“You’re going into work early this evening.”
“One of the other disciplinarians called in sick.”
“Have a good night.”
“You, too,” Veronica said. She winked. “Let me know if you need to borrow my handcuffs.”
“I will.” Lucy started to shut the door.
Mrs. Briggs’s voice reverberated along the corridor.
“Just a moment, Ms. Bell. A word, if you don’t mind.”
Lucy wanted to scream, but she managed to contain herself. She summoned up a steely smile. “Don’t worry, you’ll have the rent money on time. You’ll have to excuse me, I’m in the process of getting engaged.”
Mrs. Briggs stopped in front of the doorway and saw Gabriel. Her eyes widened. “Oh, my. How nice. A Marriage of Convenience, I assume? Will you be moving in, Mr. Jones? If so, we’ll have to prepare a new lease, and I’ll need a guarantee from you that the Guild will be responsible for the rent.”
“No,” Gabriel said. “This isn’t going to be an MC. It will be a Covenant Marriage.”
“That’s perfect,” a male voice called from somewhere in the hall. “Absolutely perfect. I can’t wait to tell the scriptwriter. She has been demanding a happy ending. The director claims that’s unrealistic. Now she can argue that it is realistic.”
Lucy leaned out into the hall and saw the stranger rushing toward the doorway. He wore snug-fitting, artificially faded jeans, a black T-shirt, and a plaid blazer. His thinning hair was cut very short. A pair of designer sunglasses finished the look.
“Who are you?” Gabriel asked.
“Xander Attwater, talent scout for Rez-Stone Studios. We’re making Guild Boss. Delighted to meet you, Mr. Jones.”
Veronica regarded him with deep interest. “You’re in the movie business?”
“That’s right.” Xander did a double take. “Going to a costume party?”
“Nope, going to work,” Veronica said. “I’m a professional disciplinarian at the Dungeon Club.”
“A dominatrix,” Xander said, awed. “That is perfect.”
“If you don’t mind, we’re a little busy here at the moment, Mr. Attwater,” Gabriel said.
He started to shut the door.
“Wait,” Xander said quickly. “This is too important for you to ignore, Mr. Jones. We all know the Guilds have an image problem. This film has the potential to totally rebrand the organizations overnight, not just in Illusion Town but in the other city-states, as well.”
“He’s going to shoot some of the scenes right here at my apartment house,” Mrs. Briggs announced. “Can you believe it? The value of this property will quadruple after the film is released. I’m thinking I can give tours.”
Veronica regarded Xander with amusement. “Did you come here to ask Mr. Jones and Ms. Bell to star in your movie?”
“No, no, no,” Xander said, brushing the idea off with an impatient flick of his hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. Jones doesn’t have the look we want for the role. Besides, he’s too old.”
Gabriel grinned. “I’m too old and I don’t look like myself?”
“No offense, Mr. Jones, but audiences—especially the teenage to twenty-one-year-old crowd—expect younger, more spectacular leading men. We need someone who looks like a real Guild boss.”
“Right,” Gabriel said. “Well, so much for that career path.”
“What about Lucy?” Veronica asked.
“Absolutely not,” Xander said. “We need someone with real charisma. Star power.”
Lucy folded her arms. “I bet you don’t get invited to a lot of fun parties, do you, Mr. Attwater?”
“Call me Xander.” He refocused on Veronica. “You know, you’re perfect for the role of Lucy Bell. The whole dominatrix thing works.”
Veronica brightened. “Do you really think so?”
“Yes. Perfect.” Xander pulled a business card out of his pocket. “Come in for a screen test tomorrow. The address is on the card. Ten o’clock. Wear the outfit.”
Veronica was dazzled. She took the card and looked at it. “Okay. Thanks. By the way, here’s my card.”
Xander accepted the card and glanced at it. “Veronica Star. Perfect.”
Veronica winked at Lucy. “Guess I’d better get to work. Congratulations, Lucy, and you, too, Gabriel.”
“For not having any star power?” Lucy asked.