"Cut it." The people on stage looked at Jasmine. "Danielle, you're too stiff. Put your hands around his neck. Make it mesmerizing!"
She nodded and the Director looked at Jasmine to get permission to start. She signaled him to.
Danielle looked at her partner with slightly hooded eyes.
"You really think she can suit you like I do?" She asked, her voice deep and alluring. She ran her hand on his chest fleetingly. He looked unsure, but it was obvious he was getting under her spell. She smiled at the dazed look on his face. Her hand lowered to run over his chest muscles, and as if he was completely taken, he caught hold of it and pushed her to the bed with him on top.
The Director screamed out to stop and then, his eyes went to Jasmine to hear her decision.
"Discard it." He sucked in a breath and tried to hide his tire. "Come here, Danielle." The girl turned and looked at her with eyes opened wider than usual, then, she dragged her feet to her.
"Yes, Ma'am?"
Jasmine looked down at her. "You're rigid. I need you to calm down, relax. I need you to 'not' think of people down-stage. Focus on you, your partner and your acting. Now, go."
Danielle, breathing out heavily, went up to the stage. How was she supposed to focus when the Boss was there in person, looking at her? She could swear she would even hear a pin drop, or the sound of everyone's heartbeat.
This time when she talked, Danielle was left stammering badly. Her neck turned hot and her dress suddenly felt uncomfortable. All eyes darted between her and Jasmine to see the reactions.
"Come down." Danielle closed her eyes and sighed. Her partner intended to follow her down, but Jasmine stopped him. "Just Danielle."
Cold sweat poured into her dress. What would she do now? Throw her out? Destroy her acting career? Destroy her life? She had heard tales of Jasmine Reign and they had only speculated around one thing. Destruction.
She tried to plead, but words stuck in her throat.
The Director received a signal from Jasmine and he got up. "Everyone, be back in five!" The room filled with murmurings as Jasmine made her way out of the door, with Danielle looking like a scared kitten behind.
They drove in Jasmine's car, Danielle was on the edge of shattering with anxiety and nervousness. She was here, in the Boss's car! What would happen next? Strangle her for ruining her perfect practices? But, that didn't happen. They only continued to drive in silence; it seemed like ages to Danielle, until they arrived in front of what looked like a Café to her. She stepped out, letting her eyes wander at the serenity of her surroundings.
The seats inside were full, but there were some empty ones that had the windows beside it. Danielle eyed Jasmine as she sat down, getting more settled with more people around. This place didn't look like the kind of place she would patronize. But, come to think of it, Jasmine Reign was like an enigma, a complex one. Where would people start to find out more about her, when her and her twin always wore masks? Even today, she was wearing a mask that looked just like her real skin.
Ice creams that Danielle never knew they ordered arrived, making her draw her face away from that magnetic personality of this person sitting before her.
"Pre-order." Jasmine said, telling her why these were brought. She nodded, though there was no need to. And how did she know her favorite ice cream?! Oh, probably from her biography.
Danielle let her face sweep round everywhere. She caught a couple of curious eyes, looking in her direction. Of course, she was a big actress, how could she have forgotten? She felt like burying herself right now.
"Don't worry, they won't come close." Jasmine said, and when she looked at her, she almost doubted it was her as she regarded the Boss flipping through a magazine. Vogue. Danielle frowned, seeing her lackadaisical manner and looked at her watch.
She gulped before she spoke. "Uh, Ma'am?" Jasmine's brows tipped up without her head raising. "We're going to be late for the beginning. You see," she added, suddenly wringing her fingers, "the Director had said five minutes."
Jasmine flipped a page, not looking very interested in what she was reading. "Then, we'll just sneak in."
Sneak?! "They'll find out anyway!" She realized she was shouting and cleared her voice. "I'm the first one to present."
Jasmine dumped the book on the table. "Your fault, though. If you acted alright, you wouldn't have been the first." Danielle turned embarrassed. "But, you have nothing to worry about. It's usual - you took a break, right? - it's just nature. Practice makes perfect." Danielle looked surprised, then she smiled and nodded. It felt like a burden had been lifted off her chest.
"Thank you."
From the corner of her eye, she saw slight movements and she turned. A child was waving. At Jasmine. Jasmine looked lost for a minute before she waved back. The boy beamed, looking pleased that she remembered him. He looked at his Father for approval and when he got it, he broke into a run and bumped into Jasmine's arms. She patted his arm, looking skeptical. Her eyes went to Danielle's.
"You remember me!" He said against her fabric. Jasmine answered, staring at Danielle like she didn't know what to say. Danielle thought she really did not.
"Of course I do, Mac. How porous do you think my brain is?" Mac chuckled and pulled away. "I was thinking you would come over earlier."
He stuck out his lower lip. "You know I would have, if it was left to me. But, Daddy said you're a very busy woman and you might not remember me. I'll go tell him you even remember my name." He chuckled at her, ran to his Father and ran back to her. "He was surprised!"
"I can tell!" She said back, importing the enthusiasm the boy had right into her own voice. "See, his face is almost dropping."
Mac paused for a moment, like he was imagining, then let out a laugh. "I wonder how that happens to a human!"
In the short while she spent with him, Danielle could tell he was a loud one through his loud talking and loud laughing. His enthusiasm was something that suited her negative nerves and she was liking him instantly.
"You've not been here for a while, Ma'am. Were you busy with work?"
She gave a small smile, messing up beautiful hair. "You're very smart and sweet, Mac."
His eyes twinkled like the brightest of stars at the praise and he chuckled, leaning on Jasmine and looking up at her with adoration in his eyes.
"And since you've got such a huge business, I'll say you're smart, too!"
"Are you lying to me?"
"Of course, not! Don't say that." He gave a look over his shoulder. "You see, Daddy will think I turned bad."
Danielle giggled, drawing the attention to her, too and Mac looked at her like he was seeing an Angel for the first time. When he did stop staring, he turned to Jasmine and whispered to her loudly,
"Is she smart, too?"
Jasmine let her eyes trail to Danielle, then scrunching up the part of her face Danielle could see, looked back at Mac and shook her head so subtly, Danielle almost missed it. It only increased her amusement to find how different the Boss was. The puzzle she had made of her started to turn complex.
Mac stole a glance at Danielle. "Pretty face, though." He said with a little chuckle and Danielle flicked his forehead. "Ah... Uch." He said squinting at her.
"Who says I'm not smart?"
"Well," he said, looking unsure, then looked like he made up his mind, "the Ma'am doesn't lie, so why would she lie now about you not being smart?"
Danielle locked eyes with Jasmine, slowly shaking her head.
'The kid has a long way to go.'