‘Yes, yes, yes!’ she exclaimed, clapping her hands with glee.
Bunty’s eyes twinkled in delight. What a breath of fresh air this man was. She took in his paisley shirt, jaunty neckerchief and long layered grey hair. Her very own sexy buccaneer! She pictured them sailing off into the sunset and was sold.
‘Good,’ he said firmly, while collecting the brochures up in a pile. ‘We won’t be needing these then.’
‘Cut!’ called Felix again. ‘Brian, I need moreurgency,yeah? The scullery maid’s gone missing and there’s a killer on the loose.’ He also muttered something inaudible under his breath in frustration.
Today had been the most taxing so far. It just wasn’t happening. Nobody had fully remembered their lines, the timing was out and the ring of the front door bell had been picked up by sound and interrupted filming.
Brian threw him a filthy glare and was very tempted to tell Felix where to stick his urgency. Quite frankly he’d had enough. So what if he couldn’t remember every single word? He hadn’t got where he was today without a little improvisation.
‘And,’ added Felix, ‘if you can’t remember the script, do not make it up,’ he stated flatly, earning him another black look. ‘Right, from the top, action!’
‘Julie’s been missing since—’ Polly began.
‘Cut!’ roared Felix. All stopped abruptly. ‘The maid is called Jilly!’ he wailed, throwing his hands in the air.
‘Oh yes, sorry.’ Polly winced, nerves starting to get the better of her.
‘Again… and action!’ called Felix.
As the commotion upstairs took place, Emma was down in the kitchen, getting the mid-morning coffee ready. From what she’d heard coming from the library where they were filming today, the cast and crew would be more than ready for a break. On hearing the doorbell, she’d immediately gone to the hall to answer it but, when she’d opened the front doors, nobody was there. Looking down, she’d spotted a parcel left on the doormat. Emma had picked up the cardboard box and looked around her. Whoever had left it obviously wasn’t waiting for a signature. When she examined the box, she noticed it didn’t have an address on, let alone any postage stamps. It was simply addressed to ‘Felix’. Frowning, Emma took it inside and locked the doors behind her. She put the parcel on the console table in the hall and went to get the refreshments for breaktime.
‘OK, it’s a wrap,’ declared Felix somewhat jadedly. He could do with a brandy, never mind coffee.
Brian, still smarting from his direction earlier, nudged past him into the hall and went straight for the hostess trolly.
‘Sorry about before,’ apologised Polly. ‘I’ll try not to let it happen again.’
Felix turned and gave a tight smile. Had he been too hard on them? He hoped not. Then he recalled how he’d treated Jennifer in the past, without realising how much he’d worked her. He ran a hand through his dark hair and coughed.
‘Hey, everyone,’ he called out to the small crowd now filling the marbled hall. His voice echoed as they all stopped chatting to face him. ‘I’m… er… sorry if I’ve been a touch… picky today—’
‘Just a bit,’ Brian muttered into his cup.
‘But it’s only because I want the best for the drama,’ he continued, eyeing them all, hoping they’d understand.
Emma, handing out cups, looked up in surprise. This wasn’t like Felix. He appeared tired and drawn. Clearly the stress was getting to him, which was no surprise considering that he was contending with rather a lot. Not just the pressure of directing a TV drama for the first time, but all the anxiety his manic ex-girlfriend was causing too. Was it any wonder the guy looked so exhausted? And yet, still so sexy. Emma’s gaze homed in on the broad shoulders and muscular arms beneath his fitted black jumper. It highlighted the darkness of his hair against his tanned skin. She knew filming would halt over the coming break and welcomed it. She could do with a rest as much as Felix. She had a gig with the band and was looking forward to that as well. She’d missed being with Gaz, Mitch and Sophie.
Pouring a coffee for Felix, she wandered over to him and passed him a cup.
‘Here,’ she offered.
‘Oh, thanks, Emma,’ he sighed and took a drink.
‘A parcel came for you, I left it on the console table.’ She haltered, then continued, ‘It’s strange though, it must have been hand delivered, but nobody was outside when I opened the doors.’
Felix’s eyes narrowed. Instantly his hackles were up, his whole body on high alert. His first instinct was to take the parcel away and open it in private, but he remained motionless. He still had an afternoon’s filming ahead of him and didn’t want any further distractions. With another sigh, he momentarily closed his eyes. He hadn’t been sleeping of late, his mind forever over-active.
‘Are you OK?’ Emma whispered, concern etched on her face.
He turned and looked into those mesmerising amber eyes of hers and for a second was lost in them.
‘Felix?’ she urged.
‘Hmm? Sorry… yes, just tired that’s all,’ he replied and sipped his coffee.
‘Good job, you’re due a break.’ She gave him a small but sincere smile before heading across the room to speak to Polly.
