Starlet

Chapter Three- Shooting Star

"If you will just Hancock the line, Serena...you will be the following lead in our latest production!" The dominant voice of her new boss spoke as she paused for a moment to the mountain of paper before her. Each page seemingly in possession of more legalities than the one previously, she began to lift the introductory page to view the others before the edge of a pen ceased her from reading the details. “I would not want your head to be filled with all of the complicated terms and conditions...We will take exceptional care of you...after all...you are set to be the new face of our company and we would not be reckless to allow you to fall into the wrong hands.”

But as she held the pen between her fingers, feeling the weight of it possessing her touch, she felt uncertain about the life she was signing away; after all, this had all happened so quickly in a fairytale-esque manner, leaving her with no more than a sleepless night to think it through. “What are you questioning, kitten?” Although this term of endearment was meant to develop a sense of trust and ease between Serena and Charles, she couldn’t help but feel unsettled by it. It was as if his words made her feel as if she was the prey to his innocuous game of cat and mouse that she had yet to learn the terms of. But as she looked across the way to the table of three men all looking to her with compassion, she felt a sense of security as she understood the prior comment as them having seemingly stuck their necks on the line for her. 

“I am surprised is all...You have others far more fair than me and talented and yet you sign me so quickly, I suppose I was just taken back is all.”

“This is not something simply handed to you, doll...You will have to spend much of your time on the lot...You will have no life aside from what you portray in front of the camera...and even what you don’t...We are going to make you into one of the most sought after women in America-maybe even the entire world. But just as anything, it comes with a sense of...sacrifice.” Her eyes lifted from falling to the contract yet again as she let out a nervous exhale. 

“We will hold you to quite a high standard and hold specific expectations of you...but I imagine they will not be difficult for you to uphold as you do not seem like a tomato…” She gave a weak smile before her eyes came to the sight of the posters that hung around the room of previous stars who she knew had to have sat in her current chair with these same doubts. “If you wish, you can think on it...but I am afraid if you do, you will not be able to claim the lead...we must remain on schedule-And there are no other studios who would be as kind as we are to you...During such difficult times...”

“I understand.” Serena leaned forward in her chair, tapping the top of the pen onto the edge of the paper before sliding the first letter of her name down in ink, unaware of the looks of pride that came over the men’s faces as they now owned a new face for this bloodthirsty industry. 

“Hep, Serena...Now, Sylvia will take care of you until we start rolling. Keep a smile on that pretty mug of yours until then." He commented before a woman dressed in exquisite plum lines eyed Serena with deep consideration-a hard line made of her lips during the entire length of her analysis.  

"What is your weight?" Serena paused, having never been asked this question in the entirety of her nineteen years, as it was seen as a smudge on proper etiquette to inquire. 

"One twenty-" As she went to answer with anxiety, Sylvia pressed her hands forcefully against her charger's hips before turning her to view from the side. 

"I want an inch off of your waist and five pounds off of your entire body by the first-or you can kiss your leading role goodbye." Serena remained dazed at the woman as she could not comprehend how such cruelty could be spoken from such a content expression. "You will not lose the appearance of a fat little piglet by gawking at me! Move!" Sylvia pushed her way from Serena as she turned immediately into the closest room that possessed a mirror which happened to be an unused dressing room absent an owner. 

Until this moment, Serena had never given her weight much of a mind as she took the advice of popular magazines that explained how the hourglass frame had been all the rage. But now, she knew this was simply not the case for the sirens of the screen. 

During this process of thinking, she was unaware of the figure that had been observing her as she bowed her head in sadness and allowed a set of tears to swell up within her eyes. She would only spot the materialized Paolo in the doorway of the room when she lifted her head back to regain her composure. 

"I gather you met Sylvia?" He inquired as Serena paused for a moment, unable to understand if he was trying to act as a friend or an annoying gnat that showed up at the worst times. Steadfast with this uncertainty, she remained silent before patting her eyes dry and moving towards the door. But instead of watching him politely move from her ability to exit, she watched as he stood taller and completely kept her within the confines of this secluded room. She theorized for a moment that perhaps he wished to keep her this way and take advantage of the silence and the seclusion; but just before he was prepared to draw her closer to him as he moved a step towards her, he only rose the tension; both s****l and one borne of frustration, before finally allowing her to pass. 

“It is quite a shame, you know?” His whiskey smooth voice spoke as she couldn’t help but feel intrigued by his words as she paused her furthering gait and turned to face him- her eyes still glossy with tears. “I had you set apart from the rest of ‘em...I thought you were wiser than this…” Expecting her to be left stunned and rightfully hurt by his words, he was surprised to watch her cross the distance between them until she stood toe-to-toe to him. 

“You know nothing of me! You have no right to pass judgment or even concern for that matter! I know nothing of you but your name and you know nothing-”

“I know enough to know that this town is going to ruin you...You are too...pure to be tainted by their greedy fingers. You have already been reduced to tears because of Sylvia-and you have not even shot a single scene yet…”

Serena made a clenched impression of her jaw as she looked forward to the man whom she believed she could find a friendship within until this moment. 

“You are wrong to assume anything about me. I was taken aback by it all…”

“If anyone sees you this fragile, they are going to tear into you...and I-”

“YOU have nothing to worry about, YOU will not see it again.” Allowed to make the final words, Serena spent the remaining afternoon familiarizing herself with the grounds of the lot as she took stock of the eyes curious of her. Many of the women had been careless in hiding their distaste for her, but Serena felt compelled to remain indifferent as she could feel Paolo’s eyes follow her as he would seemingly accompany her as a distant shadow. 

