Ivy frowned. Jessica was getting just what she wanted – her new competition was giving up. ‘Ignore Jessica. What about the nomination? Regardless of Jackson, people liked you enough to think you were one of the top five Brightest New Stars.’
Olivia paused. ‘Yes, but . . .’
‘Just wait and see,’ Ivy insisted. ‘Don’t make your final decision yet.’
Lillian put a hand on Olivia’s arm. ‘You’re a born actress, Olivia. You should at least wait and see how the award goes. Take it from me – I know talent when I see it.’
‘It might be a tough audience,’ Mr Vega said, ‘but only leave if you want to, Olivia. Don’t let anyone else make that decision for you.’
‘Olivia Abbott?’ called a stage manager. ‘We need you now. Jackson’s waiting.’
Olivia looked around from Ivy, to Lillian, to Mr Vega. ‘We’ll just have to see.’
Ivy just knew that her sister would charm them all, if she could get out there and talk to everyone. Ivy hoped with all her heart that Olivia would win the award.
‘Good luck,’ Ivy whispered.
Olivia strode out of the room and Ivy crossed her fingers, hoping that the world would just give her sister a chance.
Chapter Ten
Olivia slipped on to the red velvet seat beside Mr Vega. During a video after the commercial break, she’d been escorted out into the audience so that the cameras could see her reaction as the award was announced. Almost immediately, a cameraman closed in, his huge black camera lens pointed right at her.
Jackson stood at the podium and smiled at the audience. He didn’t show any of the stress that Olivia guessed he might be feeling. The last thing he’d had to deal with before going on stage was her being upset. ‘And now, I am delighted to announce the nominees for the Brightest New Star award, given to a debut actor or actress with a bright future in Hollywood.’
Olivia knew she had about ten seconds before her face was splashed across the huge screen in the auditorium and broadcast live to the nation – they always showed the faces of all the nominees as the award was being announced. She ignored the panicky feeling that was welling up in her and focused on one moment: it was just after Christmas. Ivy, Mr Vega and her parents were sitting together in the Abbott’s kitchen. All the crazy family together.
That’s what matters in all of this, Olivia thought to herself.
Jackson called out clearly, ‘Olivia Abbott . . .’
There was an awkward silence, then a smattering of polite applause. Everyone in the audience was in full formal wear. One old lady was wearing a tiara and the man next to her was wearing a full tuxedo.
Olivia just kept thinking about her family, to distract herself. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her big face on the screen.
Jackson read out the other four nominees, whose applause was clearly more than polite. It’s almost over, it’s almost over, Olivia kept telling herself.
‘And the winner is . . .’
Olivia felt her heart thumping through her body.
It would be amazing to win, but it was next to impossible. She knew the votes would have been cast long before Jessica’s video stunt; there was no way she could have made that big an impact with just one small role in a Jackson Caulfield flick.
But a little voice inside her said, ‘It was big enough to land the Eternal Sunset role!’
It was like slow motion as Jackson opened the gold envelope and then looked her way. He locked eyes with her and read out, ‘Olivia Abbott!’
There was a loud whooping noise – that sounded distinctly like a certain sister of hers – and then an awkward hush descended on the audience.
Mr Vega squeezed Olivia’s hand. ‘Go on,’ he told her. ‘Enjoy your moment.’
Olivia stepped out into the aisle and walked up on to the stage, squinting under the glare of the lights.
‘Congratulations, Olivia,’ Jackson said, leaning into the microphone, as Olivia strode towards his podium.
Now she could see that the huge auditorium was packed. There were hundreds of people staring at her. Young girls were scattered through the rows – clearly Jackson fans, judging by their scowls. One of them, wearing pink taffeta, stuck her tongue out at Olivia.
Jackson handed her a tall glass trophy and the envelope. She glanced down to see that it really was her name written there.