Page 15 of Cinematic Destinies (Red Carpet Romance #3)

T wo months into the shoot, the cast was finishing dinner when Jean took the last swig of his bourbon and said, “We need to discuss the plan for our little excursion tomorrow morning.” The actors listened as he continued, “We leave for Lake Myvatn at six o’clock sharp.

Upon arrival, you’ll head straight to wardrobe, hair, and makeup.

I’ll meet you there for notes since we’re filming outdoors and there is no set.

When you’re ready, we start shooting. It’s the most important scene in the film and I’ve scheduled one day for it, so we need to maximize our time when the lighting is right.

I scoured the planet for the perfect location to create this cinematic moment.

Someplace with otherworldly, nearly impossible beauty.

Lake Myvatn is that place. Truth be told, I decided to shoot the entire film in Iceland just so we could travel there for this pivotal scene.

You will be blown away. We’ll also be photographing the poster for the film—the single image that will forever define it.

” Jean paused, his eyes suddenly looking far away.

“You okay there, old man?” Michael asked.

“Ah, yes,” Jean said. “It suddenly occurred to me this will be the last time I photograph the poster image for a film.”

“We’re deeply honored to be a part of it,” Roo said.

Georgia smiled compassionately and added, “You must be feeling so many mixed emotions.”

Jean dismissively waved his hand in the air. “Rubbish. I just lost my way for a moment.”

Georgia reached across the table and put her hand on his. “We can play that game if you want to, but if you’re feeling a bit sentimental, or anything else, we’re here to support you.”

The trace of a smile flickered across Jean’s wrinkled face. “You so remind me of your mother,” he said, squeezing her hand. “She never lets me get away with any shit either.” Georgia giggled and he continued, “But I’m fine, so save the drama for your performance.”

The actors laughed.

“As I was saying, we’ll be filming as long as the lighting allows.

Then we’ll be taken to a local inn to spend the night.

Bring an overnight bag. I’m doing all the landscape shots the following day with the crew, driving back here the day after, so you’ll get two days off.

I can have you shuttled back here, or if you prefer you can spend your time off in the Myvatn area.

There are mineral baths you may wish to visit, so pack swimwear. ”

“That sounds great. Thank you, Jean,” Roo said.

“Well, I must retire. I’ll see you bright and early. I’ll be the one who looks like a corpse slurping an espresso,” Jean groaned.

Georgia laughed, looked at him, and said, “I hope you know how much you mean to us, and how fucking brilliant we think you are.”

He smirked and patted her hand. “Just like Ella indeed. Thank you, ma chérie .”

“Come on, old man. I’ll walk you up,” Michael said, lending a hand.

Once they were gone, Roo slung his arm around Georgia and said, “Since we’ll have a couple days off, how about we take my car tomorrow? That way we can go exploring during our free time. Check out the mineral baths. Go for a hike. Drive back leisurely.”

“That sounds great.”

“I’m glad I threw swim trunks in my luggage at the last minute. Did you bring a swimsuit? Wait, don’t answer. That way I can picture you skinny-dipping, slipping into my arms, and well . . .”

She giggled.

“Darling, perhaps we should skip our usual movie night and head up to bed given the early departure time. Besides, now that I’ve given myself the image of you naked, I don’t think I can wait to ravage you,” he said.

She nodded, looked at him suggestively, and purred, “Let’s go to bed.”

THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAST AND CREW caravanned to the northern volcanic lake region.

Roo and Georgia drove in his rental car, marveling at the landscape along the way, talking about their love of travel, and singing along to oldies on the radio.

They were trailing a few minutes behind the others as they had to stop for gas.

When they arrived at the location, they couldn’t believe their eyes: stunning volcanic rock formations popping out of a shallow lake clear as glass surrounded by shamrock-colored greenery, with large grassy mounds in the shapes of swirls, volcanoes and mountains in the distance.

“Wow, Jean was right. It’s utterly spectacular,” Roo said.

“It looks like it’s out of a storybook,” Georgia remarked.

They smiled at each other, excited for the day, and opened their car doors. Just as they stepped outside, swarms of black insects swept in. There were so many it looked like sheets of blackness rolling through the sky.

“Oh my God,” Georgia yelped, trying to protect her face and hair, with thousands of the small creatures swooping over them.

