‘What is this?!’ Philippe started flapping. ‘Who called the media?’
Jackson’s manager shushed him. ‘I called them! This is publicity that money can’t buy,’ Amy said. ‘It’s Inside Hollywood! Girls, follow me.’ She strode to the door. ‘I’m so glad you could make it,’ she called to the jostling crowd and the security guards backed off. ‘Gather round! I’m Amy Teller, Jackson’s representative, and will be happy to answer any questions before we do the photo op with Jackson and the girls.’
‘But we are already behind the schedule,’ Philippe spluttered.
‘Do you want to be the lead story on tonight’s entertainment news?’ Amy demanded, which shut Philippe up.
The crowd shouted out questions and Ivy breathed a sigh of relief. Her audition was forgotten for the moment. She slipped away to find Sophia and Camilla and go over her lines again.
They were sitting up at the diner’s bar watching the chaos outside.
‘Let me see the script!’ Ivy said.
Camilla handed it over and Ivy flipped it open.
Just then, she felt something hit her ear. She looked down at the counter and saw a peanut.
Then another one clonked her forehead.
‘Hey!’ she said, looking in the direction of the kitchen area, where the miniature missiles must have come from.
A third one arced through the serving window and landed on Camilla’s hand.
‘What’s going on?’ Ivy wondered aloud. Maybe it was another of Charlotte’s sabotage plans? If Olivia smelt of peanuts and salt, then Philippe would think she was a compulsive snacker and not choose her?
But then she saw a hand waving through the serving window, and a face popped up. Olivia!
Ivy’s heart leaped. Her cheerleader in shining armour! Now was her chance to stop this train wreck.
‘I’ll cover you while you jump over the counter,’ Camilla whispered. She hopped off her stool and started questioning Philippe about his previous movies. Everyone else was focused on the cameras outside.
Ivy pushed herself up on to the counter, swung her legs round and then dropped down to the ground. She crawled along, past the shelves of fountain glasses, empty fries baskets stacked neatly and rows of ketchup, salt and pepper shakers, and maple syrup. The door to the kitchen was a swinging one, so she pushed it open tentatively and slipped inside.
‘Olivia?’ she whispered as loud as she dared.
‘Ivy!’ came the reply.
Ivy shuffled in the direction of the voice and found Olivia hiding by the fryer.
‘You made it!’ Ivy gave Olivia a huge hug.
‘Just in time for the dance to the coconut gods,’ Olivia said.
‘Sorry about that,’ Ivy said. ‘But you’re here now, so let’s switch.’
Ivy slipped on the green sweater dress.
‘I love this Hawaiian print,’ Olivia said, admiring the sundress.
Ivy pushed Olivia towards the kitchen door. ‘I think you’re going to have to be in some photos before your audition starts again. See if you can step in front of Charlotte!’
‘Thanks, sis. I owe you one.’
‘No, we owe Charlotte one for all this,’ Ivy replied. ‘Now go out there and get that part!’
Olivia couldn’t stop smiling. She was having so much fun reading through the lines with Jackson. They’d gotten through the coconut part and were at the scene where he was chasing her through the surf under the moonlight. Olivia could imagine how romantic that would look on screen.
‘Mia, I –’ Jackson said, holding her arm.