VESPERA의 모든 챕터: 챕터 21 - 챕터 28

The shoot ran forty minutes over schedule. It always did on days when the lighting rig needed adjusting twice and the second unit director couldn't decide between two nearly identical angles. Vespera had learned to bring a book for the waiting parts. Today she hadn't, so she sat in the folding chair beside the monitor and went through production notes on her phone until Jerry finally called the last cut of the day and the set began its familiar collapse into organized noise. "I am so sorry, Vespera, I won't be able to drop you." "Oh, it's fine. I don't mind. Take care."She went into her dressing room, trading the costume for her own clothes and wiping off the heavier stage of make-up down to something more human. Her bag was already packed. She had learned early that leaving quickly was a skill worth developing on a set where lingering invited conversation she didn't always have the energy for. She had the USB drive in the inside pocket of her jacket. She'd had it there f

Ezekiel arrived at the office at seven fifty-three. This was not unusual. What was unusual was that he had been awake since four and had spent the intervening hours doing the specific kind of non-sleeping that involved lying in the dark with his eyes open and his mind running calculations he hadn't even asked it to run. He had not resolved anything by morning. He just simply waited for it to be late enough to justify getting up. Philip was already at his desk outside the main office when Ezekiel came through. Philip Reeves had been hus executive assistant for four years and had already known the nature of his boss and the work he was employed to do. He stood as Ezekiel approached, with a tablet in his hand as he briskly went through the morning brief before Ezekiel had fully sat down. "Eight thirty is the infrastructure review with the acquisitions team. It should run about ninety minutes." Philip fell into step beside him as they moved into the office. "Eleven o'clock is the c

Katy found Lynn in the corridor outside the production wing. She almost walked past her but her horrible state made her pay attention to notice it was even her. She stopped and looked at Lynn from the gown to the hair to the face and back to the gown. "What...the...hell...hapoened to you?"Lynn straightened from the wall. The movement had a dignity to it that the appearance unfortunately did not support. "There was an issue with a tap in the bathroom." "A tap?" "Yeah. The water came out sideways. I supposed it was a fault with the fitting." Katy stared at her. "That's ridiculous. You look like you were pushed into a fountain." "I am aware of how I look, Katy." "I have people waiting." Katy's voice dropped into the register it went to when she was angry and had decided to be precise about it rather than loud. "Do you understand that? I called in a favour to get you in front of Michael Ardenne and his casting director this afternoon. Michael Ardenne, Lynn, who has

She had been ready for twenty minutes before she allowed herself to look. The mirror in her bedroom was full length, positioned beside the wardrobe where the light from the window caught it correctly in the evening. She bit her lips, clearly pleased with what she was looking at in the mirror. The gown she had decided to go for was a deep burgundy and it was structured at the bodice with a sweetheart neckline that sat cleanly against her collarbone, fitted through the waist, and fell into a skirt with enough movement to be interesting without being dramatic. The fabric had a subtle sheen to it and the back was low fitting more into her shape.Her hair was up, with a soft twist that left a few pieces loose at her jaw and the back of her neck. The makeup was light and precise, enhancing the architecture of her face without announcing itself. She didn't want to drag too much attention to herself. She already had to deal with a lot. She looked at herself for another minute and smiled.