“Duck your head,” Roo instructed as he covered his own head with both his arms, and they hurried to the wardrobe and makeup trailer. Roo opened the door and Georgia flew inside. She was frantically shaking her head and running her hands through her hair, trying to shake off the unwanted visitors.

“Ah, I see you’ve met the midges,” Jean said.

“What on earth?” Georgia asked, still manically shaking out her long curls.

Jean snickered. “This place is named after swarms of small black flies called midges. They only live for seven days.”

“You couldn’t have mentioned this last night?” she said, shooing away the pests.

Jean nearly smiled. “Be glad we weren’t here last month. That’s their high season. They reach apocalyptic levels.”

“It gets worse than this?” Georgia asked in disbelief.

Jean smiled ever so slightly. “Beauty always has another side. I quite love the midges. They are entirely harmless. To most, their presence here makes imperfect something that otherwise would be too perfect. These tragic little beings live such a short time yet perform such an important job during their brief blip on this planet. They are the protectors of pure, untouched beauty.” He paused for a moment and added, “Sometimes the guardian of beauty is dark and ugly. Keeps things honest.”

“That’s so like you to say that,” Michael said with a chuckle.

“Well, you coulda given a girl a warning. For you gentlemen, you throw a baseball cap on and call it a day. It’s a bit more challenging for me,” Georgia said, running her fingers through one curl at a time.

“Fair enough,” Jean conceded.

“Here, let me help,” Roo offered Georgia.

“While you do that, I’ll review the part of the scene we’ll be starting with,” Jean said.

“The old man is dying, and the two young lovers have taken him on an excursion for a picnic and to soak up the nature. As you know, I usually let you try things anyway you please. Not today. I’ve perfectly orchestrated the first shot.

You must each be in precisely the right position.

I can see it clearly. Michael standing in the back.

Roo ten feet before him. Georgia ten feet before him.

Both men are watching her, the most beautiful woman in the most beautiful setting, her long spiral curls cascading down her back.

She walks ahead to look at some flowers and Michael approaches Roo.

That’s when he finally confronts him, and they have the conversation.

Then, not knowing what has just transpired, Georgia turns to them, smiles, and waves them over. Does everyone understand?”

The actors nodded.

“I’ll make sure your marks are clear. We’ll be taking still photography shots too for the poster.” Jean labored to his feet and said, “I’ll leave you to get ready. Meet me on set.”

Soon the actors ambled outside, Georgia wearing a long, flowing sundress in shades of green with speckles of yellow, her light brown curls spilling wildly all around.

When she stepped into place, Jean muttered, “My God, see how she echoes the landscape. It is just as I imagined.” A self-satisfied look danced in his eyes.

He walked over to Michael, slightly adjusted his position, then did the same with Roo.

When he approached Georgia, he whispered, “ Ma chérie , you are perfection. Stay natural, just as you are.”

She smiled at him, and he turned to the group and announced, “We are ready. Places, everyone.” He made his way back to his director’s chair and called, “Rolling . . . Action!”

Georgia stood, admiring the scenery, her lover admiring her, and his employer watching them both. Georgia took a couple steps forward and bent down to pick some flowers. Michael approached Roo, the two men standing side by side, both watching her.

“Are you enjoying the scenery?” Roo asked.

“Ah, yes. She is quite extraordinary,” Michael replied. They stood for a moment, and he added, “I know you are lovers.”

“We didn’t mean for it to happen, but I won’t deny it. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, in every way,” Roo replied, adoration all over his face. He took a breath and said, “I know you have feelings for her.”

“She brings me joy, pleasure,” Michael said, his eyes still singularly focused forward. He let out a puff. “I have no romantic designs on her. I’m not a fool. I know she feels only pity for me.”

“Compassion, not pity,” Roo said, still looking ahead at Georgia picking flowers.

“I never had any intention of crossing any lines. The way I look at her, it is not sexual, as you see her. Trust me, it is something else entirely.” Michael paused and said, “You have been digging into my books for months now. Haven’t you figured out why I write about such darkness?

Why I allow myself to be consumed by it? ”

Roo shook his head ever so slightly. “I can only speculate.”

Michael huffed. “I’ll save you the trouble and give you the answer. You must bring people into the depths of darkness for them to appreciate the light, to even notice it. I have spent my life hunting for what she embodies in abundance. Now I wish to savor it for my few remaining days.”