"Luca, what are you looking at?"
Kate walked out of the kitchen, holding a tray of fruit.
"My kingdom!"
Luca pointed out the floor-to-ceiling window at the tall buildings outside.
Kate froze for a second, then burst out laughing. "That's your kingdom?"
Luca smirked, pointing at the people walking on the street. "My people!"
"Anything else?"
Kate asked, trying to hold back her laughter.
Luca then pointed at her, using a theatrical tone, "My queen!"
"Hmm, not bad. I am your queen!"
Kate kept a straight face, nodding seriously before bursting into laughter again, almost dropping the tray of fruit.
Luca quickly grabbed the tray, speaking seriously, "Queen Kate, please maintain your composure."
Kate shot him a look. "I'm the queen. I can do whatever I want. You dare to control me?"
"Never!"
Luca set the tray down and gestured to the booth. "Your Majesty, please take a seat!"
"Alright!"
Kate sat down gracefully, but after only three seconds, she blinked and tilted her head, smiling. "Dear, how was my acting?"
Luca gave her a thumbs up. "You're a queen by nature. Playing one is just being yourself!"
"Haha, you're sweet. Here's a reward!"
Kate picked up a blackberry and popped it into his mouth.
Luca smiled slightly, chewing as he asked, "Kate, are you planning to keep Jinna on for the long term?"
Kate thought for a moment. "Yes. Jinna's amazing. She knows martial arts, firearms, and even mechanical repair. Plus, she's a great person to have around. I feel safe with her."
"How much did you agree to pay her each month?"
"Ten thousand a year, plus bonuses. What do you think?"
"Ten thousand dollars?"
In 2003, ten thousand dollars was a hefty salary, equivalent to making six figures in some countries.
"That's great. With that, she'll have enough to cover her child's medical expenses."
"Yes. Last month, I advanced Jinna two thousand, and she sent it all back home. I heard the baby's been admitted to a good hospital, and her condition has improved a lot."
"Oh, Kate, you must've been an angel in a past life!"
"No, I was a queen in my past life too!"
Kate corrected him, dead serious.
"Alright, Your Majesty!"
At around eight in the morning, Kate began working out, aiming to shed a few extra pounds before their flight.
Luca, having a scene to shoot, drove to the film set.
"Luca, Mekhi Phifer's here. The crew's going to shoot his scenes first," the director's assistant, Blake, said.
"What?"
Luca raised an eyebrow, spotting Mekhi Phifer, a young Black actor, standing amidst the crowd.
Mekhi had been discovered by renowned Black director Spike Lee and had since starred in numerous films, becoming a major star in the Black community.
He'd been busy with "Dawn of the Dead," which delayed his joining this set.
As soon as Mekhi arrived, the Black cast and crew swarmed around to greet him, creating a lively scene.
Luca shrugged. "Blake, if you were going to change the schedule, why didn't you give me a heads-up? I came all this way for nothing."
"Luca, I told Blake not to inform you," a voice came from behind as Billy, the director, strolled out of a portable bathroom, cigarette in hand.
"Why?" Luca asked, fanning away the smoke.
Billy chuckled. "Because I think you're a good guy. Other actors are always scrambling to memorize their lines, but not you. Before every shoot, I have to walk the others through the scene over and over, but you just get it. You're a genius."
"A genius?"
Luca smirked. He didn't need to memorize lines because the script was practically etched into his brain. He didn't need scene direction because he already had the whole movie mapped out in his head. Genius? What a joke!
"Yes, you're a genius. So, when you're not acting, why not work as an assistant on set?"
"I—"
"I'll pay you."
"It's not about the money."
"Two hundred a day."
"It's really not about the money."
"Five hundred."
"Billy, I said it's not about the money!"
"Then leave!" Billy waved him off and walked toward the set.
Luca froze, then quickly caught up. "Billy, Billy, five hundred a day, deal!"
"Nope."
Billy wagged his finger. "Now it's two hundred. Take it or leave it."
Luca glared at him, frustrated. "Wasn't it five hundred just now?"
"'Just now' is in the past, isn't it?"
Billy smiled.
Luca's expression changed several times before he gritted his teeth. "Fine, I'll do it."
