“Of course not,” Janetta says, sounding strangled. “Though I have to admit, I’m surprised you were such a success.”
“You could have a career in acting,” Bryan says. “Do you want to be an actress? I’d be happy to help you?”
Gabrielle flushes with pleasure. She wants to talk to Bryan some more, but Mr. Edgar appears next to her and starts tugging on her arm. Reluctantly, she allows him to drag her over to a small TV to review the footage they’ve just shot.
“Take a look at this,” he says. “You look absolutely fantastic—so natural. It’s going to be the best scene in the film!”
“I want to see,” Janetta shouts, rushing over.
The cameraman rewinds the clip, and Gabrielle watches her sister watch the scene. With every second, Janetta’s scowl gets deeper. By the time the clip ends, she looks ready to go to war.
“It’s too bad Gabby’s only a stuntwoman,” Janetta says with a sniff. “It’s okay for her to do the choreography, but the more subtle skills are clearly beyond her. Come, Gabrielle, watch a real actress shoot—maybe you’ll learn something.”
Gabrielle rolls her eyes and stands next to the cameraman. The crew adjusts the lighting, and Janetta takes her place on the cobblestone street outside the palace. She starts the scene, but the anger is still visible on her face. Her voice sounds loud and false, and her movements are exaggerated.
“Cut,” Mr. Edgar screams. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Janetta?”
“I’m doing the scene exactly how we discussed it,” Janetta says.
“No, you’re stiff as a board,” Mr. Edgar shouts. “Take a deep breath, and we’ll run it again.”
Gabrielle sees something like fear flicker across her sister’s face, and then Janetta closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. She starts the scene again, but she’s somehow even worse than before. Her voice sounds nasal and high, and her face looks strangely blank.
“Cut,” Mr. Edgar screams. “Take five and get a grip, Janetta. We can’t film you if you’re going to act like this.”
Gabrielle bites her lip and wishes she could leave the set. Janetta looks like she’s about to fly into a fit, and Gabrielle doesn’t want to be around to see it happen. From the dark corners of the soundstage, she can hear the crew members whisper and giggle.
“How embarrassing,” one says. “The stunt double is better than the actual actress.”
Janetta looks down—she’s clearly heard the comment. For a minute, Gabrielle wonders if her sister is going to cry, but when Janetta lifts her head, her face is ferocious and cold. She marches over and clears her throat as if she’s about to make an important announcement.
“Well, I’m really surprised, Gabby,” Janetta says. “I knew the Top Girls Club was famous for its dancers, but I had no idea they could train someone so quickly. What’s the secret? I’m dying to know.”
The whispering crew members go silent, and then laughter fills the room. Someone reaches out and plucks at Gabrielle’s ass through her skirt, and she jumps with surprise. She turns around to glare at the offender, but the man just winks at her.
“I can’t believe she’s a whore,” one man shouts.
“Well, she’s certainly the prettiest p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e I’ve ever seen,” another call.
“Hey girly, how much do you charge?” another scream.
Gabrielle’s eyes fill with hot tears, and she tries to wipe them away before Janetta can see. Someone grabs her wrist, and she flails her arm, trying to get the handoff her.
“Hey, cut it out,” Bryan whispers. “I just want to talk to you in private.”
She lets him lead her away from the jeering crew members into a dark corner of the set. Suddenly, the cobblestone streets and palace look fake and hollow—the magic is gone. A sob escapes her lips, and she presses her palm over her mouth.
“Are you seriously working at the Top Girls Club?” Bryan asks, his face hard and angry.
She looks down at the ground and says, “I am.”
“What the f.u.c.k, Gabby?” Bryan asks. “Why would you do that? I never thought of that type of girl. Are you?”
Gabrielle shrugs miserably. She wants to tell Bryan that none of it was her choice, but she knows it won’t do her any good. She’s stuck at the club until she pays off her father’s debt to Jackson.
“Are you that desperate for money?” Bryan asks. “Cause if you’re having problems with money, I can help you. Just tell me how much you need.”
“It’s a lot of money, Bryan,” she whispers.
“I don’t care,” he says. “Just tell me
“Please let me go,” she whispers.
He grabs her wrist even tighter and says, “Tell me how much you need.”
“Let me go,” she says again. “People are going to see us.”
“Listen to the lady and let her go,” a deep voice shouts.
Gabrielle whirls around, coming face to face with Hill, and he’s wearing a dark suit and shiny leather shoes, and he’s looking at Bryan the way he looks at the lower class man who comes to the club. He reaches behind him and grabs a wooden staff from the props and thwacks Bryan across the shoulder. Bryan winces and lets go of Gabrielle’s wrist.
“That wasn’t necessary, Hill,” Gabrielle says. “He’s my friend.”
Hill glances at Bryan, shrugs, and tosses the stick onto the ground. Gabrielle sighs with relief, but the feeling is short-lived. Janetta appears behind Hill with a sour grin on her face.
“Oh, is he your client, Gabrielle?” Janetta asks. She looks Hill up and down and extends her manicured hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Janetta. I hope you’re taking good care of my little sister.”
Hill ignores her hand, and Janetta awkwardly pretends to pick fluff off her costume. A crowd starts to gather around them, and Gabrielle wishes Hill would be a little more subtle. After all, it’s my day off, she thinks. He shouldn’t be bothering me today.
“What do you want, Hill?” she snaps.
“Mr. Oliver asked me to come here,” Hill answers. “He sends his regards and asks when you’ll be finished.”
Gabrielle blinks with confusion. Hill has never treated her so politely before, and she wonders why he’s starting now. The crew members and extras seem to notice, too—she can hear them whispering and speculating all around her.
Suddenly the crowd parts and a round man in a solid white suit rushes forward. He extends his meaty hand and shakes hands with Hill and then claps Hill on the back as if they’re old friends.
“I had no idea you were coming here, Hill,” the man says. “You should’ve told me you were coming by. I could have arranged some entertainment for you—of course not nearly the same as you have up at the club.”
Hill arches an eyebrow and sneers at the fat man, and Gabrielle wonders who he is. He’s clearly familiar with the Top Girls Club, but she’s never seen him around before. She hears snickering behind her and strains her ears to listen.
“Who would’ve thought our dear old producer went to the Top Girls Club,” a man whispers mockingly.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.