says. “I’d really like us to be friends.”
I smile back at her. She is so sweet.
“ I’d like that too,” I reply.
“Then,” continues James, “when the movie launches, th ere’ll be no bad press for Issy. We’ll say Madison suggested I date Issy. The press will love it. And it will send a clear message that we have my ex-wife’s blessing to be together.”
“Is that important?” I ask.
“The press are very fickle,” says Madison. “You’re an unknown quantity to them. You could get lucky, Issy, and they fall in love with you on day one. Or news could be slow that week, and they could decide James is being heartless, moving on so soon.”
“So they’d make me out to be a marriage wrecker?” I conclude, finally understanding where they’re coming from.
Madison nods. “They might do. This way, we stop the slightest chance of that happening.”
Phew . This all sounds so complicated. Not for the first time, I find myself fantasising that James was just an ordinary guy. Without all the fame.
“Ok,” I agree.
“You need to be prepared for publicity,” adds James. “I’ve already hired the best in the business to train you how to conduct interviews. What not to say. That kind of thing.”
“Will that really be necessary?” I ask. “I don’t plan on being a mega star.”
James and Madison exchange glances.
“I’m not sure you’ll have the choice,” says Madison. “A beautiful girl like you. The papers will go mad when they see you with James.”
“Acting is a wonderful profession,” she adds, seeing my expression. “You’ll get used to all the attention. Most actresses love it.” But she looks a little uncertain.
Could I get used to it? I’ve never really wanted to be in the spotlight. But for James, I’m prepared to do almost anything.
“Well, it’s good to have you in the movie,” I say, smiling at Madison. I mean it, too. I think I could learn a lot from her. Not just about acting, but how to deal with the whole fame thing.
She seems to sail through celebrity life with genuine grace and dignity. I’d love to know how she does it.
Then again, she did fake her own marriage for publicity. Maybe there’s a lot more to fame than I realise.
Chapter 1 3
Predictably, everyone is shocked and excited to see Madison arrive on set. Callum is over the moon, embracing her in a bear hug and declaring himself beyond excited.
Will says a careful and professi onal ‘hello’. But he melts when Madison turns on the charm and starts asking his advice on adapting her exercise regime to the studio.
Camilla is too shy to approach, and I see her hovering in th e background, sneaking glances and biting her lip. It’s not until I drag her over to Madison that Camilla introduces herself, keeping her eyes firmly on the floor and stubbing the ground with her toe.
Madison, who is clearly used to people getting nervous around her, deploys just the right amount of friendliness and promises Camilla acting tips.
I’m wondering how Natalie will deal with the new arrival. Particularly since it’s mainly her scenes which have been rewritten to include Madison.
But she’s nowhere to be seen, so I guess she’s holed up in hair and make-up, calling the shots.
When James calls for everyone to take their places, Natalie arrives like magic, looking surprisingly serene. She says a brief hello to Madison, air kisses her on either cheek, and then floats to her place on set, as though nothing unusual has happened.
W hen the cameras start to roll, I realise that Natalie has even managed to learn her new lines for the scene. Despite having only an hour warning at best. So everything works seamlessly.
I stare at Natalie. Even after the cameras stop rolling, she stays remarkably well behaved. Her diva persona appears firmly on hold.
Wh o are you, and what have you done with Natalie?
It’s like she’s been body-swapped.
Another thought occurs to me.
Is this Madison’s
I smile back at her. She is so sweet.
“ I’d like that too,” I reply.
“Then,” continues James, “when the movie launches, th ere’ll be no bad press for Issy. We’ll say Madison suggested I date Issy. The press will love it. And it will send a clear message that we have my ex-wife’s blessing to be together.”
“Is that important?” I ask.
“The press are very fickle,” says Madison. “You’re an unknown quantity to them. You could get lucky, Issy, and they fall in love with you on day one. Or news could be slow that week, and they could decide James is being heartless, moving on so soon.”
“So they’d make me out to be a marriage wrecker?” I conclude, finally understanding where they’re coming from.
Madison nods. “They might do. This way, we stop the slightest chance of that happening.”
Phew . This all sounds so complicated. Not for the first time, I find myself fantasising that James was just an ordinary guy. Without all the fame.
“Ok,” I agree.
“You need to be prepared for publicity,” adds James. “I’ve already hired the best in the business to train you how to conduct interviews. What not to say. That kind of thing.”
“Will that really be necessary?” I ask. “I don’t plan on being a mega star.”
James and Madison exchange glances.
“I’m not sure you’ll have the choice,” says Madison. “A beautiful girl like you. The papers will go mad when they see you with James.”
“Acting is a wonderful profession,” she adds, seeing my expression. “You’ll get used to all the attention. Most actresses love it.” But she looks a little uncertain.
Could I get used to it? I’ve never really wanted to be in the spotlight. But for James, I’m prepared to do almost anything.
“Well, it’s good to have you in the movie,” I say, smiling at Madison. I mean it, too. I think I could learn a lot from her. Not just about acting, but how to deal with the whole fame thing.
She seems to sail through celebrity life with genuine grace and dignity. I’d love to know how she does it.
Then again, she did fake her own marriage for publicity. Maybe there’s a lot more to fame than I realise.
Chapter 1 3
Predictably, everyone is shocked and excited to see Madison arrive on set. Callum is over the moon, embracing her in a bear hug and declaring himself beyond excited.
Will says a careful and professi onal ‘hello’. But he melts when Madison turns on the charm and starts asking his advice on adapting her exercise regime to the studio.
Camilla is too shy to approach, and I see her hovering in th e background, sneaking glances and biting her lip. It’s not until I drag her over to Madison that Camilla introduces herself, keeping her eyes firmly on the floor and stubbing the ground with her toe.
Madison, who is clearly used to people getting nervous around her, deploys just the right amount of friendliness and promises Camilla acting tips.
I’m wondering how Natalie will deal with the new arrival. Particularly since it’s mainly her scenes which have been rewritten to include Madison.
But she’s nowhere to be seen, so I guess she’s holed up in hair and make-up, calling the shots.
When James calls for everyone to take their places, Natalie arrives like magic, looking surprisingly serene. She says a brief hello to Madison, air kisses her on either cheek, and then floats to her place on set, as though nothing unusual has happened.
W hen the cameras start to roll, I realise that Natalie has even managed to learn her new lines for the scene. Despite having only an hour warning at best. So everything works seamlessly.
I stare at Natalie. Even after the cameras stop rolling, she stays remarkably well behaved. Her diva persona appears firmly on hold.
Wh o are you, and what have you done with Natalie?
It’s like she’s been body-swapped.
Another thought occurs to me.
Is this Madison’s
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