Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“Harper will be awesome.” Jeremiah strides in, setting down a leather portfolio on the chair with his name on the back. “She needs time to adjust. We can start with me if you like. I’m ready to go. Or I can do the shot with her.”
“It’s her establishing shot,” the director says from behind the camera. “All she has to do is tell us a bit about herself, but when we try she locks down and goes monotone.”
“Which is why we should make this conversational,” Jeremiah offers. His eyes trail over to Patrick. “Hello, Patrick. How are you today?”
Patrick kind of grumbles and won’t look Jeremiah in the eyes, and now I’d like to know what’s going on with them. “I’ll be better once I get the shots we need. Is your brother here? He’s up next.”
“I’m here.” Reid has obviously been through the makeup and hair department. And maybe the wardrobe since he looks practically perfect in his three-piece suit with his hair slicked back and those blue eyes piercing through me. He’s looking like a million bucks, and I’m in jeans and a T-shirt, and despite all the work they did in the makeup chair, I still pretty much look like a woman who spends a lot of time with a hammer in her hand.
It’s been a couple of days since we made our deal, and everything is going well. We’ve had two meetings and nothing exploded, and we didn’t throw down on the conference table. We’ve been nice and polite, even when he used the word shiplap in connection to the foyer. I was polite and calm, and I did not take his head off and bathe in his blood.
“Let’s try it with Jeremiah introducing her.” Anika is wearing what I like to think of as her work clothes. Well, her old work clothes since her new job requires a tiara. She’s in black jeans and a black T, her hair in a high ponytail. Ivy sits behind her. She’s been excellent at providing sarcastic remarks.
Jeremiah steps into the shot. We’re standing in the parlor where my crew is about to tear down a wall because this particular parlor is small, probably used for the immediate family. There’s another more formal parlor that would be used to greet guests down the hall. We’re going to connect the two to create a great room.
“All right, do you need some lines?” Patrick steps close to us while one of the other assistants does the whole lighting check on Jeremiah.
Jeremiah waves off the suggestion. “She’ll be better natural. We need to show off her sweet, authentic self.”
Patrick’s eyes finally come up and he frowns. “Authentic. Sure. We’ll go that way. Tom, are you ready?”
The director nods and the clappy guy comes in even though it’s not like we’re filming scenes or anything. And we’re rolling.
Somehow when that camera is on, I freeze up. I can’t even explain it. I can talk in front of people. Not like to give a speech or anything, but I can certainly introduce myself.
Except I can’t now.
“So this is Harper and she’s going to be in charge of making all of our dreams for Banover Place come true. She’s our construction fairy.” Jeremiah sounds chipper. And like he’s done this about five thousand times, which he has.
I have not. I try to smile and wave at the camera. “Hi.”
Patrick’s eyes roll when I say nothing else. “We’re going to need more than that, Harper.”
Ivy moves in beside Anika. “Just tell them about yourself. I know it feels weird, but it gets easier.”
“In a couple of days you won’t even notice the cameras,” Anika assures me.
Ivy nods. “Remember all the times Ani ripped one on camera because she forgot she was being filmed?” Ivy gasps when Ani slaps at her arm. “Well, they gave you too many protein bars. You get gassy.”
Anika gives Ivy a growl and turns back my way. “The point is this is the hardest day. All we need is for you to give us a bit about yourself and then we’ll let you actually get to work. You get to sledgehammer a wall. Fun.”
It actually does sound like fun. I understand that work. It will be soothing. But I have to get through this first. I nod. “Let’s go again.”
“We’re rolling,” Patrick says with a sigh. I’m pretty sure he already told me this information. Something about they’ll edit it later and this isn’t like acting. They roll until they get what they need.
I stare at the camera and give what I hope is a bright smile. “I’m Harper.”
That’s good, right? Simple. No nonsense.
“We need more,” Patrick says with a huff.
Anika gives me an encouraging nod, her hands gesturing for more.
“I’m Harper and I build things.”
When I stop a groan goes through the place.