Eventually, when she could no longer take the scrutiny of his doe eyes following her every motion, she resided within the confines of that same uninhabited dressing room with a closed door and only the memories of a former starlet surrounding her. Without anything but her curiosity to keep her company, Serena began to pick through the items in front of her to find evidence of the woman who owned this room prior to her current standing. 

A lavish fur coat, a single broken hummingbird brooch, an abandoned and stained page of a since filmed script, and a lipstick case lid had been all that remained to let her into a small fraction of this prior star’s life; a single glimpse into the life she may have led one day. But with this continued sense of curiosity came the unveiling of something dark within this studio as well. While reaching for the lipstick case, unsure of what it was exactly, her eyes met with the sight of something etched into the board of the wall directly beneath the vanity that had been lit with individual Edison bulbs to supply the best lighting available for makeup and illumination. But as her fingers traced over the etchings of the message, she began to feel a chill form within her body as she began to question if perhaps Paolo’s words had been right. 

The words read, “I am trapped, I will die here, Remember me…” The final markings had been that of initials embedded into the wood that she traced over as well, ‘V.M, Truly M.M.” But her mind would not be allowed to dwell on this for long, as her attention was brought to that of a sudden knock upon her door that forced her upright and into the bottom of the vanity as she let out a grunt of pain. The door opened immediately as Paolo stood with worry, fearful that she had fallen or allowed herself to become victim to some darker side to Hollywood she had yet to divulge into-as he prayed she never would. But as he saw her rise from the floor, holding her head, he couldn’t help but chuckle at her as he folded his arms across his chest as she was allowed the detail of his muscles tensing beneath the frail fabric of his top. 

“Have you subjected yourself to making friends with the dust now?” Paolo scoffed as she glared at him. 

“Is there something you want?” She asked harshly, adjusting her hair in the mirror, before watching his eyes linger on her in continued humor for a moment before he answered. 

“The studio is closing for the day as I have been asked to take you home…”

“I will pass.”

“Do you plan to walk? It would take you until Christmas just to make it down the hills! And that is if you do not encounter anything...dangerous.” Serena’s eyes narrowed in his direction before she let out an exhausted sigh in her reflection. 

“I would choose to take my chances…” She explained before going to move beyond him before he took hold of her arm. 

“Do you think you can outrun a bear? A car that does not see you? What of snakes or madmen hiding within the bushes wishing you for ransom?”

“I am afraid you have become disillusioned between truth and reality…”

“That may be...but you are the property of the studio now which means it is my job to ensure you are safe...Even if I would rather spend my time...ANYWHERE else…” Her jaw c****d to the side in annoyance to his words before she threw her hand forward in furthered aggravation until he was leading the way yet again to that damned car they made their escape in the night prior. Only now, he would return her home in silence, with neither of them wishing to speak even in an attempt at banter as they were both equally exhausted from the day and frankly, of each other. 

“I will be back at five to retrieve you.” He finally broke the silence as the car came to a dead stop outside of the home that Randall and Serena were allowed to remain at during their time in California; a quaint single bedroom, single bathroom Art Deco home perfect for the pair of them. However, as the headlights dissolved into the dark night, her eyes caught upon an unhappy betrothed upon the porch of this gifted home. Due to the tension within her frame, Paolo allowed his resentment for their previous conversation to become a thing of the past as he was more interested in her current state of wellbeing.

“Are you alright-” But as he attempted to inquire if he could assist her emotions, she was already withdrawn from the car. And the second her feet connected to the wooden boards of the home’s extension, she was forced into the house by an unkind pull as Paolo sat within his car, battling if he should interrupt-his feet eventually moving before he could cease them. 

His hand curved into a fist as he was prepared to knock before hearing the conversation through the door. 

“I was attempting to tell you...You were not home when I returned last night...and you were gone so early this morning-”

“I will not endure your excuses! I am due to be your husband and as that I am to know of all your comings and goings...for all I know you could have been with someone else! Whoring yourself like a-” Paolo prepared to leave the scene before hearing her begin to plead with Randall that he was hurting her. And suddenly his fist was upon the door and Randall appeared, out of breath, and annoyed. 

“Yes?!”

“I am with the studio...and I have come to collect Miss Serena-” Randall scoffed. 

“Duty calls…” He commented annoyingly before she returned to the door, tears staining her cheeks and her hands holding her own arms, as she looked at Paolo with confusion. 

“Forgive me, Miss Serena...They have requested your presence back at the studio…” Although she had no reason to trust him, she could sense something in this near-stranger’s eyes that was no longer present in Randall’s; compassion. But as Randall lingered in the doorway beside the door that then led to the kitchen, his eyes blazing into her with a silent warning, she remained strong before Paolo. 

“Whatever it is, it will have to wait until morning-” And with this, the door came to a close and the argument continued, all while Paolo was left feeling horribly underwhelmed by his own actions. But he knew better than to incorporate himself into a lover’s quarrel as he knew he would only worsen things for her. But where she believed he had left the scene-he simply distanced himself far enough to watch the house for evidence of his involvement having been needed. But as she glanced out her window to prepare for bed, dressed in her long night gown, her eyes met with the chocolate gaze of the man in the car outside of her house as she was confused of his intentions-entirely unaware that all he wanted to do was protect her.