The morning of Roxie's second day on set started like any other, bright and early, with the familiar buzz of the crew setting up and actors trickling into the makeup trailer. The sun was already high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the lot, and Roxie could feel the energy in the air. She was still riding the high of her first day, eager to dive back into Mara's world and film her next few scenes.
After grabbing a quick coffee from the catering table, Roxie made her way to the makeup trailer, exchanging friendly hellos with some of the crew. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, except for one person: Melanie Rhodes, the actress playing the second female lead. Melanie had a reputation in the industry for being difficult, and today, she was living up to it.
As Roxie stepped into the trailer, she could hear Melanie's sharp voice cutting through the usual hum of conversation. The door swung open, and there was Melanie, sitting in front of the mirror with a scowl on her face, surrounded by a team of makeup artists who looked more than a little stressed.
"This is ridiculous!" Melanie snapped, glaring at her reflection as a stylist carefully adjusted her hair. "I told you not to use this color palette. Do I have to do everything myself around here?"
Roxie winced at the tone, exchanging a quick glance with one of the makeup artists, who gave her a weary smile. Melanie had been nothing but cold and distant on the first day of filming, and it seemed like today was going to be more of the same. Roxie tried to stay out of her way, quietly taking her seat in the corner as the team worked on her hair and makeup.
But the tension in the trailer only grew as Melanie's complaints continued.
"I'm not shooting a single scene until this is fixed," Melanie declared, standing up abruptly and throwing her makeup brush onto the counter. "I can't work like this."
Before anyone could say anything, Melanie stormed out of the trailer, leaving a trail of stunned silence in her wake. Roxie sat frozen in her chair, unsure of what to do. The crew exchanged nervous glances, clearly unsure of how to handle the situation.
Moments later, the assistant director poked his head into the trailer, his face tight with frustration. "Where's Melanie?"
"She just... left," one of the makeup artists said, looking exasperated. "She wasn't happy with her makeup and stormed out."
The assistant director swore under his breath, running a hand through his hair. "Great. Just great. We have an entire scene scheduled with her, and now she's disappeared."
Roxie watched the chaos unfold around her, unsure of what to say. She wasn't involved in any of Melanie's scenes, but the disruption was throwing off the entire day's schedule. The rest of the cast and crew were starting to gather outside, whispering amongst themselves about what was happening.
As the minutes ticked by with no sign of Melanie returning, the assistant director grew more agitated. "We can't wait all day for her," he muttered, glancing around the set. "We need someone to fill in."
His eyes scanned the crowd and then, to Roxie's surprise, landed squarely on her.
"Roxanne!" he called out, walking over to her. "You're up. You know the script well enough to step in for Melanie, right?"
Roxie blinked, her heart racing. "Wait, what? Me? But I'm just, "
"I know you're playing Mara," the assistant director said, cutting her off, "but we don't have time to sit around waiting for Melanie to come back. We need to get this scene shot, and you're our best option. You've seen the script, right?"
Roxie nodded slowly, still trying to process what was happening. She had read the entire script when she first got the role of Mara, so she knew the scenes Melanie had with the lead actor, Victor Crane, the charismatic B-list star who was quickly rising to A-list status. Melanie's character was the love interest, the heart of the film's romantic storyline.
The assistant director gave her a firm nod. "Good. You're stepping in for her today. It's a big scene with Victor, so don't worry about nailing it perfectly, we just need to get something on film."
Roxie felt like the ground had shifted beneath her feet. This was way beyond what she'd been hired for. She was supposed to be playing the supportive secretary, not the main love interest! But the assistant director was already ushering her toward the set, giving her little time to protest.
As they arrived on set, Victor Crane was already in place, leaning casually against a prop car with his signature easygoing smile. He was dressed in a sleek suit, his blonde hair tousled in that perfect way that made him look effortlessly charming. He glanced up as Roxie approached, his eyes widening slightly in surprise.
"Roxie, right?" Victor said, flashing her a grin. "Looks like you're my leading lady for the day."
