Chapter 56: Shortest Ride

No sooner had the bomb dropped, Camille reflexively covered her mouth.

Yet, the cat was already out the bag.

Glancing over to Niall whom was staring at her wide-eyed, genuine shock on his otherwise typically reserved demeanor, the lady slowly lowered her hand, a wry smile on her lips.

Gradually bringing the car to a halt by a nearby curb, Niall parked properly and then killed the engine.

Now, the atmosphere in the vehicle had completely shifted, the air tense and heavy.

For a while, neither party chose to speak.

Then, after a minute or so, Niall asked softly, his expression one of genuine care and concern;

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

Glancing over to him, tears brimming on her eyelids as she tried to smile through, Camille shook her head in refusal.

Staring at her for a while... really, really staring at her, past all the walls she seemed so keen on keeping erected, Niall let out a deep breath, and then said;

"Alright,"

"Do you wanna talk about it tomorrow?" he asked again, and this time, Camille choked a laugh out, her eyes reddening by the second.

"You’re a jerk, you know that?" she then said.

"If that’s what it takes to get you to feel better, then yeah, sure." Niall smiled, his gaze warm and empathic.

"So, tomorrow?" he asked again.

"And if I say no?" the lady folded her arms over her chest, her usual peppy air returning, albeit forced.

"I guess I’d have to ask if you’d be willing to, the day after tomorrow." Niall politely said, his head tilted slightly in a vague gesture.

"Asshole." Camille looked away whilst choking out another laugh, a single bead of tear running down her face.

Then, as she stared at his genuinely concerned reflection through her side window, she finally said;

"Tomorrow. We can talk about it tomorrow."

"That’s fine by me." Niall’s smile remained warm as he put the vehicle in ignition and began the drive back home.

For the next couple minutes, the drive remained silent, a comfortable air replacing the previously heavy atmosphere.

Then Camille spoke;

"So..."

"Writer. Actor. Singer and songwriter," she turned to face him, her natural vibrance returning as she held her hair against the nape of her neck.

"What other talents do you have in your Jack O’ Box that I should perhaps, be aware of?" she arched a curious brow.

"Embracing the Halloween spirit already, I see?" Niall flashed her an amused grin instead.

"You ain’t seen nothing yet, cowboy. Come on over on the D-day and I’ll show you what real Halloween spirit looks like," Camille grinned mischievously.

"It’s a witch, isn’t it?" he smirked.

"Wrong. It’s a hot, super smoking sexy witch." she corrected.

To that, Niall genuinely laughed, the lady’s caribbean-blues glinting in marked delight at the reaction.

"Well," Niall soon recovered, responding to her initial question;

"If you must know, fair witch who proclaims herself sexy, I am a man of many talents, unknown even to me." he gestured with a lightly swaying palm, his other on the steering wheel.

"Is that so?" Camille played along, a sportive grin on her lips.

"Yes. I simply move with the wind and do whatever pleases my beating heart," Niall kept up the act, his expression one of wanderlust.

"Surprisingly though, it’s worked out thus far... and I hope it continues to do so." he suddenly flipped to his normal demeanor and shrugged.

That earned a small, lighthearted chuckle from Camille.

Then she curiously asked, her tone genuine as she leaned back into her seat;

"So, where’s the wind taking you this time?"

"A song," Niall replied, a nostalgic, bittersweet smile touching his lips.

"A song about where I’ve come from, who I’ve become, and where I’ll be going..."

Hearing that, Camille only became more intrigued. So, she asked again;

"Mind telling me more?"

"Sure," Niall responded and then said;

"It begins, with me running away from home to chase my dreams of being a renowned actor in Hollywood..."

Eyes widening in surprise at that, especially since he and his parents never once looked like they’d had a single argument so far since she’d come to know them, Camille settled fully into the chair and listened with rapt attention and genuine interest.

...

...

...

"Shortest ride of my life," Camille reluctantly got out of the vehicle with a small pout.

"We’ll pick up from where we left tomorrow." Niall assured her, a warm smile on his lips.

