“Recce,” short for reconnaissance, was slang for the cast and crew who visited a movie set to familiarize themselves with it. For Harlow, it also helped her visualize her part while practicing her lines. “It went well. The location is perfect. I plan to be in Pittsburgh in roughly four weeks to start filming,” she replied. “What’s up?”
“Cheyenne Clifton called me. She said she ran into you in the grocery store and you were rude to her.”
“I was rude?” Harlow asked incredulously. “She cornered me by the deli and started talking smack, how she was going to be a big star and insisting you’re the only reason I’m a household name, basically trying to annoy me. She succeeded.”
“Who told you she filmed a commercial?”
“Hollywood is a small town. People talk. I also heard there may be an issue, and it hasn’t made it through the final approval stage.”
“It’s in the works. Look, there’s no reason to be mean to Cheyenne. I’m honestly surprised by your behavior.”
“My behavior?” Harlow gasped.
“You could have offered her some encouragement. You know how cutthroat this business is.”
“As snarky as Cheyenne is, she should fit right in. She might have the looks, but I can assure you of one thing…unless she ditches her snobby attitude, she’s going to have a tough time.”
“She’s a sweetheart. Perhaps the issue is you,” Robert snidely replied. “Cheyenne is responding to howyoutreatedher.”
“She’s the one who stopped me, trying to rub it in my face. Look, you can promote, manage, pimp any person you want, but I can tell you one thing: Ms. Clifton has a reputation around Mackinac for being rude and arrogant. If she doesn’t lose the attitude, you’ll be wasting your time.” Harlow tapped the end call button.
Resisting the urge to throw her phone against the wall, she carefully plugged it into the charger instead. “You’ve been warned, Robert. What you choose to do with my warning is entirely up to you.”
Still fuming over the verbal confrontation, Harlow picked up her manuscript and began rehearsing her lines. Throwing herself into her acting part, Cheyenne and her ex were soon far from her mind.
*****
Later that evening, while Harlow was getting ready for bed, she replayed her conversations with Cheyenne and Robert. No wonder they hit it off. They were two peas in a pod.
Despite the early morning, long flight, and long day, Harlow tossed and turned. She woke early the next morning to find Mort with his head on the edge of the bed, staring intently at her, as if willing her to wake up.
Harlow reached out and playfully tugged on his floppy ear. “How long have you been waiting for me to open my eyes?”
He sank down onto all four paws, watching as she flung the covers back and plodded to the bathroom.
A splash of cold water on her face and she was wide awake. Harlow threw on a pair of sweatpants and T-shirt, before exiting her bedroom. She and Mort followed the tantalizing aroma of frying bacon through the house and into the kitchen.
“Hey, sleepyhead.”
“Hey, Pops.” Harlow shuffled past her father, giving him a gentle nudge on her way to the coffee pot. “What do you mean sleepyhead? It’s only seven.”
“I’ve been up since five.”
“Why?” She filled an empty cup and leaned her hip against the counter.
“I got up to go to the bathroom and couldn’t go back to sleep.”
“I had a rough one myself.” Harlow told him about running into Cheyenne and her conversation with Robert. “I’m curious to see how this plays out. He can’t say I didn’t warn him.”
“I’ll admit, I’ve heard the rumors myself. Cheyenne must be telling anyone and everyone who will listen that she’s filming in Hollywood.”
“Filming a commercial which hasn’t been approved or officially made the cut.” Harlow cradled her cup. “I wonder what kind.”
“You should’ve asked Robert to elaborate.”
A sudden thought, an idea, popped into her head. “Actually, I have an idea about how to get my hands on a copy.”
David removed the sizzling bacon from the burner. “All I have left is to cook some eggs.”
