On the day of the table read, Kiera was forced out of bed even before the sun rose. Toni, one of the main stylists of the company has leaned on the call button until she let him and his entire entourage of assistants into her building and into her flat.
The only consolation was them bringing fresh bread with them. One of the assistants had made herself at home in Kiera's kitchen and proceeded to make a lovely pot of coffee and boiled water for tea.
After an hour of them poking and prodding, Kiera found herself playing dress up again. With her hair in more modern curlers, she let the team have a go at it as they picked a dress and proceeded to toss it aside.
Fifi, her brand new assistant, handed her a plate of buttered toast, jam and eggs.
"You don't have your make-up on yet and they'll probably take a few more minutes to decide. You better eat quickly while their attention is elsewhere. Once they get started on your face, it will be water for you."
Fifi, was in her early twenties, with her brown hair in a no non-sense bob and so far since their acquaintance she had this calm reserved air around her. Like she'd seen almost all the bullshit the world had to offer and it will take much more to move her.
Before working with Kiera, she was an assistant with a smaller agency and have been supporting a nine-person girl group that have since disbanded. When asked why choose to hired directly by a rookie actress, she had replied, "I heard artists aren't as high-maintenance as singers and idols."
And because this sudden project moved up all the plans the company had initially had in place for her, the manager they had in mind to handle her was still out of the country on her month-long honeymoon. So, for now Eduard, his team of secretaries and Fifi were managing her schedule.
Kiera didn't know where Thea found Fifi, but the diamond earrings she bought for Thea's birthday was well worth it. Fifi has been a great help, with ushering Kiera to places she needed to be on time and letting her focus on her script and the various trainings they've crammed into her. She had even taken the initiative to make sure Kiera ate on time and had snacks in the form of several cut-up fruits always ready in her purse.
Kiera was sorely tempted to just promote Fifi to a permanent employee from a probationary one, but doing that will get her another earful from her sisters. She never had to consider being an employer before and it felt weird being able to pay someone a salary way higher than Kiera ever made waitressing in her previous life.
Kiera devoured her simple breakfast, "Get some food too, Fifi. I don't know when we will be able to eat once the table read starts."
Fifi sipped on her tea, "You don't need to worry about me. The assistants are usually asked to wait at another room and we usually have nothing to do but eat and gossip. You, on the other hand need to make sure you will have the energy to go through the day. Though, I've asked other assistants, and there should be a small break for coffee and a longer one for lunch. But considering the need to socialize, you might not be able to eat that much."
Kiera just wanted to slump into her coffee. She had never had the chance to go near a table read before. She had no idea it was going to be this stressful being part in one. Even just preparing for one was more trouble than she thought it would be. She knew that the natural looking make-up of actresses usually took hours of meticulous application but she never connected the need to wake up so early.
"You just need to focus on making a good impression on the director for today."
Kiera glared at Fifi, "Yes, please pile on more pressure."
Fifi's lips quirked a bit, "You seemed to work thrive under pressure and copious amounts of coffee."
"I do not need the sass." Kiera sighed and stared at her cup of coffee like it can tell her what will happen today. "And you're wrong, I need to make a good impression on the seasoned actors too. You have no idea how much a word from them could influence other directors and producers. If you've stayed in the industry for as long as they've done, you would have your own connections. One bad impression and it could close potential doors."
Fifi poured more coffee into Kiera's cup.
"And everyone would be focused on the rookie who got the lucky to get this role." Kiera let out a deep sigh, "This day would give me an ulcer from all the stress."
She was glad Fifi didn't offer any platitudes of how it was going to be fine, because Kiera had the bad feeling she'll be jumping through hoops today.
"What would you like for dinner? We could order it in advance and have it delivered by the time you are home."
"I want pasta and a lot of garlic bread." Kiera didn't even need to think about her comfort food, "And fudgy brownies with ice cream on top for dessert."
Fifi chuckled, "I can order the first two with no problem. As to desert, you will have to get that cleared with your dietician."
Yes, a dietician. Onyx, had taken the health and wellness of their actors so seriously that they have an in-house dietician to ensure that all their actors are as healthy as they could be. There were blood tests and charts involved. Included in her doctor's orders was to minimize sweets, as it wasn't the healthiest of diets.
Kiera was surprised when there were no orders to stop eating carbs and focus on fruits and vegetables to lose weight. Instead, she got a lecture on balanced diet and lesser sweets.
Toni and his team marched back into the living room and showed off the outfits they've decided on. Kiera finished off her coffee and readied herself for another hour of sitting still and letting the stylists make her presentable.
If this was what it takes to not embarrass herself in front of more experienced actors then Kiera would bear with it with a grin. It probably won't be like this for every event.
Or so, she hopes.