"Yeah. I look forward to it," the lady bobbed her head softly and then said, a genuinely grateful smile on her lips;

"Thank you, Niall. Truly, thank you."

"It’s the least I can do," the young man reciprocated, his tone honest and soft.

"Besides, it’d be such a shame to see my favorite businesswoman in a slump." he tacked a playful remark on for good measure.

Camille laughed.

"Yeah. That too," she said and then waved gently as she slowly walked backwards;

"I’ll uh... I’ll be expecting you tomorrow. I’ll even make your favorites."

"How do you know my favorites?" Niall cocked an amused brow, his head tilted slightly.

"That’s classified information, Sugah. Very, very classified information." she grinned, winked and then twirled around for dramatic effect.

Niall amusedly sighed in response to that.

’Ma... what other secrets of mine have you leaked to the sassy, gorgeous redhead?’ he inwardly remarked as he watched the lady make her way up the pathway that led to her house

Only after she waved one last time--a gesture he reciprocated--and safely entered her home did Niall finally ignite his vehicle and continue the drive home.

*

Victor hadn’t slacked off once since Niall had begun filming [Silver Comets], and even way before then.

For as annoying as the hit piece had been, the agent hadn’t for one moment believed it would stop him from getting a worthwhile script for his talent.

Even despite the constant rejections he kept facing on so many fronts, he simply gave himself the mindset that he still wasn’t trying hard enough to secure one.

That mindset, paid off in spades.

Because currently, he was speaking with an infamous director ninety percent of actors in Hollywood would rather not work with.

Not because he was problematic, or he wasn’t good at his job. No, no, no.

Rather, it was because Murray Goldberg--now aged sixty years--had a habit of demanding absolute perfection in his movies... movies that were usually always indies with extremely small budgets.

For so many actors in the industry, it was so much effort, for so little return.

It also didn’t help that his past few movies had been back-to-back flops too, hence making him a no-go area for several studios and producers in Hollywood these days.

Yet, Murray remained as he was, doing what he loved, solely for the love of the game and not much else.

Which was also why, the man couldn’t give two shits about which actor starred in his movies. Whatever controversies, shenanigans and the likes the media was spouting, was none of his concern.

To him, as long as the actor could deliver on and nail their characters in the script and on the big screen, they were golden.

Yet, despite all these, Murray wasn’t an easy man to get a hold of, and neither did he make it so.

Being the luddite that he was, there were very few people in Hollywood that actually had access to him.

Still, on the rare occasion that his number got out to someone he didn’t know, or had never met with, he often knew it was as a result of a rumor or two getting out that he was yet again gearing to make another movie.

And that was why, Victor whom had turned himself into an eagle-eyed prowler in Hollywood these past few months, had been among the very first to contact the man regarding the script he planned to make a movie off of.

More than that, he had spared no effort to persuade the man to get his talent to take the lead role in the figure-skating themed film he planned to make named [Rink].

But then again, given how a few renowned actors were often vying for those same roles in those same movies, specifically because they hoped it’d land them an Academy Award nomination, or even an award, very rarely did Murray have to source for actors in his movies.

Rather, they all just flocked to him, like birds waiting for a small spray of birdseed.

It was also why, his casts were always stacked, as those who couldn’t get the lead role, often opted to take a supporting role.

To that effect;

"Okay, I’ll consider it." the man with a rather chubby frame on the slightly larger side of an average build, finally agreed.

"But, I’m sure you’re aware the chances are minimal?" he raised his cup of tea to his lips, his marble-grey irises relaxed.

"Yes." Victor nodded simply to which Murray then said;

"Alright. I still have a few tweaks to make to the script before its ready to move into pre-production. Two months, give or take."

"That won’t be a problem." Victor’s smile remained professional as he offered the man a firm handshake to which Murray reciprocated.

Afterall, with the sort of conversation he’d had with the man, the agent was rather certain that even if he couldn’t land Niall the lead role, he would most definitely be considered for a good supporting role.

-

NB: Considering a lot of people might’ve missed it, I want to inform you again that some character arts have now being added to the auxiliary Chapters.

-

Advance Chapters are available on Patreon!

/Caer07