist. At least not right away.
“You’re such a tease!” Jersey Jeremy
shrieked
.
“Maybe she wants us to guess!” Buff Jeremy
suggested
. And that set them off.
“Is it someone we know?”
“Someone famous?”
“Someone married?”
“An actor?”
“That rock star dude from Cupid and Psyche?”
“Eew, gross!” Scarlett
said
. “And don’t bother guessing, I’m not going to tell you. I shouldn’t have brought it up.” But she couldn’t keep a beaming smile off her face.
“Scarlett’s in love,” Buff Jeremy
said
in a sing song voice, drawing out the last word.
“Oh, stop!” Scarlett
said
, blushing as she turned away to head back into the auditions, the Jeremys following hot on her heels as they continued to make ever-more outrageous guesses about who it might be.
Scene 19
Scarlett spotted Reilly at a coveted back-corner table at the bustling midtown coffee shop. Snagging any table at all in a midtown coffee shop in the middle of a chilly afternoon was no small feat. She greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. They were still careful about displaying their relationship publicly, though anyone looking on would be hard pressed to miss the romantic sparks that crackled between them.
Reilly flipped his laptop closed and slid a latte toward her as she took a seat.
“Fancy meeting you here,” Scarlett
said
with a smile. “Out of all the coffee shops in Manhattan, you just happened to find yourself at the one next door to our audition studio?”
“Guilty as charged. Does that make me pathetic?” he said, giving her a puppy-dog look.
“That makes you very sweet,” Scarlett
replied
. “I was thrilled to get your text. Sorry I’ve been so busy.”
“It’s a good thing. All my interview prep has put me behind on my column. Not to mention a certain someone who’s been occupying a few too many of my thoughts,” he said with a flirtatious glint in his eye.
“I can’t imagine who you mean.” She batted her eyes with faux innocence.
“Of course you can’t,” he said with a laugh.
“Speaking of which, what misdeeds and dirty dealings are you exposing in your column today?”
“Nothing nefarious to report this week. I’m doing my annual roundup of original musicals on deck for Broadway this spring.”
“That should be a pretty short article. There aren’t very many original musicals slated to open before the Tony Award deadline.”
“And why might that be?” Reilly
said
, accusingly.
“Yeah, yeah. I know,” she said. It was common industry knowledge that most producers were holding off on bringing in new shows that Broadway season for fear that they’d be hopelessly overshadowed by the
Olympus
behemoth, come Tony Awards time. Scarlett checked the time on her phone.
“Am I keeping you from the
Swan Song
auditions?” Reilly
asked
.
“They can spare me for a few more minutes,” she said and took a sip of her latte. “I have a new respect for casting directors. Every person who’s come through the door today has been ridiculously talented.”
“Who’s on the short list to play the lead ‘swans’?” he asked casually.
“Nice try,” she said with a pointed look at his laptop. “But my lips are sealed.”
“You know I won’t print anything you tell me not to.” He held up his hands. “But I’d love to do whatever I can to help you. A little free publicity might be a good thing for
Swan Song
.”
“You have a point there.” It had crossed her mind that her relationship with a celebrity gossip columnist could have some added fringe benefits. But she was wary about blurring those lines. “Let me think about it.”
“Why don’t you come over later and let me talk you into it,” he said with a provocative smile as he brushed his hand across her knee under the table, setting off the butterflies in her stomach.
“So that’s how you get all the dirt for your column! You seduce unsuspecting sources at your apartment?” she said teasingly, jabbing her finger at his chest across the table.
“Only one particularly difficult source...” he said with a wink.
“I bet that’s what you tell all your sources.”
“You’re so right.” He leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee. “In fact, I have another one showing up in five minutes, so could you please drink up?”
“Hey! Don’t be mean!” She started to get up.
“Don’t pretend to be mad. I have to maintain some air of mystery,” he said. “I can’t have the whole world knowing that New York’s highest and mightiest theater columnist has been relegated to skulking around coffee shops on the off chance that he can snag a few blissful minutes with his super-busy and important Broadway-producer girlfriend.”
She tried to conceal a wide smile but knew she wasn’t succeeding at hiding the joy his words brought her. “So I’m your girlfriend, now, am I?”
Reilly actually blushed. “Would that be such a terrible thing?”
“I must admit, it has a nice ring to it,” she said, reaching across the table and briefly squeezing his hand. It took every ounce of will power she had not to lean over and kiss him right there in the middle of the coffee shop. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll spill the beans on
Swan Song
casting!” she said with an impish laugh.
Scene 20
“Nice to meet you in person, Mr. Mitchell,” Candace
said
from behind her desk. “I’ve read your column. Please have a seat.”
Reilly glanced at his surroundings as he took a seat for his interview at the
Banner
. He had done as much research as he could about Candace Gold, but he hadn’t found much. He was hoping a scan of her office decor would give him some clues about her personality, some hints on how he should play it. What he found was generic decor, a tidy office, and not a single photo.
“I appreciate the opportunity to be here. I know you must have seen a lot of people for this job.”
“It’s been a busy few days,” she said, her tone clipped and professional. “Shall we begin?” She picked up her pen and made a note on a hard copy of his resume that she had in her hand.
He held up the pen in his hand. “Looks like we have something in common.” They both had Montblanc pens. At several hundred dollars, you didn’t see them every day, and they usually came with a back story. Finally, he thought, something to go on. “My parents gave me this when I got my first job at the paper,” he explained. “They told me a pen could have a lot of power, so I shouldn’t use it lightly.”
“Sounds like your parents are smart people. It’s important not to forget the weight our words can carry. My first Montblanc was a gift from my husband.” She looked wistful. “Been using Montblancs ever since.” She paused, deep in thought.