Page 18 of Love Unscripted
As they finished their lunch and Tiffany left him to get things in order for the next scene, Aaron’s phone rang on the table, cutting through the ambient noise of the café.
He glanced at the screen.
Alexandra.
He smiled despite himself and picked up.
“Hey, sis.”
“Hey! I just called to remind you about my show. There will be a cocktail party after.”
Alexandra was an artist. Tonight was the showing of the work she had been developing for the past several years—a series of paintings titledL’homme. It featured portraits of men at various stages of life. Aaron had seen the paintings at different stages of development and had been looking forward to supporting his sister’s big moment.
Unfortunately, tonight he also needed to deal with Camille.
“Umm…”
“Aaron!” Alexandra said sharply. “I’ve been planning this for months. Don’t tell me you can’t come.”
“I don’t want to disappoint you, but I have a business meeting tonight and I’m not sure what time it will end.”
“But you told me you were free.”
“That was then. This is now. Something urgent came up.”
“What’s so urgent that it’s worth blowing off my show?”
Aaron ran a hand through his hair, feeling the tension creeping back.
“Let’s just say Camille Carlucci is proving to be a challenge, and I need to meet with her to discuss my concerns.”
“A challenge how?”
“She’s got her own vision for the character, and it clashes with what I’m trying to do. It has resulted in us being way off schedule. The studio execs got wind of it and are threatening to axe her if I don’t get her back into line.”
“Oh man,” Alexandra groaned. “I had heard rumors that Simon Halden let her run things on theShadow Peakset. She’s probably spoilt.”
Aaron leaned back in his chair, staring out the window as sunlight flickered through the trees lining the street.
“I felt in my bones she was going to be trouble,” he said, thinking back to that period over a year ago. “But she did great at the audition. She’s really talented. There’s no denying that. When Ray decided to cast her, my objections seemed…trite. Regardless, I need to meet with her tonight—to hash this out over coffee instead of in front of the entire cast and crew.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Alexandra said brightly. “In fact, why not have a Bible study with her?”
“A Bible study?”
“Sure. This could be an opportunity for you to teach her about Esther—not just the surface story but the themes in Scripture about humility and surrender to God’s direction. Do some exegesis.”
Aaron laughed. “I think you have the wrong Cortelli brother.” Their brother Adam was a pastor.
Alexandra laughed too. “Nah. But Adam will help you prepare if you ask nicely.”
Aaron chuckled distractedly. The wheels in his head were already turning. The prospect of a Bible study with Camille was daunting—yet strangely appealing.
“And what if we just end up arguing again?”
“Then take along a referee.”
“Are you volunteering?”
