Twelve: The Preparation

The photoshoot will be the turning point of everything. It will automatically enroll Charlie to Arch Film Institute, she will be an intern for Maxine Roberts, and it will keep the ball rolling for Tommy's contract. Everything was in its place, or so it seemed.

Maxine preferred her 'models' to be groomed and well prepared for the shoot. She required them to be separated for a whole week without any contact whatsoever. She asked Charlie to stay at her place while Tommy stayed at his flat, and continued his work at Studio 4 as he was assigned.

Tommy wasn't keen on the idea that Charlie was staying at Maxine's for the entire week, but he knew it was the consequences of signing up for something they weren't really prepared for. Working in Studio 4 was building up sexual tension within him, to be in a room with naked celebrities taking and re-taking their love scenes every day would do that to someone.

He was asked to be a body double a few times, he's not one who shied away from being naked in public. The pay was good, he needed the money, he wasn't doing anything wrong, so he took it.

The photoshoot was a whole different thing, it involved sex and a naked Charlie. Everything about it spelled wrong for him, but it was what Charlie wanted. To make her happy was always right for him.

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Charlie was given the taste of what would be her new routine. She went with Maxine to see how the movie business worked. She was introduced to directors and was allowed to watch the process of filmmaking from script to screen. It was a long and complicated process but she was fascinated with everything.

"So many things are lining up for you and Tom, I can promise you that, probably more than both of you can handle ... but that's the business, it's everything going on at the same time or nothing's going on at all ... somehow, that's the rhythm of the industry," Maxine told her.

Charlie understood what she meant as she watched and learned every day. She didn't mind at all, she wanted the challenge.

"I took Tom's profile just before he started working, I asked my talent department to draft a portfolio for starters and spread them around to top agencies in Goldstone," Maxine said and handed her a folder of Tom's profile.

It was pictures of him, closed up from many angles, the whole body with a shirt and shirtless. He was posing in the pictures, he looked so different from his usual persona. He looked like a professional model.

She smiled and touched his photos. Those ice-blue eyes pierced through the photographs as if they were staring right into her soul. The intense look in his eyes reminded her of how he gazed at her when they made love. She ran her finger down to his lips.

"Three agencies have made an offer to sign him up as their model, but I told them he had signed up with us exclusively ... so they offered us three high-end brands advertisement ... and more to come with this kind of reception for a first-timer," Maxine interrupted her thoughts.

"Wow ... that's great news," Charlie replied.

Maxine sat back on her office chair and put up her feet on the stool in front of her. "Tom is going to be a big hit ... as I've predicted ... it won't be long until he starts getting offers for the screen ... I have a project that I'm planning to put him in, it's going to be life-changing," she continued.

Charlie closed the folder, put it on Maxine's desk, "Has he been informed of this?"

"Not yet, he will be briefed as soon as the photoshoot is done, I will assign a manager for him to manage all his jobs and contracts ... he'll need one when the offer starts pouring in, and you might not be able to see him as often," Maxine studied her face for a reaction.

"That's wonderful, I mean ... it's what he always wanted, this could be his big break," Charlie said with a genuine expression.

Maxine was amused by her naivety, "I admire how supportive you are of his dreams ... and vise versa, have you told your parents about your new plan?"

Charlie shrugged, "I'm still waiting for the right moment to tell them."

"Do you think there will be any problem with tuition?"

Charlie was skeptical about it, "I don't know ... I don't think my dad will pay for it."

Maxine raised her eyebrows and nodded, "To be honest with you ... the kind of money Tom will be making from this contract will be more than enough to pay for the tuition, that's really why I offered him the option ... and that boy loves you so much, he agreed based on that reason alone," she smiled. "You're very lucky to have someone who loves and cares for you."

Charlie was touched by it, Tommy never mentioned that part to her. Although she wasn't sure if it would be right for her to accept such support so early in their relationship.

"I'm sure you would do the same if the situation was reversed?"

That she probably would.

"But then again, this would be temporary, you will have your own chance to make money sooner or later ... there will be opportunities, offers if you stick around long enough in this industry and learn the game well ... you can't rely on a boy to pay for everything you need, right? I don't think you're that kind of girl?"

"Of course not, I may have to pay him back at some point, I don't want to be a burden."

Maxine laughed, "You're sweet ... but let him toil for you, for now, Charlie, let him learn how to be the man for you ... fame and money change people, relationships can be tough to manage in this industry ... and you are unbelievably young, you don't even know it, so many things will happen in both your lives before you realize it."

She wasn't sure what Maxine meant, but it sounded like good advice.