“Yep.”
“I don’t even know what auditioned for.”
“You have been offered the role of Michael O’Brien.”
“Michael?”
“From what the lawyer told me, the source material is being reworked for a modern audience. The role you’ve been offered is the central character, but not necessarily the lead. Did you watch the movie?”
“No,” I admitted. “I haven’t had time.”
“Okay. Basically, three industrialist tycoons help bring a couple together. But they die and come back as ghosts. You’re the lead tycoon slash ghost.”
I knew what I was doing the first thing I got home. Brice’s description really didn’t help me at all.
“So, what’s the offer?” I asked.
“They’re willing to pay higher than Equity minimums. They expect six weeks of rehearsals leading to an opening in early December. When the show opens, you’ll be earning $3,123 a week. While in rehearsals, you’ll be making $2,168. They also offered a guaranteed one-year contract if the show runs.”
“Okay, so what’s the catch?”
“None that I can see. I’ll have our lawyers look over the contract once we get it, but these people sure don’t know how to negotiate. They really didn’t investigate the standard rates on Broadway. I wish all my clients had these kinds of dream deals.”
“Where is my name placement?” I asked.
“Great question. You will not receive top billing, but your name will be above the title.”
I exhaled and noticed the foggy tendrils in the cool air. I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding my breath.
“So,” Brice started, “what do you think?”
“I don’t know what to think,” I admitted. “This is all so sudden and unexpected. I’m still trying to process.”
“Don’t process too long. They want an answer by the end of the day.”
“What?”
“Yeah, they are looking to get into rehearsals next week, so they want all the contracts signed before the weekend. This is one production team that isn’t messing around.”
“I don’t know—“
“Erika, let me be frank with you,” Brice said matter-of-factly. “You don’t have anything else lined up, and no one else is banging down the door to offer you a role like this. Take it.”
I took a breath in through my nose, rounded my lips, and let it out. “When do I need to come by the office and sign?”
Chapter 7
Ipracticallyskippedallthe way home. The air had that crisp late October feel to it. The few trees that lined the streets on my home were already turning colors. If I really wanted to see leaves changing, I could always hike up to Central Park or take a day cruise up the Hudson River to look at leaves. When Asher and I had first coupled up, what seemed like decades ago but was only maybe six years now, we took one of those scenic cruises. We had a series of auditions that were a total bust one week, so we decided to treat ourselves.
I remember staying on deck the whole time, taking pictures while the world passed us. Asher had disappeared for a while. He’d gotten cold and had headed into the main cabin. In retrospect, I think the boat’s first mate also disappeared during that same period.Wow, I was oblivious.
I was so lost in my memory that I bumped right into a man on the street. “I am so sorry,” I said without looking at who I’d bumped into.
“Erika?”
I looked up to see who I’d run into and found a face smiling down at me, Amani Samara, Johnny’s boyfriend. “Oh hey, Amani. Sorry about that. I was admiring the season.”
“Which season? The garbage smell season? The rat season? Or the jackhammer season? Oh…I know, the siren season.”