Roxie's heart skipped a beat. Victor was even more handsome in person, and his charm was undeniable. She felt a rush of nerves wash over her as she stepped into Melanie's shoes, unsure of how she was going to pull this off.
The director, Elliot, gave her a quick rundown of the scene, one of the pivotal moments in the film, where the two characters have a heart-to-heart about their feelings for each other. Roxie could barely believe it. She was about to film a romantic scene with Victor Crane, one of the hottest rising stars in Hollywood.
As they rehearsed the lines, Roxie's initial panic began to fade. Victor was kind and professional, guiding her through the scene with ease. He made her feel comfortable, and as they ran the lines together, Roxie found herself slipping into the role more naturally than she expected.
"Alright, let's shoot," Elliot called, clapping his hands together. "Roxanne, you're doing great. Just keep that energy up."
Roxie took a deep breath as the cameras rolled. In the scene, she was supposed to be vulnerable, opening up to Victor's character about her fears and feelings. And as she delivered the lines, something clicked. The chemistry between her and Victor was undeniable, it felt real, raw, and emotional.
Victor, ever the professional, swept her up in the moment, his eyes locking onto hers as they performed the scene. His character was supposed to take her hand, and when he did, Roxie felt a flutter in her chest that wasn't entirely acting. His touch was warm, and the way he looked at her made her heart race.
By the time the director called "cut," Roxie's head was spinning. She had just shot a romantic scene with Victor Crane, and it had gone better than she ever could have imagined. The crew was murmuring amongst themselves, clearly impressed by how smoothly it had gone, despite the last-minute change.
Victor turned to her, flashing that charming grin again. "Not bad, Roxie. You're a natural."
Roxie laughed, still trying to catch her breath. "Thanks. I didn't exactly expect to be playing the love interest today."
Victor shrugged, his smile never wavering. "Well, you pulled it off. You've got great instincts."
Before Roxie could respond, the assistant director approached her again, looking more relaxed now that the scene had been shot. "Great work, Roxanne. We'll see what happens with Melanie, but for now, you were fantastic. I'll let the director know."
Roxie barely had time to process what had just happened before she was ushered off the set. The assistant director gave her a quick pat on the back as she left, clearly impressed with how smoothly the scene had gone. But the shock hadn't fully worn off for Roxie, she'd just stepped into the lead role, even if it was only for a day, and filmed a romantic scene with none other than Victor Crane.
As she walked toward the trailers, her heart still pounding from the adrenaline, Roxie replayed the moment in her mind. She had done it. Not only had she stepped in for a major role on short notice, but she had also managed to hold her own opposite one of Hollywood's rising stars. And the chemistry between her and Victor… it had felt real, too real.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice Victor catching up to her until he was right beside her.
"Hey," Victor said, his voice as casual and smooth as ever. "You were amazing out there. Seriously, that was impressive."
Roxie turned to him, feeling her cheeks flush slightly. Victor was effortlessly handsome, the kind of guy who seemed to have the world wrapped around his finger. And now, he was looking at her with that easy grin, his blue eyes twinkling with something that made her heart race.
"Thanks," Roxie replied, still trying to shake off the nerves. "I wasn't expecting to be thrown into that, but I'm glad it worked out."
Victor chuckled, running a hand through his messy blonde hair. "Worked out? You nailed it. Not everyone can handle that kind of pressure. I knew you had it in you."
Roxie couldn't help but smile. His confidence was contagious, and for a moment, she let herself relax. It had gone well, better than she could have imagined, and Victor seemed genuinely impressed. Maybe this was a sign that things were finally starting to go her way.
They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, and Roxie could feel the weight of Victor's gaze on her. There was something about the way he looked at her that made her stomach flutter. She didn't know if it was just the remnants of the scene they'd just filmed or if there was something more between them.
"So, what's next?" Victor asked, leaning casually against the trailer door. "Are you ready to take on the world of romantic leads?"
