Kiera took the large take-out coffee Sophia handed to her. After their impromptu last-minute session, she needed the caffeine very badly. This was her 3rd cup of coffee for the day and it wasn't even 8am.
"Explain to me again why we need to eat in the car and drive to the venue this early when the audition is supposed to be scheduled at 1pm?" Sophia grumbled as she took a bite of her ham and cheese bagel.
Kiera, Sophia, Emmanuel and two of their assistants were in a company van on their way to the audition venue.
"Because we're working with spineless bastards, is the reason why. We get there at 1pm and they'll be all, 'Sorry, we had to move up the time because of so and so; we couldn't reach you!'" Emmanuel stated blandly, he paused to take a sip of his coffee. "We can get there early and I can get a room for us and we can all nap while we wait. Ava, will meet us there as well. We're trying to make it look like we're having an impromptu check on our investment. Just so happened that our actress took a ride with us."
Sophia snorted into her coffee, "No subtlety at all."
"When you work with idiots, finesse is overrated."
Kiera tuned out the rest of their discussion and she focused on her own bagel and coffee. She will need the energy.
----
Kiera was always proud of being able to sleep anywhere. Once they arrived at the production office and Emmanuel wrangled a room for all them, Kiera had found a sofa in the corner of the room and commandeered it for herself.
She had been napping for about 20 minutes when Emmanuel burst into the room practically fuming.
"I knew it! The little rats really did conspire behind our back! Amira and an entire squad of her helpers are here. And it's not even 9am! And we all know she doesn't get to work until 10am!"
Sophia frowned, "Are we starting then?"
Emmanuel shook his head, "We can't because the make-up and costume team aren't here yet. The director wanted to see if the already set outfits and planned looks can still be used. And it gives the production designer and his team time to assess the situation. Now we can't do that since they're not here! Because they thought this thing will start at 1pm! Now the idiots are insisting on starting because Amira is here with an entire glam team who can get her ready!"
Sophia smirked, "I bet the production design team would be thrilled with this. She's not even selected yet and that entire team will already hate her."
"Ava is discussing things with them now. She's not happy at all."
Sophia just shrugged, "That's her job and she can take them all on by herself. We can get ready as well if needed. That's the entire reason I brought Sarah with us."
"We'll wait for now. I'm sure Amira will raise a tantrum as she usually does and either it gets resolved or it doesn't."
Sophia turned to Kiera, "Do you want anything, dear?"
"I'll go look for the toilet. Don't worry, I'll be fine." Kiera shook her head and walked towards the door.
Kiera was on her way back to their room when she suddenly heard a loud discussion from a corner room.
"Luther, we decided the audition to be at 1pm. Why are you suddenly changing everyone's schedule?" Kiera recognized that voice to be Ava's even tone.
"We all have places to be Ava!" a man's distinct voice practically boomed through the room.
"Unless we have all the people we need to be here, Luther, then we will not be starting."
"On whose authority are you making this decision?" the man hissed.
"Because as of now Onyx is the biggest investor of this project and unless you can handover 10 million more then you don't have a choice."
Kiera wanted to applaud her boss. She knew Luther Oaks by reputation, he was a cutthroat man who only looked at the bottom line. He was of the mind that if he doesn't get a profit from you, you were worse than dead to him.
She quietly made her way back to the room they have taken for themselves. At least she now knew the audition won't start immediately. They probably had an hour at most. She could at least rest a bit during that time. It would also be enough time to get into Veronica's mindset.
She was ready to give her best in this audition.