"So how do you think the male lead's personality should go?"
It was a week after the masquerade ball. David and Paula were seated in a very quiet and average restaurant. No much customers and she liked it that way. Maybe because it was mid-morning.
The servers and few customers had been stealing glances at them, mostly at David who was the most known. Though she had caught some persons looking at her and when she waved, they squealed and waved back.
She took the book containing the plot and read through one more time before replying David. "This is a sci-fi, adventure, romance and comedy. I like the female lead's personality. She should be the funny one. The male lead should be the brooding guy with an interestingly high IQ that produces advanced technology."
David was nodding in satisfaction. He was obviously liking the idea. He took out another small notebook to jot down her take on the characters' personalities and development. "Sounds interesting."
"Now the female lead. She loves adventure, has a bubbly personality. The guy lives somewhere in the woods, far away from civilization. She quits her job and embarks on an adventure. She gets into trouble along the way. Bad guys. They chase her. She runs headfirst into the forest. Ends up in the guy's domain. The lady begs to stay. He agrees albeit reluctantly. Plot twist, their both have a common history and a common enemy to fight. An enemy they never knew existed until later." She finished off.
"Ho-ho-ho. This is brilliant! You could make more from this writing stuff you know. Bring the idea, you get the cash. We could even direct together." David was genuinely impressed by her smartness.
He had never really thought of the story that way. He knew a best selling story when he saw one. That was how he'd stayed on top for years in the business.
Hope soared through her but she could not let that get into her head. She was not planning on staying in Ardolf for long. Just this one business was keeping her here and once it was done, she was gone. What could she possibly be doing in a place that held only bad, bitter memories?
Her son deserved to grow in a peaceful environment where the shadows of her ex-husband and lover, Melissa would not follow him. She did not trust Melissa one bit. She was still the bitter, mean and selfish person she knew.
"Let's see." She uttered with a non-committal shrug. She would not say anything until the project was almost over. Then she would make it look like she had thought hard and long about it but did not think it was what she wanted.
"Great. You sleep on it and get back to me." He smiled and rubbed her hands casually. She was not spooked by it, she knew he was a friend. A very good one. If they had told her someone like David Alesso would become a friend, she would have laughed at the whoever that had said it.
But here she was, seating with him and having brunch with him and discussing his movie with her and asking her opinions. And even making long terms with her. Wow! Life was unpredictable.
"Alright, I will. Thank you." She beamed.
"Now, to the very important part. What kind of ending do you have in mind?" He stared at me expectantly.
"Hm. What if we make it have a part two? The guy dies in the part one…"
"Oh, a sad ending. The viewers would hate us." He laughed.
"Yes, of course they will but that's not the ending. He doesn't die, actually. Feeling vengeful, she will embark on another adventure to kill those responsible. But will discover along the way he is alive but is locked up. Another plot twist, the father she never knew is the mastermind behind their travails from the beginning. They both get their happy ending and get their revenge. The end." She was feeling quite proud of herself.
"You are so talented, la mia amica bella. È molto perfecto!" He gushed. David Alesso had Italian genes in him. His maternal grandmother was from Venice, and due to his occupation, it was only natural he knew how to speak it.
"Grazie, il mio amico bello." She laughed.
She was glad he really loved the story. It usually gave her this thrill when she talked about stories. It was as though the characters were already before her and ready to act.
"You have given this story a new meaning. So when will you start working on it? We need to start as soon as possible. I already have some top celebrities I want to chose from as the main characters. You'll help me select." He was not even asking her.
She emitted a soft laugh. "At your service, Signore." She had learned Italian when she had been asked to script write an Italian-based movie. She had to put in lots of Italian words to make it really Italian. That movie had ended up as a best seller in Italy.
Whatever Paula did, she liked to do it well. She took her job seriously, even as a model or a tech savvy. Yes, she was into technology too. She knew her way around computers and could comfortably call herself a 'white hat'. Though she was not really always into that because of how risky it was and she had a son she was not ready to risk his life.
"Here's you food, ma'am and sir." The waitress looked very happy to be waiting tables occupied by two celebrities. She was definitely thinking of her huge tips.
"Thank you." Paula said.
David was still deep into the movie discussion that he had not spared the girl a glance. "It is going to blow minds, I can feel it."
"I hope so. Excuse me David. I need to use the restroom. I'll be right back."
"Okay. Be fast so we can eat." He said.
Paula laughed. "Or you mean so you can keep talking movie?"
"Both are important." He laughed.
She sauntered away with her phone just in case her son's nanny called. Just as soon as she had stepped into the bathroom, she found herself staggering back from a blow. "Wh…" The wind was knocked out of her yet again with another blow.
She could not see this person. They wore black clothes. They kicked her stomach, she hit her head against the wash basin. She felt something flying in her direction as the door closed. The person had escaped.
She took the paper, she was bleeding from her nose and her brain was shutting off.
The paper read;
You should not have returned. Consider this a warning, the next time, you may not live to tell the story.
Her phone was ringing somewhere far from her. She crawled on her belly and went to it. She checked the caller ID. Yolanda.
She did not have the time to pick before she slipped into the dark realm of unconsciousness.