“Might?” Jenny asked in a harsh whisper. “Have you met me?”

Anna really didn’t want to have this conversation. Suddenly, a table read on a difficult shoot sounded better than continuing this conversation with Jenny. “Let’s get started.”

Chapter Fourteen

John sat at the table, trying to figure out what the hell Anna Kovács was doing directing a vampire movie in Rome. She would turn down a rom-com from her ex-husband, but not this failed production? It didn’t make sense.

He tried to ignore her, find a seat, and pull out his laptop at the same time—he seriously had a shit ton of work to do if they were going to start shooting tomorrow. But he sensed her every movement as she walked across the room. Under normal circumstances, the fact that Anna didn’t fit the auteur stereotype would’ve made him happy, but on this shoot, it meant he needed to get his act together. The shooting schedule and call sheet would need to be ready by tonight. Anna moved to the head of the table, silently signaling it was time to begin.

The cast and crew took their seats. Sound carried in the cavernous space around them as chairs and boots scraped on the floor and the stone ground. The interior castle set, a monstrous bedroom, loomed off to the side. The director of photography, Cole Smith, arrived last, slumping into his seat with a disgruntled huff and flipping open the script. The main cast and heads of the departments, including John, sat at the U-shaped table. Various other crew members sat and stood in the surrounding area.

John supposed everyone was curious how the new director would handle things. She’s as thrown by this as I am, he thought. Anna conversed with Jenny before standing abruptly.

“Let’s get started,” she said, surveying the scene in front of her. Introductions were made so everyone knew each other and, more importantly, their role in the production.

“Look,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. “Everyone should have the new scripts in front of them. I know this isn’t the movie you planned on making when you arrived here. This probably isn’t the movie you dreamed of making when you wanted to make it big in pictures.”

“Speak for yourself,” Derek said. “I like biting things and playing a poorly motivated vampire.”

“Hey,” Jenny said in mock annoyance. “I did my best.”

“Not that you didn’t do a great job with the rewrites,” Anna admitted, turning to her friend.

“You no longer have to film a love scene in a blood pit.” Jenny pointed around the room. “So be thankful.”

“I definitely am,” Nicole added.

“You’ve done a lovely job with the third act,” Reed said.