Someone I Used to Know - By Blakney Francis Page 0,17

in the circular driveway of the house I’d seen him enter after dropping me off after the party at Georgia’s.

“Part of the perks of being a movie star…The studio rents it for him. The limo service is built into his contract too. I don’t think he even has an American driver’s license.”

I leaned my seat all the way back and closed my eyes, not willing to spend a second thinking about the Australian. It was going to be hard enough surviving the rest of production now that I was going to willingly submit to helping Madeline. There was no room to suddenly decide Declan deserved the effort of my attentions as well.

Arriving at the lot, Cam and I separated; him going off to live his dream, and me walking into the lion’s den. It wasn’t a very fair trade if you asked me.

My feet dragged all the way up to the door of Madeline’s trailer, which was currently blocked by her boulder of a bodyguard.

“She’s been waiting on you.” His voice was as deep and gruff as I’d expected. It was also sprinkled with an exotic flavor that matched his Hawaiian decent.

I smiled widely. It was always a good idea to make friends with people who could destroy you with one swat of their arm.

Either Mr. Bodyguard wasn’t charmed, or he was seriously lacking in personality, because he ignored my gesture and turned to open the door.

“I’m Adley,” I told him, refusing to let him scare away my bright expression. And maybe I was procrastinating just a little bit too.

His round face gazed down at me as if he were bored with my mere presence. “I know.”

He stared at me. I stared at him. And the door stood open between us. Our stare off lasted a whole minute before Madeline interrupted us. I swear she had a built-in radar that detected my location at all times.

“Come on. We’ve got to be at hair and make-up in two minutes.” She skipped a greeting, in favor of a firm hold on my arm, as she tugged me away.

Her grip was so tight, I suspected she thought I might try and make a run for it. Shuffling through the everyday bustle of the back lot, I checked over my shoulder to find her bodyguard, along with the rest of her entourage, following behind us.

“I don’t think your bodyguard likes me very much,” I said in way of small talk. Maybe a little friendly conversation would earn me the right to my arm back.

“Who?” She powered on, barely showing acknowledgment of my observation. “Alfred?”

My feet stutter-stepped with surprise.

“His name is Alfred?” I choked on my laugh. It wasn’t exactly fitting for the giant of a man who looked more lethal than a loaded gun. “Does he double as your butler?”

Madeline stared at me blankly as I found amusement in my own joke. Apparently she wasn’t a Batman fan.

The area designated for hair and make-up was in a constant state of disarray. I’d avoided it thus far during my time on set, but since I had joined the legion of Madeline’s posse, I was dragged right into the middle of it.

There were three swiveling chairs like you found at a hairdresser’s on one side of the room, and four stations on the opposite wall, where every type, shade, and color of make-up could be found in organized squares on the long counter in front of the stations. The walls were covered in mirrors, and even though there was a partition erected in the far corner for quick changes, it seemed modesty wasn’t a problem for most actors.

I turned away quickly before I got a full frontal of Madeline who unashamedly slipped out of her top and into a smock for anyone to see.

“Don’t worry about Alfred,” one of Madeline’s lackeys told me.

The woman who spoke had dark, black hair and smooth skin that no amount of spray tan could ever grant me. Out of all of the entourage, she was definitely the closest to Madeline’s age, but I still guessed she was in her mid-twenties.

I glanced back to where Alfred had halted just outside the door to the room, looking more like a bouncer than a bodyguard for the moment, as he questioned anyone who was brave enough to try and enter.

“I’m guessing he’s not much of a people person,” It felt safe to say, since he was out of hearing distance.

“Oh no, Alfred is a big teddy bear. You should see him with my