Cut to the Chase by Lisa Girolami

Carmen said when Paige sat down. She called everyone darling and treated everyone with the same sentiment. Carmen Garza, a sturdy, middle-aged woman with salt-and-pepper hair and big bosoms, had a commanding presence. Her pair of designer glasses hung from a chain around her neck like a whistle on a policeman.
    “Great.”
    “ Cut to the Chase , how’s it coming?”
    “It’s coming.”
    “I know I’m pushing you on the deadline. It’s a short time to get this one to the printer, but you know I have good reasons for that.”
    “Three months is a challenge, but I’ve got something to propose.”
    Carmen raised a pen to her mouth, waiting.
    “There aren’t many action movies shooting now, but Avalon Randolph is starring in one.”
    “Avalon? The movie star?”
    “Yes. I’m guessing this will be a big publicity move, too. Not a lot of people are talking about it yet. The producers are keeping a lid on it deliberately.”
    “She’s certainly built for the big screen. She’s beautiful.”
    More than you can imagine , Paige thought. “I’d like to focus the majority of the book on her.”
    “Are there a lot of action scenes?”
    She nodded. “And she’s doing her own stunts.”
    Carmen dropped the pen from her lips. “She is?”
    “Insane, huh? I can count the number of actresses that do that. And for her first time out, I think I could get a great story. I happened to be there to photograph Brent Hastings accidentally punching her in the face. She’s okay, of course.”
    Carmen nodded her head in silence, obviously deep in thought. “Who else are you shooting?’
    “Only Bubba Densman and Ricky Boswell.” That’s all she had to work with, given the fact that Carmen would be punching the time clock in less than three months.
    Carmen nodded again, tapping her pen on the desk. “So, a more female-centric book on a male-dominated subject,” she finally said. “I like it.”
    Paige was relieved. She didn’t have a lot of other options at this point.
    “I assume you’ll be delving further into Avalon’s life? Documenting her home, her free time?”
    “Sure.” For some reason, the knowledge that she’d already been to Avalon’s home felt like a secret. It seemed silly, but Carmen would have asked her what kind of pictures she’d gotten and, frankly, she hadn’t gotten any.
    “I think a spread with her at one of Hollywood’s icons would be good, too.”
    “You mean, like, the Magic Castle or the Hollywood Bowl?”
    “Possibly. There’s also Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.”
    “I’d like to go somewhere a little more off the tourist path.” She thought a moment and said, “Chateau Marmont.”
    “Perfect. The stories of Belushi in his garden bungalow and Howard Hughes spying on beautiful women from the attic are legendary, but most people have never been there.”
    “Most people can’t afford the room rates.”
    “All the more reason it remains exclusive. I’ll call ahead and clear the way for you to get a bungalow. And some poolside shots would be marvelous.”
    The idea was a good one. And illustrating a broader picture of Hollywood moviemaking would allow her to expand upon the theme.
    “Thank you, Carmen.”
    “Three months.” She checked her watch. “Minus one week.”
    “I’ll get it done.”
    “You’re my star, Paige.”
    “Avalon’s the star. I just take the pictures and write the text.”
    “But you’re about to be a star in your own right,” she said, putting her glasses on. The chain jangled like change in someone’s pocket.
    “What do you mean?”
    “After we go to press, I’m scheduling you for a book tour, darling. We’ll expedite the printing of Cut to the Chase and get ready for a super-busy schedule of book readings and signings with all three books.”
    “No!” Paige almost yelled her response, but it came out more like a screech.
    Carmen’s eyebrows rose and she looked out from the top of her glasses. “No?”
    “I mean, no