The Berkeley Method (22 page)

His face looks very serious.

“My friends and the people I care about, are all aware that Madison isn’t really my wife,” he continues, “and those are the opinions I value. I place no value in what the press thinks of my private life.”

I didn’t realise any of this. It makes me think better of him, to know he hasn’t taken a vow he doesn’t mean. That he believes in marriage.

But I still feel so uncertain. I hate the idea of a divorce being announced, because of me. Even if it’s a fake divorce.

Am I getting cold feet?
Everyone knowing about us. It feels frightening.

James is nodding. “It could,” he says, apologetically. “I’ll do everything I can to manage it. We wouldn’t announce our relationship to the world right away, Issy. Only the divorce.”

He takes my hands. “Going public now would lay you open to bad feeling in the press. Madison is very popular. And you are young and very beautiful.”

I see the headlines. He’s right. I’d be crucified.

I close my eyes. Do I really want this? It seems as though either way, I lose.

Dating a famous person is so complicated.

“We’d manage your exposure,” he continues. “A few thousand dollars in the right place, and we can govern how you appear in the papers.”

A few
thousand dollars?

“Wait,” I’m holding my hands up. “I’m not sure, James. Not all that money. I don’t know about this.”

“But I do,” he says firmly. “I won’t have you hidden in the shadows anymore. It’s demeaning to you. I’m a gentleman, Issy. I don’t disrespect women. Especially not a woman like you.”

The sincerity in his eyes is compelling. I feel myself swept along with the force of his argument.

“There’s another reason,” he adds. “The press could find out about us at any moment. I can’t trust myself to keep away from you. I am simply incapable of the kind of restraint which would guarantee your safety.”

He gives me a half smile. “You only have yourself to blame for that,” he adds.

“Oh, do I?” I smile back.

“Yes. And the sooner we go public, the sooner that risk is gone.”

I think about this. It makes sense, I guess.

“Ok,” I say slowly. “Manage it however you think best.”

James nods, pleased at this.

“Wait,” I add. “How will
you
be seen in the newspapers?”

“Me the bad guy, Madison the sad victim,” he says instantly.

“But… But that’s not
fair
.” I protest.

James shrugs. “It’s the fastest way to get the press off my back. If we do it the slow way, the press will be all over me, painting me as heartbroken. If I’m the bad guy, the focus will be on Madison. That’s just how things work with a Hollywood break-up.”

He takes my face in his hands. “This way, I protect you,” he adds. “If I’m the bad guy, then you’re just some poor girl who came too soon after the split. Do it the other way, we risk the press will paint you as a marriage wrecker.”

“How do you know that?” I challenge.

“Believe me, Issy,” he says wearily, “the press is something I know a lot about. You can’t stay in this business without understanding how they work.”

I think about this. “I’d rather we took our time,” I say stubbornly, “and didn’t have you made out as the bad guy in the press.”

James leans forward and kisses my nose.

“I’m big enough to take it,” he says mildly. “It doesn’t bother me. What
does
bother me is having
us
under wraps. Like a shameful secret.”

I’m still unconvinced.

“Can I have some time to think about it?” I hedge. “Just to get my head around it?”

I don’t want his name
dragged through the mud. Isn’t there another way?

James cocks his head to one side, trying to work out where I’m coming from.

“Ok,” he says finally. “If that’s what you want. We’ll talk about it later today. I won’t make a move to announce the divorce until then.”

I let out a breath.
Is this what I want? It’s all so confusing.

“But we need to get this settled,” he adds. “If Natalie finds out we’re together…”

He lets the sentence hang.

“She’d leak it to the press?” I ask in disbelief.

“Natalie is not in the best place at the moment,” says James carefully. “One of her issues is courting media attention. It’s like an addiction for her. The media circus which you and I could attract, that could be a compelling notion for Natalie. She’d be bound to get press coverage off the back of it.”

I think about this, remembering how Natalie drew so much attention to herself when she landed.

Another reason to stay out of her way then
, I think.
Not that I needed one.

“It’s a lot of pressure,” I admit, “to add to a new relationship.”

“I know.” James lifts my chin with his finger. “It’s not fair on you. But I want us to be together. And I need to protect you from the press.”

Then a mischievous look creeps into his eyes.

“The situation has given me a worse problem, though.”

“What’s that?”

“How am I ever going to let you out of this bed?”

He grabs me in a bear-hug and covers my face with kisses. I shriek and wriggle.

“You’ll have to let me out at some point,” I protest under the barrage of kisses. “I have acting to do.”

He stops kissing me and looks at me slyly. “Ah yes,” he says, “I remember now why you’re here. Well, come on then,
Ms. Green.”

He leans forward and scoops my body up out of the bed.

I am squealing in a mixture of amusement and protest.

“Best we put you in the shower,” he says, standing with me held in his arms. “Then I can have you a few times more, before rehearsals begin.”

Chapter 2
4

James and I leave the apartment to find Will waiting outside. He’s dressed in the security navy with a flak jacket. But, to my relief, he’s not carrying a gun.

“Have you been waiting long?” I ask, concerned that he’s been here a long time.

“Of course not.” He consults his watch. It’s an expensive looking timepiece, which no doubt measures various fitness goals. “You’re right on time.”

“I scheduled Will to meet you at 9am,” supplies James quickly. “You must remember my telling you.”

“Oh, yes of course,” I bluster. I’m beginning to think that maybe James is right about going public. I’ve never found it easy to hide the truth from people I like. “Well, thank you, Mr. Berkeley.”