"Hahaha, Luca, you're a good guy. I've got faith in you!" Billy laughed heartily, slapping him on the shoulder.
Luca shook off Billy's hand in disgust. He reeked, and Luca didn't want to touch him.
"Everyone, get ready! Actors, come to your positions!"
Billy shouted into a megaphone, gathering Jessica Alba, Mekhi Phifer, a young Black actor named Raymond, and a few extras.
They were filming an indoor scene where the heroine, Honey, spotted Raymond, a five- or six-year-old boy she used to teach street dance to, standing outside a barbershop.
Honey asked Raymond why he was outside, learning he wanted a haircut but was too scared to go in.
Honey took Raymond into the barbershop, where they ran into Mekhi's character. The two had a brief conversation, sparking some chemistry.
The scene wasn't complicated, but the challenge lay with the young actor, who had a lot of lines.
"Luca, you're in charge of working with Raymond," Billy said, pointing at the little boy.
Luca rubbed his forehead. "Oh, Billy, this is my first time directing a scene. Are you sure?"
"Haha, there's a first time for everything."
Billy clapped him on the back before moving on to the other actors.
Luca sighed and sat on a bench with the young actor. "Hey, little man, your name's Raymond, right?"
"Yes!"
The boy was sharp, with a head full of messy curls that would soon be braided.
"Raymond, have you memorized your lines?"
"Nope."
The boy shook his head.
"Alright, no worries. I'll help you remember those cute lines. For now, how about we do a little role-play?"
"Role-play?"
"Yep!"
Luca stretched his legs and crossed them on the bench. "Come on, Raymond, follow my lead."
"Like this?"
The boy asked, crossing his legs too.
"Haha, simple, right? You're a smart kid, Raymond."
Luca tousled his curly hair, enjoying the soft feel.
"This scene is about how your mom sent you to the barbershop for a haircut, but the people inside look scary, like big bad wolves. You're too scared to go in, so you're sulking out here. Then, your kind dance teacher, Honey, comes to help. Got it?"
"Emmm, got it!"
"Alright, let's run through it. From now on, I'll be Honey."
Luca stood up, walking to the street corner and calling out to the boy. "Hey, Raymond, why are you out here?"
"Luca!"
The boy looked up and shouted.
"Oh, Raymond, that was good, but you called me the wrong name. I'm Honey now!"
Luca struck a dramatic pose, adopting a higher-pitched voice. "I'm Honey!"
The boy burst out laughing, covering his mouth.
Jessica, watching from nearby, couldn't help but smile.
"Luca's quite the character, huh?" Billy chuckled.
Jessica shrugged. "He's definitely interesting."
"But you seem to have a problem with him."
"No, I just don't get too close to him. It's not that I have an issue with him—I just don't want to be his next rumored girlfriend."
"Rumored girlfriend?"
"Yes, Billy. You haven't heard the gossip going around?"
"Oh, those rumors?"
Billy shook his head, pointing to his eyes. "Jessica, if you don't believe what you see with your own eyes, why would you trust the rumors you hear?"
Jessica frowned. Since working with Luca, he had been nothing but charming, just like the rumors said: handsome, charismatic, polite, and funny, almost like a gentleman.
But deep down, was he really the same as the rumors suggested—a man who'd do anything to climb to the top?
"Jessica, I don't expect you and Luca to become friends. I just hope that during your time on set, you can put aside your biases and interact with him more. You two have a lot of scenes together, even more than with the male lead."
Billy spoke earnestly.
Jessica pondered for a moment, then nodded.
After a moment of silence, she said, "Mr. Kelly, let me run lines with Raymond. You can coach from the side, okay?"
Luca blinked in surprise. This girl rarely took the initiative.
"Luca, we're ten minutes from the first take. Can you finish in time?"
Billy checked his watch, winking at Luca.
Luca smiled. "No problem, Mr. Director. Now, Miss Alba, please stand here—yes, right here. The camera will be coming through this angle."
"Hmm, not bad!"
Billy nodded approvingly, lighting a cigarette as he returned to his director's chair. After over a decade of directing, this was the first time he felt so relaxed.
Ten minutes later.
"Camera one ready, sound and lighting prepared, extras in place, actors on set!"
"Honey, scene 11, take 2, shot 1. Action!"