Emmaline stared at the hair dryer that she had been handed like it was made of pure gold.
The fact that a brand had specifically asked for her was so humbling.
Perhaps they had seen the few projects she had done when she was in school?
Or maybe someone in the test audience had told someone from the Seran's brand.
Whatever it was, she was thrilled for the chance.
She chuckled at Camilla's text asking for the exact model she was using. Maybe her best friend was thinking of buying one for herself?
Seran was a fairly new brand, but it had already taken the market by storm. Influencers raved about it and the hairdryer had been sold out online and in stores.
What really made it popular was the fact that the founder was a young girl who modeled the product as well as designed it.
Everyone loved a #girlboss and she gained a huge following on social media as well.
"Ready in five!" A crew member called.
Emmaline carefully placed the hairdryer where it was meant to be in the scene and headed to her starting position.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the brand representative seated at the side.
Typically, they would stay until the scene was completed to ascertain that the product was included in the scene as promised and in a positive light as well.
"And scene!" Director Slater instructed.
Emmaline snapped into character, wanting this to be perfect.
At the very moment she was supposed to use the hairdryer, it didn't work.
Still in character, Emmaline did a quick check that the power switch was on and that it was properly plugged in.
Still nothing.
That's when she began to get a sinking feeling in her stomach.
"Cut!" Director Slater looked at Emmaline, "Spelt, is everything okay?"
Emmaline hesitated.
The brand representative had stood and was looking slightly annoyed.
If she said she was having problems with the hair dryer, it could mean either two things.
One, Emmaline hadn't practiced with it first and was unprepared.
However, when she had been told she wouldn't be able to test run the actual product before shooting with it, she had gone straight to the mall and tried it out there.
She definitely knew how to use it.
Two, that the hair dryer was faulty.
But this would cause potential conflict between the brand representative and the show because some brands were sensitive and may take this to mean that they didn't want their sponsorship.
It was a catch 22.
Either way, Emmaline would have to make herself look bad, or offend the brand representative and potentially create problems for the show.
"I-" She started before she caught sight of a familiar reddish bun and glasses.
Camilla stood to the side, her strawberry blonde hair falling out of her bun, holding a large paper bag and mouthing something to her.
The slightest of frowns flickered across Emmaline's forehead.
"I'm so sorry, but can we take a five minute break? I promise I'll be ready to go in five," She asked Director Slater.
He gave her an assessing look.
Some of the crew members looked annoyed, having gotten ready for nothing. Others looked bored.
Emmaline swallowed nervously.
"Take five and be prepared by the time you're back," He leveled her with a serious stare.
"Thank you!" Emmaline blurted and darted off the set, straight to Camilla who dragged her into a corner.
"Cam, what on earth-?" Emmaline started, confused but trusting her best friend entirely.
"I think Fiona's dad is a stakeholder in Seran and that may be why yours isn't working," Camilla said so fast that Emmaline nearly didn't catch what she said.
When she did process it, her mouth fell open in shock.
It seemed almost too impossible to be real, but Emmaline had learned early on that there was nothing Fiona wouldn't do if it would serve her purposes.
"Take this, it should work," Camilla shoved a brand new hair dryer of the exact same model into Emmaline's hands.
Now it made sense why Camilla had asked for the details!
A swell of gratitude rose up in Emmaline.
She truly had the best friend anyone could ask for.
"I'll pay you back for it," She promised, knowing that the price for one of these hair dryers was way out of either of their budgets.
"Pay me back when you become a star!" Camilla grinned and gave her a small push, "Now, go knock their socks off!"
And she did.
Unsurprisingly, the new hair dryer worked without a hitch and no one was any the wiser about the switch.
"Cut! Let's prep for the next scene," Director Slater announced.
Inwardly, Emmaline heaved a huge sigh of relief.
Outwardly, she smiled and thanked everyone, carefully packing the faulty hair dryer and returning it to the brand representative.
Evidently, they were ignorant of whatever ploy was underfoot and Fiona would take care of it when it returned to the company.
Camilla had made a quick getaway once Emmaline started using the new hair dryer, needing to head to her internship. Emmaline was already making plans to buy Camilla's favourite donuts as a small thank you, before she started paying her back for the hair dryer in installments.
Taking the chance to get some air, Emmaline stepped out into the parking area. Her heart was still pounding from the fiasco earlier and she headed to her usual quiet spot to calm herself before the next scene.
Closing her eyes, she took several deep breaths.
Only to open them to the sound of slow clapping.
Fiona Barnes stepped out of a car, flanked by two large bodyguards.
She was still as petite as ever, making the two men beside her look hulking and massive.
The thought that they may not be bodyguards occurred to Emmaline just as her left ankle twinged with the memory of a sprain a couple of years ago.
"Well, well, well," Fiona laughed shrilly, "I didn't count on your stupid dog of a friend to come into the picture."
"Clearly, what was stupid was your plan if my extremely intelligent best friend could guess it instantly," Emmaline countered coldly, her hands curled into fists that shook.
Fiona stopped laughing so abruptly that the effect was rather scary.
She tilted her head, a slightly maniacal smile curving her blood red lips.
"Here, it's just you and me," She fake-whispered, "No one's going to be able to save you now."