Writers 
Chapter Five
By ten the next morning, I had changed my mind about the meeting at least six times. At first, I was excited. Then nervous. Then excited again. Then suspicious. Then hungry, which somehow became the strongest feeling of all. I stood in front of my wardrobe holding two dresses in my hands, staring at them as though one of them possessed the ability to make important career decisions on my behalf. “You're going to a meeting, Dara,” I reminded myself. “Not an award ceremony.” My phone rang. I glanced at the screen. Miriam. “Good morning.” “Are you awake?” I looked at the clock. “It's ten.” “That wasn't my question.” “I've been awake.” “Good. Because I need you at the studio by four.” I frowned. “I thought the meeting was six.” “It is.” “Then why four?” “Because you and I both know you'll arrive at five fifty-eight if nobody stops you.” “That happened once.” “It happened three times.” “Details.” She sighed. “Dara, I'm serious. There are a few things we need to go over before you meet Daniel.” I sat on the edge of my bed. “Is there something you're not telling me?” “No.” “That was very fast.” “Because there's nothing to tell.” “Miriam.” “Dara.” We were silent for a second. Then she said, “Just come early.” The call ended. I stared at my phone. That was definitely suspicious. By four fifteen, I was sitting beside Miriam in a small meeting room at the studio, watching her flip through a folder. “You're making me nervous,” I said. “You're nervous because you keep imagining things.” “What things?” “Exactly.” She handed me a few pages. The project had been in development for months. The title was printed neatly across the top, followed by the names of the production company, director and writers. I had seen most of the information before, but seeing my name beside the lead character still felt strange. Miriam pointed to the pages. “This isn't just about getting the role.” “I know.” “You'll have press. Interviews. Public appearances. People will have opinions.” “They already have opinions.” “More of them.” I smiled. “Wonderful.” She didn't smile back. “You're going to have to be careful.” That got my attention. “Careful about what?” “About letting everyone have access to you.” I looked down at the script. For a moment, I thought about all the times I had wished people would notice me. The auditions I had gone to, the small roles I had accepted, the days I had come home exhausted and still convinced that the next opportunity would be the one. Now one had finally arrived. And suddenly everyone was telling me to be careful. Miriam closed the folder. “Daniel will probably ask you why you want this role.” “I do want it.” “I know. But don't give him the answer you think he wants.” I looked at her. “What answer should I give?” “The truth.” I laughed softly. “You make that sound easy.” “It isn't.” For the first time that afternoon, Miriam looked less like my manager and more like someone who genuinely understood how much this meant to me. She reached for her bag. “You ready?” I looked at the clock. 5:27. My stomach twisted. “No.” She smiled. “Good.” “Good?” “If you were completely calm, I'd be worried.” We walked down the corridor together. At the end of it, I stopped. “What if he asks why he chose me?” Miriam looked at me. “Then ask him.” I swallowed. That was exactly what I intended to do. Because whatever Daniel Cole had seen in me, I wanted to know. And this time, I wasn't going to let anyone else tell me what the answer meant.