Roxie laughed, shaking her head. "I don't know about that. I'm just trying to survive one day at a time."
"Well, you're doing a pretty damn good job of it," Victor said, his grin widening. "If I were the director, I'd cast you permanently. You've got that spark, Roxie. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Her heart fluttered again, and she could feel the weight of his words sinking in. Victor was charming, no doubt, but there was something genuine in the way he spoke to her. He made her feel like she belonged, like she wasn't just some last-minute stand-in. And that feeling was dangerous.
Before she could respond, a crew member called for Victor, reminding him of his next scene. He gave Roxie one last smile before heading back toward the set, leaving her standing there, still buzzing with the adrenaline of the day.
Roxie's mind was still spinning when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw Ryan's name flash across the screen. She quickly answered, feeling the familiar sense of calm that came with hearing his voice.
"Hey, Roxanne," Ryan said, his tone upbeat. "I just heard the news. You filled in for Melanie and nailed it, huh?"
Roxie let out a small laugh, still not quite believing it herself. "Yeah, it was... unexpected. She stormed off, and the next thing I know, I'm in the lead role, filming a scene with Victor."
Ryan's voice was full of pride. "I'm not surprised. You're a pro, Roxanne. You always rise to the occasion."
She felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words. "Thanks, Ryan. It was kind of surreal, honestly. I didn't think I'd be thrown into something like that, but... I guess it worked out."
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Ryan spoke again, his tone a little more serious. "Well, I've got more news for you. I just got off the phone with Elliot. The director. He was really impressed with your performance today."
Roxie's heart skipped a beat. "Really? What did he say?"
"He said he's thinking about making the switch permanent," Ryan explained. "Melanie's been causing issues on set for a while, and after today's fiasco, they're considering replacing her. And... they want you to take over the role."
Roxie's jaw dropped. "Wait, what? They want me to be the lead? Permanently?"
Ryan's chuckle came through the phone, but his next words were careful. "That's right. It's a huge opportunity, Roxanne. I know it's a lot to take in, but this could be your big break."
Roxie's mind raced, barely able to keep up with the news. She had just been filling in, thinking it was a one-time thing, and now they wanted her to be the lead actress in the film. It felt like her dreams were unfolding right in front of her, faster than she could comprehend.
"But..." Ryan's voice trailed off for a moment, and Roxie sensed a hint of hesitation.
"But what?" she asked, her excitement faltering slightly.
"I need to warn you about something," Ryan said, his tone shifting. "Victor Crane... he's a charmer. Everyone knows that. But he's also got a bit of a reputation. He's known to be a heartbreaker, Roxanne. Just... be careful, okay?"
Roxie blinked, the memory of Victor's intense gaze and flirtatious grin flashing through her mind. She hadn't thought about it too much, but there had definitely been something between them during the scene, and afterward. Could it just be the chemistry of the role? Or was there something more?
"I know," she said quietly. "I'll be careful."
Ryan's voice softened. "I trust you. I just want you to focus on your career. This is a big opportunity, and I don't want anything to get in the way of that."
"I get it," Roxie replied, though her mind was still buzzing with thoughts of Victor. "Thanks, Ryan. I'll keep my head on straight."
"Good. Now go celebrate, you deserve it," Ryan said with a chuckle. "I'll be in touch with more details about the role."
After they hung up, Roxie stood there, her phone still in her hand, feeling like her entire world had just shifted. She had been given a chance, a real chance to be the lead in a major film. It was the opportunity of a lifetime.
But as excited as she was, her thoughts kept drifting back to Victor and the strange chemistry they'd shared on set. She couldn't deny that she was attracted to him. But was it worth the risk?
As Roxie made her way back to her car, her mind swirled with conflicting emotions. She had two men in her life now, Ryan, her steady and supportive agent, and Victor, the charismatic and unpredictable star. And while she wasn't sure where things would go with either of them, one thing was certain:
Her life was about to change in ways she had never imagined.