In a way Kiera was glad to have Alec leading the light conversation with the director and assistant director. At least all she had to do was nod, smile and chuckle at the right places. She didn't think she could maintain a casual atmosphere going as the minutes ticked by.
It's been 10 minutes and the main leads should have arrived. The most senior actors would be here soon from her estimate.
It was understood that the main leads, secondary leads and the more awarded senior actors would meet up just before the start of the table read, just to have a more intimate though brief introduction. But like everything else there was a well-choreographed timing to these things to ensure no egos were bruised.
During a lull in conversation, Kiera met gazes with Alec and she saw then that she wasn't the only one disturbed by this sudden power play. If there was power play in a table read, it would only get worse during the actual shoot.
When the director and assistant director excused themselves as they spoke to someone else, Alec pointedly looked at his wristwatch.
"I didn't think they would play these petty games this early."
Kiera shrugged, "There's nothing we can do about it. It's not just my time they're wasting. Though it will be troublesome once we start shooting."
"Eduard did warn me that the both of us being under Onyx would rankle some feathers. I just never thought they would start at the table read." He also shrugged and smirked, "Let them play their little games. We're not the only toes they'll be stepping on."
Kiera looked at him, "You are not as nice as you want to seem."
That seemed to surprised him for a second before he blinked and the mischievous look was back in his face, "I'm only nice to very select number of people. I'm so nice to you I even let you pet my dog."
Kiera rolled her eyes at him, "Your dog who ran into me."
"We have apologized and we've brought you to work." He glanced at her, "Which reminds me, I was a bit hurt when you just jumped out my car and sped away once we got to the office. All this time I thought you didn't want to be seen with me."
"I was running late. It was nothing personal." Kiera said offhandedly.
"Let's agree that we're even then?"
Kiera just shrugged, not wanting to verbally give in. She focused on the elevator doors. "You also promised me coffee. As far as I know, you haven't met that one yet."
Alec blinked at her, taken out of balance for a moment, but before the he could respond the elevator doors opened.
A woman stepped out of the elevator and the director immediately made his way towards her.
"Lady Anastasia! It's an honor that you could join our project." Instead of shaking her hand, the director kissed the air above her hand.
"Just call me Anastasia, Nathan. There's no need to stand on formality between colleagues." The smile she directed at him was truly captivating.
Kiera suddenly felt star-struck seeing one of her idols in person. In her last life, Anastasia went out of retirement for a short time to join the cast of a highly anticipated movie. But due to a scandal involving the male lead that movie did not make as much as it was estimated too. After that Anastasia had quietly gone back to retirement.
Kiera never thought she would have the opportunity to not only meet her but also act with her. She could barely contain her excitement when the director guided her idol towards where she and Alec were standing.
"Lady Anastasia, I would like to introduce the junior actors who have taken on the second male lead, Alexander and our second female lead, Kiera."
Kiera immediately put one leg behind her and bent her knees into a light curtsey. At the same time, she noticed how Alec bowed over Anastasia's offered hand.
They both followed polite etiquette of the aristocratic society which seemed to please Anastasia greatly. Though Anastasia was born and married into a high-born family, she never expected people in the industry to greet her with such formality, especially after her long hiatus.
"It's a pleasure meeting you both. There's no need to stand on such formalities at work." She gave them a gracious smile, "Such polite juniors I will be working with!"
And Kiera felt that last sentence seemed to be a jab to the absent male and female leads who should have already arrived.
It was that moment that a man in his early forties joined them.
"If it isn't Anastasia!" A booming jolly voice was heard all the way down the hall. He immediately air-kissed Anastasia's knuckles, as she laughed at him.
"It's been so long since we've worked together, Greg!"
Greg turned to Nathan and instead of shaking his hand, he gave the director a hearty slap at his back, "So that's why you never told me who was acting as my wife! You sure can hold secrets."
Another woman with lustrous blonde hair joined them into the hall, "My goodness Gregory, you still haven't learned to control your volume." Her eyes rounded when she saw Anastasia, "My, I wasn't aware royalty will be joining us."
"Melissa, I could hardly recognize you!" The greeting was dry and the so subtle once over was done as a calculated slight.
The hall seemed to cool by several degrees. A reunion between former rivals would never be cordial event if it was after several years.
And the AD looked terribly uncomfortable and he seemed to be furiously messaging someone. Someone in charge of the timing and invitations would probably be getting an earful after this. Nothing seemed to be going smoothly in this table read.
"I heard she was supposed to be already inside." Alec said barely loud enough for Kiera to hear.
They both watched on as Nathan and Greg came in between the two ladies in order to cut the mounting tension between the two women.
Greg was trying to engage Anastasia in conversation while Nathan greeted Melissa.
As the mother of the female lead and an award-winning actress in her own right, Melissa would have expected to be included in this little introduction game but she would have felt slighted when she was asked to join the other actors and actresses as they wait for the "main" cast.
Kiera could guess that this was all a plan to take measure of who the crew deemed was better than her. And based on Malissa's glare at the director she was not pleased. Anastasia's return would obviously overshadow her. Kiera would go so far as to say Melissa would not have accepted the role if she knew about this.
And the male and female lead chose that tense moment to make their grand entrance. All eyes focused on the very late pair, none of them were the welcome they were probably expecting.
Kiera didn't want to speculate what else could go wrong. She had a bad feeling this would be a long day.