"Sorry about that, she has never done that before."
"Don't mention it. I have a daughter too, I know what you feel." Said Maggie, laughing.
"Now we need to talk about business." Jillian said while the smile that was on Maggie's face got replaced by a more professional expression.
"I am listening." Said Nathaniel, nodding.
"Okay. I'm currently working for the next blockbuster movie for Lionsgate but one of our stars got sick and needed to be hospitalized."
"That's codename from overdose with cocaine in Hollywood terms." Supply Maggie which makes Jillian wince.
"Yeah it's true. The filming was almost finished and now we need to start all of the scenes involving this actor. I have four days to find someone who can replace him and it's very complicated because the person in question would need to exist on the screen with some very big star. I watch you on the clip that you make with the Taylor girl. I think you could pull it off."
"But I'm not an actor! I have never taken even one acting class in my entire life!" Nathaniel was dismayed. He knew that he was smart and he could learn much faster than everyone else but this was crazy.
"Are you talking about 'Now you see me?'" Ask Maggie, stopping Nathaniel in his tracks.
"Yeah, that's the one. Glad to see that you are still very well connected Maggie." Said Jillian with a bitter smile.
"I like staying connected to the field." Maggie said smugly.
"What sort of film 'Now you see me' is?" Ask Nathaniel looking at Jillian.
"It's about Magic but not in a fantasy world like Narnia but a realistic one. Mentalism and card tricks, things like that."
"Who is going to be in the film?"
"Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson…" Start Jillian before being interrupted by Maggie who continued.
"Michael Cain, Isla Fisher, Marc Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg" Finished Maggie with a smug smile.
"Maggie, I told you to stop smiling, it is too creepy on you. Just be stern and cold please." Say Nathaniel with mirth.
"You know I could kick your ass, right?" She threatened.
"That looks like child abuse, I should report that to social services." He answered with a smile. Stopping himself to engage in their usual banter, he got back the conversation on the subject.
"I know next to nothing about magic or card tricks for that matter." He said truthfully.
"It's not that important. We have someone who could teach you on set and the most difficult things would be made with special effect. One more thing. I don't propose you the job. I just put you in the list to try out. After that, the decision will be made by the director. You have nothing to lose to go to the audition and everything to gain." She offered.
Nodding his head, Nathaniel started thinking about it. He was confident in himself to pull it out if it was a much more humble film but with so many stars that would be very difficult. But she was right, he had nothing to lose if he took the audition and he has nothing better to do in the coming weeks so that could be fun.
"What is your opinion Maggie?" He asked.
"You should go to the audition. You have literally no chance to land the role but you could make an acquaintance of two in the process, that would be useful in the future." She responded non pulse, making him smile bitterly.
"Thanks for that. Seems we are good Jillian. When the audition is planned to take place?"
"In a week. That's okay for you?"
"Yes, exempt for a couple of interviews in NY tomorrow we are good for the foreseeable future." Respond to Maggie without looking at her calendar. Nathaniel was only a small Youtube celebrity so far but that would quickly change as many radio stations called to pass his song on the air.
"Can you send me the script so that I can browse through it before the audition?" Ask Nathaniel.
"Of course. Give me your email and I would send it right away. Give moi your phone number while we are at it. I would certainly need it. Plus I would like to keep in touch if you don't mind." She asked.
"As long as you talk about business with me first, that would be okay." Say Maggie, then add after seeing the frown on Nathaniel's face. "This is for your sake trust me."
"She's right. It's better to have an agent to filter business calls for you and you are lucky enough to have one of the best with you." She said, nodding. They never were close to one another but she never denied that Maggie was talented in her work.
Nathaniel gave her what she asked for. After playing with Olivia for a while and saying their goodbye, Maggie and him needed to get back. Their flight home was taking off soon and they could not miss it because they had an interview scheduled not long after it. Along the way back to the airport, Maggie and Nathaniel kept talking.
"Maggie, why did you leave the movie industry?" He asked.
"Why do you care?" She asked back, somewhat aggressively.
"Based on what I heard, you are good at your job, even the best. So I'm wondering why you suddenly choose to give all that away, go into a different field and move from California to New York with your daughter. I just don't understand Maggie."
"And how is that your problem exactly?" She asked with hostility.
"This is my problem because we are now working together and I want to be able to trust you. Whatever the reason is, I'm sure it was important, you would never have taken your daughter away from her friends if it wasn't." Nathaniel said, don't bother by her tone.
Maggie kept looking at him with animosity while he just looked her in the eyes calmly. The silence between them kept stretching until she finally sighed.
"Before I left for New York, I had a few clients here in LA. All renowned actors and I were scheduled to meet one of them in his home that day. The house was opened and announced myself but it seemed that nobody was home until I heard a noise coming from one of the rooms. I knocked on it and the man in question opened, he had put a bathrobe in hurry but I knew what was happening so I was going to excuse myself when I saw the person still in the bed."
She took a breath before continuing her story.
"It was a child Nathaniel, she was almost the same age as my daughter. I was working in Hollywood for twenty years but that day, I lost it. He had crossed my bottom line so I took the girl with me and got away. I brought the girl to the cop and they arrested him. A week after that, we were leaving the city, I didn't want my daughter to stay a second later in that cursed place. I have some money on the side so I took my daughter to the other side of the country." Maggie finished her story, her voice emotional but stopping herself from crying.
"I understand why now. Why are you asking me to do an audition then? Don't you want to leave this city now and never come back?"
"It was the case at the time but now he's in jail and enough time has passed. Now my daughter is having a good life in New York, she has new friends and getting a nice education away from here, this is the principale. Me, I can handle coming here but don't kid yourself, there is still no way that you are getting the part." She said, her snarky self coming back.
"I really love your support and your faith in me." Nathaniel laughed.