I gave him a perplexed look. “Who in the what now?”
Jacob Anthony was one of several directors who kept Iggy and me employed on London stages. He also had a reputation for being something of a diva, but he was so good at what he did that most people chose to overlook it.
“Damon Atwood,” Iggy repeated. “Don’t you remember him? He won the Oscar when he was thirteen for that Holocaust flick where he played a little boy in a concentration camp. Riveting stuff.”
“Oh, yeah,” I said, memories surfacing. “I saw that one. It was amazing. Didn’t he retire from acting, though?”
Iggy nodded. “Yes, when he was seventeen. His career was riddled with bad luck, truth be told. His mother died of cancer when he was fourteen, and afterwards his dad crawled out of the woodwork, looking to cash in on his success. He made sure Damon only took the big money roles, a right bastard, if you ask me.”
I eyed him. “You’re well informed.”
“Of course I am. Spent the morning on Wikipedia after I heard the news.” Iggy grinned. “Anyway, there was a very high-profile court case when Atwood won emancipation from his father. He hasn’t been heard of since, but apparently he’s been living on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.”
“From Hollywood to the Isle of Skye. That’s quite a long way to go. His dad really must’ve been a bastard,” I said sadly.
“Yes, well, it was a long time ago. Actually, he’s probably about your age now, twenty-six or so. I for one am eager to see how the years have treated him,” said Iggy just as the door swung open.
“Hahaha! That’s the most hilarious thing I’ve heard all week, Jacob!” a syrupy-sweet voice crooned.
Jacob Anthony walked into the office with Alicia Davidson on his arm. Iggy shot me a cynical look at her sugary fake tone, and I tried to stifle a grin. I loved my boss. He was nicknamed for his distinct resemblance to Iggy Pop, and I’d known him since I was a scruffy teenager, hovering outside his dance studio, penniless and eager to learn.
Alicia was tall, red-haired, voluptuous, and probably the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in real life. She was an actress from L.A. making her West End debut in the lead role of Satine. If the rumours were true about Atwood, she’d be playing his love interest as the glamorous, ailing courtesan.
Alicia and Jacob barely acknowledged that Iggy and I were in the room with them.
“So tell me about Damon,” Alicia went on. “How on earth did you manage to lure him out of obscurity for this? I mean, can he even sing?”
Jacob shrugged. “To be perfectly honest with you, hon, I haven’t met with him in person yet. All our correspondence has been through email. He’s supposed to be arriving today so that we can audition him properly, but for I all I know this could be a very elaborate catfish scam. As for if he can sing, who’s to say. If he can’t, we’ll get him lessons. Can you imagine the sort of attention we’ll attract from the press with Damon Atwood on the roster? Alongside your good self, of course.”
Alicia glowed and shot him a flirtatious smile while Jacob ushered her further into the office. “Miss Davidson, might I introduce you to our choreographer, the wonderful Iggy Thomas.”
“Very pleased to meet you, Mr Thomas,” said Alicia.
Iggy took her hand and gave it a gentlemanly peck. “Likewise, and please, call me Iggy. Rose and I are really looking forward to working with you.”
Alicia’s bright green eyes landed on me, and she gave me a wide, pretty smile as she reached over to shake my hand. “It’s lovely to meet you, too, Rose.”
“And you.” I grinned, momentarily dazzled by her beauty. Note to self: stop falling in love with every new actor you meet, male or female.
Jacob quickly whisked Alicia away, leaving me and Iggy alone once more.
When they were out of earshot, Iggy asked dryly, “Do you think the carpet matches the drapes?”
I snort-laughed and sat down, pulling my dance shoes from my bag to unravel the laces. Mustering a surprisingly accurate impression of Jacob, I lazily waved a hand through the air. “Who’s to say.”
Iggy snickered and took the shoes from me, unknotting the laces within seconds.
***
We spent the morning with the chorus line, teaching them preliminary sequences for the big club scene. Jacob, Alicia, the choral director, and a number of assistants sat