“I’ll take over from here,” says Will. He takes a quick, measured scan around us, and then takes my arm. “This way, Issy.”

“I have some work to do in the director’s tower,” says James. “I’ll see you both in Studio 5 in just a moment.”

He heads off in the opposite direction, and I feel a yearning urge to kiss him goodbye.

“Are you alright, Issy?” asks Will, missing nothing.

“Um. Yeah. Sure. Just a little nervous about the first rehearsal.”

Will nods, as though this makes sense.

“Learned your lines?”

“Yup.” I say, “I had a few hours last night and this morning to do some cramming. So, I should be good for the first few scenes at least. James has given me an idea of what we’ll be shooting.”

I cast a quick look at Will’s face to see if it’s strange for me to call James by his first name. He doesn’t seem to have noticed.

“Then you’ve nothing to worry about,” Will replies. “From what I hear, you’re a great actress.”

I look at him in surprise. “Really? How did you hear that?” As far as I know, the only person who has seen me act is James.

“Word gets around,” replies Will. “You’d better get used to everyone knowing your business on a film set. Here, this way.”

He directs me into the maze of studio buildings.

Everyone knowing my business. Should I let James go ahead and announce the divorce? He did say it would be worse if our relationship got out accidentally.

“So
, you’ve got a day of rehearsals, right?” Will asks. “Before the first scenes start properly.”

“I’m not sure,” I admit. “I’m really new to this.”

“It’s pretty standard,” says Will. “They take a day with no costumes and make-up, just so the actors get comfortable with one another. Then after that, you get your own make-up lady, hairdresser, clothes picker-outer. The works.”

He grins at me. “That’s the favourite part for the actresses.”

“And what about the actors?” I tease.

“Them too. But they don’t admit it.”

We’re silent for a few minutes, weaving throughout the buildings. And then I voice what’s playing on my mind.

“Will. Do you think we’ll catch this stalker? I’m really worried that Callum and Camilla won’t get to act.”

Will stops walking and looks straight at me, his amber eyes gleaming with honesty.

“Issy,” he says, “we’ll catch him. I have no doubt. All you have to do is stay safe for a few days. From what I hear, the security team have already made good progress.”

“Do you mind,” I ask, “having to be my bodyguard?”

“Do I mind?” Will gives a little laugh. “It’s some of the easiest work I’ve ever done. Since you’re all locked up tight in
Mr. Berkeley’s apartment at night, I got time to call my wife every night and make an hour workout each morning. It’s a sweet deal.”

He grins, revealing straight teeth which look super white against his beautiful dark skin.

“Ok.” I grin back at him, and we start walking again.

“Oh
, now,” says Will suddenly, “you can tell we’re nearly on set.”

“How?” I can’t make sense of this maze.

“Can’t you hear it?” says Will sardonically. “Ms. Diva is ahead of us, making demands.”

I tune in
to the general sounds and realise Will is right. We turn a corner to find Natalie issuing instructions to a tired-looking staff member.

“Why didn’t it arrive this morning?” Natalie is demanding, her pixie features screwed up in annoyance. “I said it needed to be flown overnight.”

At first glance, Natalie is dressed similarly to me today. We’re both wearing jeans, sneakers, and a tight tee. Until you notice that Natalie’s got diamante bling stitched to her pockets, and her T-shirt reads ‘Gucci’.

“The airline is refusing to fly your hat out,” Natalie’s employee is explaining, “unless it’s checked in by a passenger. We’re still trying to get someone to fly with it, at short notice. All your staff are here.”

Natalie rolls her eyes. “Well, find someone,” she says. “I’m due to hit the London clubs in a few days. That hat is part of an important outfit.”

Natalie is suddenly aware of Will and me. She turns, all warm smiles.

“Hello, Isabella,” she beams. “Good to see you.”

She doesn’t even acknowledge Will.

“Good to see you too,” I manage, turning to introduce Will in case she hasn’t seen him. Will makes a tiny little shake of his head to signal he doesn’t want to be introduced.

“Is this the rehearsal studio?” I add, not sure what to say to Natalie.

Natalie tosses her hair and waves her hand at the staff member, dismissing her. The women scurries off.

“Yeah. This is it,” says Natalie. “Studio 5. Where the magic happens.”

“Are Callum and Camilla here already?” I ask. I can’t wait to see them.

“Yeah. Well, Callum is,” she says airily. “I think some girl is in there with him, but I don’t know her name.”

Camilla. You only met her yesterday.

To my surprise, Natalie loops her arm through mine, as though we were best friends, and pulls me through the studio door. Her arm is tiny, and fragile. She feels like a little bird.

“Did you have breakfast?” she asks in her beach-bunny accent, stressing the last word.

“I didn’t yet,” Natalie adds before I get a chance to answer. “The menu here is, like,
carb central
. You know? And I just
look
at a potato, and I
balloon
.”

We’re in the studio now, and Natalie keeps her arm tight through mine, leading me forward. Will follows behind watchfully.

“That’s my mom’s genetics,” continues Natalie. “The Irish side of the family.
Way
back in history, Ireland was starved half to
death
. So, the women in my family, we all hold fat like hippos.”

I tune out Natalie, taking in the studio. It’s large inside, with white walls. A cluster of filming equipment is pointed towards the three walls of a set.

I recognise the set from yesterday. It’s the same country cottage layout. There must not have been time to change it.