Olivia held open the door, trepidation awakening at his words. Chase expected to go to work as soon as she was released from Square One. The actress had transformed in the past weeks, and Olivia had planned for them to return to LA in a few days. Time for Chase to spread those wings and leap from the nest into the great wilderness of Tinseltown. Yet here was her first true test. “I understand; still, she’s going to be upset. She thinks she’s going to work in a few weeks. You sent her the schedule.”

“I realize I may have been hasty. But let’s not put the cart before the horse on worrying. I brought a revised script so she can start creating her vision for Cecile. I have faith in Chase. She’s a very talented actress, and she has a lot riding on this role. Even if it doesn’t work out, we’ve given her the opportunity to resurrect her career and mend her reputation. How is she, by the way?”

“Put your things inside, and we’ll go down to the festival and you can see for yourself.”

Conrad smiled. “That sounds promising.”

“I think you’ll be pleased by how much Chase has changed.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY

When Chase had climbed down the steps of the dunking-booth changing room, she’d been turned on, elated at the success of the booth, ready to extend her foreplay session with Zeke, but Conrad standing at the bottom had put a squealing stop to her happiness.

Well, in a way.

She wasn’t necessarily unhappy about having to read for the part, just on notice that her career depended on more than her sobriety. Her talent would have to determine her path, too.

Chase hadn’t had to read for a part since she first started out in the business. At the height of her popularity as an A-list actress, she was offer only, and then when her stock slid toward B-list, the producers of the movies that she acted in were happy to have someone with some notoriety to give the films a PR boost. She wasn’t necessarily surprised to have to read for the part of the damaged ballerina, but she’d allowed Conrad’s assurances to give her security for her future. So, yeah, it stung a little that she wasn’t guaranteed the role.

And then to further the upheaval inside her, Olivia told her that it was time to return to LA.