Page 27

My eyes land on two large screens near the DJ booth at the opposite end of the dance floor and I hold my clutch tight to my chest as my eyes well up with tears.Myvideo is playing on both screens,myedits,myimages,myeffects. I watch the screens, transfixed for a moment as the reel comes to an end and the image changes to one of Jenny’s posters promoting a drinks offer, before flashing back to my video. Pride fills my heart, a wide smile spreading across my face.
“Lila! Hey!” Carter’s familiar voice cuts through the din and I whirl around to see him just coming through the doors behind me with a wide grin.
“Hey! Look!” I shout excitedly, grabbing his arm and pointing to the screens.
“Oh, sweet, check it out! That was allyou, Lila!”
“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you and Angie!” I insist.
“No way. Own that shit, babe! That’syourvideo playing up there!”
“Yea. It is,” I say, smiling at him. “Thanks.”
“Come on, let’s get a drink.” He walks over to the coat check, and I follow, slipping off my coat. After handing his over, he turns back to me – then freezes. His eyes widen and his jaw drops.
“Damn babe, you look… hot!” he states, his eyes slowly trailing up my body, a flirtatious gleam in his expression.
I laugh, enjoying the compliment as he shakes his head and takes my coat, handing it over to the attendant before casually draping his arm around my shoulders and leading us to the bar. “Two gin and tonics, please,” he calls.
I’m about to speak when Angela’s voice rings out as she runs towards us. “Lila! Carter!”
She’s wearing a low-cut white top under her trademark black leather jacket, with her usual black jeans and black high-heeled boots. Her long braids are swept back in a half-up half-down style, revealing large gold hoop earrings that glimmer in the light with every movement.
The bartender places our drinks in front of us and I eagerly take a sip, closing my eyes as the warmth of the alcohol spreads through me.
My pulse quickens as I scan the crowd once more, but I see no sign of him.
“What’s the plan?” Carter asks as Angela flags down the bartender.
I take another long sip of my drink, Carter’s question reminding me that there is still footage we need to get to keep the momentum going after tonight’s opening.
“Dibs on interviews,” he chimes, flashing a grin before I can answer.
Angela narrows her eyes at him. “Try getting at least a few blokes in this time, won’t you? Equal opportunity thirst content and all.” Her tone is dripping with sarcasm.
Carter gasps in mock outrage. “Excuse me, I am a connoisseur of all beauty. Besides, Harrison says I’m only allowed to flirt if it’s for work. And sex sells!”
“You’re right,” I say, trying not to laugh. “Sex does sell. And our audience includes a lot of women! So dothema favour and film some guys! Shirtless, ideally! Think of it as a kind of foreplay for when you get back with Harrison later,” I tease.
“I fucking love you,” Carter says with a wink as he knocks back his drink in one swift motion and bounces off into the crowd.
Angela turns to face me with a playful smirk. “What you going to focus on?”
My gaze drifts across the room, looking for inspiration somewhere within the space before landing on the shimmer of the bottles bathed in blue light behind the bar. “I’ll do some close-ups of the drinks,” I decide. “Get a few good shots of the labels. Bombay Sapphire at Sapphire Lounge makes a great theme. Maybe we can tempt them into a partnership down the line. Might do a time-lapse of the bartenders mixing the specials, something like that.”
“Wicked,” Angela nods approvingly. “Love how your mind works, babe. That leaves me on crowd shots. Catch you in a bit!” She winks as she makes her way towards the dance floor, her hips swaying with each confident step.
Left alone at the bar, I pull my phone out and begin lining up shots of the drinks.
The image comes to life on my screen, and instantly, a series of reels materialises in my head, a stream of ideas forming one after another - creative angles to take and different spots at the bar that would allow different views of the lighting. Part of me is excited about the creative possibilities of the night. Leading this campaign has meant everything to me, and just because the club is open, does not mean the work is done. We have to make sure it remains a success.
But another part of me - the part that spent far too long getting ready and skipped dinner thanks to the fluttery anticipation of seeing a certain Creative Director - can’t help but fantasise about getting lost on the dance floor and forgetting about the world for a night. After all, part of my vision for this place wasfantasy becomes reality.
Get it together,I chide myself.
I focus my attention on the ideas formulating in my mind and throw myself into the task, determined to create the best images possible. Yeteven as the shots line up, a small part of me remains on high alert, my eyes occasionally darting to the entrance in hopes of seeing him.
Chapter 15