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Limelight
By Karisma

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Chapter Two

Serena took her first step outside of the airport and was immediately hit by the noise and bustle of New York. Her now resented heels clicking, she got ready to whistle for a taxi and was, needless to say, surprised when a chauffeur got out of his limo with ease and held the door open for her. After getting over his initial shock, she placed her “Mina Kinsley” expression on her face and slipped onto the leather seats elegantly.

“How have you been, Cary?” She asked smoothly, crossing her slim legs and hiding her wonder at the lavishness of the limo well.

“Fine, Miss Kinsley. Just fine,” Cary’s Australian accent was highly noticeable and Serena couldn’t help but smile when she thought of how Mina had described it as deliriously sexy. “Where to, Miss Kinsley?”

“Um, how about the penthouse. I should probably get ready for the meeting. What time is it here, Cary?”

“Twelve at noon, Miss.”

Serena checked the heavy notebook. The meeting was scheduled at one thirty in the afternoon. Then, immediately after, she was due to have a…Serena squinted at Mina’s awful penmanship. A facial? Actresses recorded when they were needed to have a facial? And not just facials, Serena realized as she pored over the other pages. Manicures, waxes, shopping, and that all leaded up to the much talked about premiere of Mina’s new movie. Of which the leading man would be absent.

Only You was, in Serena’s opinion, a realistic display of how one cannot really distinguish true love from a silly crush. The film told the story of a young girl, Mina, in a close-knit community who had been in love with, or so she thought, one man her entire life. When they both grow up, their old-fashioned families agree that they would make a suitable match and the woman is ecstatic. Or so she should be. Then a stranger, with new ideas and practices that are foreign to this small village, comes in and befriends the young woman. After a few meetings, she knows, without question, that she is in love with this man. Unfortunately, in a world where parents know best and it is the only way to obey them, she cannot wed the man. After some heart-breaking decisions on whether or not she should disgrace and defy her family and run away with the stranger, she decides duty and honor come first. She marries her betrothed and the movie ends with the two people in love making eye contact after the vows are exchanged.

Serena thought it to be true to life and bittersweet. Unfortunately, Mina was inclined to hate the ending and wish the two lovers could run off into the sunset together. Typical Hollywood ending.

They reached her sister’s penthouse and Serena jumped out without waiting for Cary to open her door. Not realizing her mistake until too late, Serena dismissed it entered her new home.

Gorgeous was too broad of a word to describe the lavish home. It had a stylishly elegant living room, done all in a cream and silver tint. The leather furniture was placed strategically to bring out the tasteful pictures and knick-knacks that adorned the entire room.

Serena took one glance at the clock and it galvanized her into action. She had less than an hour to get ready and down to the studio. Taking a quick shower, Serena stared at all the expensive lotions and oils that were lined up on the rim of the large bathtub. After the warm bath, she opened Mina’s closet and stared for a full minute at the walk in closet’s contents. It was all color coordinated on hangers and when Serena looked down, she realized by shoes also. Grimacing at all the sparkling, and very uncomfortable looking outfits, she finally selected a sheer, pink blouse and nice, gray slacks. Looking at all the heels in dread, she spotted a pair of pink flats and quickly slipped into them. She turned to look in the extremely large vanity mirror and sat down on the soft chair. Serena gaped in awe at all the make up her sister wore daily. She picked up the blow dryer and quickly dried her thick hair so that it was damp and slightly wavy. She pulled it up into a high ponytail and tied it with a light, pink scarf. She fingered the matching gold necklaces she and Mina had received for their sixteenth birthdays lovingly. After smearing some lip-gloss on, she was out the door and into the limousine.

They reached the studio just on time, she realized when she entered the large room filled with people, some of which she had seen in movies and on television.



“Mina!” A voice shrieked and Serena turned to see a tall, slim man embrace her and air kiss her cheeks.

After a moment’s hesitation she did the same to him. “Eduardo!” She said in an equally enthusiastic voice. His pleased face let her breath a sigh of relief. This was her hair and make up artist. Or rather, Mina’s hair and make up artist.

“Mina. Sit. We have a problem.” From the way he spoke, Serena immediately knew him to be the director, Nigel, whom Mina said never beat around the bush and spoke in short, staccato phrases.

Serena sat down, looking around at all the unfamiliar faces and swallowing a lump in her throat. She could do this, she knew she could.

She lifted her blue eyes to look expectantly at Nigel's tan face, waiting for him to speak. His features were grim and serious, staring at her as if sizing her up.

For a second Serena's initial thought was that he knew. Then, when he nodded unnecessarily and cleared his throat, she let out a sigh of relief. He hadn't seemed to detect anything out of the ordinary.

"We have a problem folks. It seems someone doesn't like the ending in our film. The premiere is put off. We're going to re-shoot an alternate ending.” He spat out the last bit and rolled his eyes, implying that the choice was definitely not his idea, nor approved by him. “And this time, it will be a ‘happy’ ending, because apparently, the ending we have right now is too depressing.” His tone now changed to one of bitter resentment as he mimicked a direct quote from the certain “somebody”.

“Who wants to change it?” Serena blurted out and immediately regretted it. All heads swung to her, their mouths open is disbelief as if the answer was obvious.

“Mina, baby, come on!” A voice drawled and Serena knew at once she didn’t like the handsome man with dark brown hair and startling blue eyes. “Everybody knows who it was! Don’t tell me you already forgot about Mrs. Nigel Kirk.”

Obviously this woman was Nigel’s wife, but what did that have to do with his movie? Serena pushed these thoughts aside as she plastered a smile on her face and laughed. “Oh, sure! How could I forget?”

Nigel shot her a strange glance before shrugging and continuing on. “Here’s the new script. We’ll begin tomorrow morning. Six A.M.”

Serena flipped through the pages that were handed to her and grimaced. They had completely butchered the end to make it like every other happy-go-lucky, Hollywood ending. Not only was it unrealistic and corny, it carried over into the section of plain cheesiness.

“This sucks.” She said plainly and tossed the binder on the wooden table. Once again, heads swiveled to stare at her. Then she remembered, a moment to late. Mina wanted a happy ending to begin with. “I-I mean it sucks for you, Nigel. I know how much you want the end the way it originally was.”

Everybody, including Nigel, seemed to accept her cover and went back to chattering amongst themselves. That was close. She was going to have to be more careful.

“That’s not all, people!” Nigel raised his voice and the room was silent. “The idiots we sent the photo shoots to, decided to misplace them or whatnot. We need to take those over again also. Darien should be here soon.” He flicked his wrist to check his watch and seemed pleased. “Bright and early tomorrow, people!”

That seemed to be the signal that the meeting was adjourned. Everybody but Serena slowly filed out, little by little, laughing lightly with his or her friends. Serena stared at the script in dread. Mina had said the movie was done shooting, the photos had already been taken; all she would have to do is go to a party in a nice dress.

She hated to have her picture taken, much less act in front of a camera! And now she would have to do both. And to top it all off, she would have to deal with Darien, Mina’s beau. Things couldn’t possibly get any worse. She couldn’t even call Mina and demand that they switch back. She was off God knows where, having the time of her life on Serena’s vacation time.

Serena was thinking of banging her head against the table, regardless of the clutters of people that still were spread out in the large room, when a deep voice greeted her.

“Mina,” he said huskily, and before Serena even had time to look at the stranger, he had bent his dark head down to capture her lips in a kiss.