‘I was hoping to run into you, man,’ he said, as Ivy sheepishly stepped out from her hiding place. ‘Although I’m not sure I would have expected to do it behind a manicured plant.’
Ivy offered a weak smile. Maybe he will just decide I’m an idiot and not want me to star in any of his movies, she hoped.
‘Let’s find somewhere a little more quiet to talk,’ Harker commanded.
Ivy followed him through the throng to the drinks table.
‘Hello, sir,’ said the bartender, clearly aware who Harker was. ‘What can I get you?’
‘I’ll have what she’s having,’ Harker replied and the two of them waited for Ivy to decide.
‘Uh,’ she stammered. ‘Apple juice.’
While the bartender busied himself getting glasses, Ivy decided to be straight with Harker about her lack of acting ability. ‘Look,’ she said. ‘I’m not really . . .’
But the sound of Jessica’s forced laugh split through the crowd’s murmuring and interrupted her.
‘Always has to be the centre of attention,’ Ivy muttered.
‘That laugh is one of the most grating in Hollywood,’ said Mr Harker. ‘And there are some hyenas, let me tell you.’
Ivy hesitated, not sure if she should bite her tongue. After all, he cast Jessica in a movie – so maybe he didn’t find her that annoying. But Ivy was never very good at keeping her mouth shut.
‘Her laugh is the only thing faker than her tan,’ Ivy said. ‘Unless you count her hair extensions.’
Mr Harker chuckled, grabbing a stick of beef satay from a waitress’s tray.
Ivy was on a roll. ‘It is simply not possible to be that interested in a story about someone else’s finger nails.’ She sighed. ‘She is obviously very good at what she does, or she wouldn’t be so successful, but . . .’
‘Jessica does have the looks,’ Mr Harker said, but he leaned in and whispered, ‘Don’t you think she could do with filing her teeth more often?’
Ivy stepped back in surprise. Only a vampire would know to say that! And that must mean he knows that I’m one, too.
‘I did a little research,’ Harker explained, ‘and saw the VAMP magazine articles on you two. You’re already stars in the making, ready for the big screen,’ he said.
He must have been talking about the big feature that Georgia Huntingdon did on them before Christmas, when they had just found out they were twins. And there was the one with the Queen of Transylvania.
‘No, really, I –’ Ivy started. How can I tell him that a wooden stake would be better than me on screen?
‘Dude,’ Mr Harker said, ‘I don’t want you being modest. I’ve already got my lawyers drafting a studio contract to send to your agent. You do have an agent, don’t you?’
Ivy spotted an opportunity. ‘No, no, I don’t! Guess I’m just an amateur – shouldn’t be let near a movie set.’
‘I like your style,’ Mr Harker replied. ‘You negotiate your own terms. Excellent!’
Ack! Ivy thought. What do I have to do to put him off?
‘Harker!’ said a grey-haired man, grabbing a bottle of beer off the table. ‘The board is all round the table, waiting for you.’
‘Perfect timing, Greg,’ Harker said, thumping the guy on the back. ‘I’ve got a new star to introduce.’
Ivy gulped.
Chapter Four
‘Dudes,’ announced Mr Harker, ‘and Dudettes.’ He nodded to the three women around the table. ‘You’ve got to meet the Next Big Thing!’
He stood aside so that everyone could get a good look. Ivy wished she could sprout bat wings and fly away.
Harker had dragged her over to a side room that opened on to the main area, where the display of the Empire State building and the Statue of Liberty was overshadowed by a round mahogany table. It was piled high with nibbles and drinks, but Ivy was too uncomfortable to get excited about the mini quiches. The sounds of the party faded as they stepped further into the room.
Now that Harker had outed himself as a vampire, Ivy could tell that all of the suits at the table were vamps and she wondered for a minute if Hollywood was run by vampires.
She hated it when people stared and the people round this table had absolutely no hesitation in evaluating her from her ponytail to her lace-up boots.
One man on the opposite side of the table put down his fork and said, ‘I’m not sure about the hairstyle.’
Ivy’s hands flew to her fringe. ‘What?’ she protested.
‘The fashion is current,’ commented another, like Ivy was a store mannequin.
‘You know it,’ Ivy retorted.
‘What about the nose?’ muttered a third.
‘Hey, now,’ Ivy started, ready to let them have it, but Harker interrupted.
‘Forget all that.’ He waved his hands. ‘This is Ivy Vega, the edgy opposite of her twin, the sugar-sweet Olivia Abbott.’
‘Ooooh.’ That seemed to impress the group.
I’ll have to tell Olivia that! Ivy thought.
‘And Ivy’s going to be just as good!’ Harker gave a thumbs up.
Ivy was starting to get a little panicky. She needed Olivia to come and deal with all the attention.
She looked over her shoulder through the open doorway and caught sight of Olivia in the main area, practically concealed behind the glass Eiffel Tower with Jackson.
Even if I did a cheerleading routine on the table, she wouldn’t notice, Ivy thought. I’m on my own.
‘There’s more,’ Harker went on.