“Great,” Carly said. Everything in her relaxed. “That sounds promising, right? Tell me. What are we talking about?”

“Seven days’ work on a Richard Hennessy film. A legal drama. It’s a midbudget outing, but studio backed, so it should have all the bells and whistles marketing-wise. You obviously wouldn’t have top billing, but it’s the role of a key witness in the case, so memorable.”

“Memorable sounds amazing.” She looked around and lowered her voice. “My star has fallen. I get it. I have to pay my dues before I’m on the poster again. This thing sounds perfect for me. When does it shoot?”

“In a couple of weeks. This character is the final role they need to cast, and then they move into production mode. How’s that risotto?”

Carly stared at her plate absently. She’d taken a few bites but had no idea what it tasted like. She was that hyperfocused on the conversation. “Oh, um, fantastic. Here.” She handed Alika a spoonful and watched her melt. “What else?”

“There is nothing else, unless you want a dog food commercial. That I could probably arrange.”

“God, I hope we’re not there yet.” Carly set down her fork. “What’s the latest on the Starry Nights transfer? We still have that to work for, right? I really think I’d be a good choice for them.”

“I didn’t want to have to tell you this, but it’s a no go.”

“No? How is that possible?” She wouldn’t at least try to set something up? That didn’t make sense. Aha. Maybe the show wouldn’t be transferring to Broadway after all. “The project fell through, didn’t it?”

Alika shook her head and winced. “It opens in the spring on Broadway. They cast Jenna McGovern as Ashley.”

Carly closed her eyes. Of course they had. Jenna was fantastic and everyone knew it. Well, wasn’t that just par for the course. “Who else?”

“Someone unknown. A ballet background, I think?”

“Dammit.” Her heart sank. She ran her thumb across her napkin several times as the disappointment settled. She was glad she’d downplayed the whole thing to Lauren now that the door had been slammed in their faces. “That’s more than a little heartbreaking.”

Alika shook her head. “Nah, that’s just show business, and you know it well.”

“I guess I’ve just never been on the awful end of it for so long.” She raised her eyebrows and dropped them in defeat.

“Don’t even wallow. What I need you to do,” Alika said, gesturing with her fork like a woman in charge, “is to concentrate on booking this Hennessy film. Think terrified witness. Breathe it. You have an audition on Thursday.”

That was two days away. “Now that I can do.”