Romy Sommer - To Catch a Star

And yes, she was perfectly aware this was a case of pots and kettles. Just because she was now engaged to Stefan and would soon be married herself didn’t mean she wasn’t hurt Fredrik had moved on so quickly too.

“They’re calling me the location liaison, but really it’s just a fancy title they’ve given me because the mayor of Los Pajaros refuses to deal with anyone else. Rik and I are headed back tomorrow. The production team there have hit a few snags.” Kenzie bit her lip. “In fact I’ve never known so much to go wrong on a shoot before.”

Which explained why Kenzie wasn’t the one doing the snooping. “No one’s wondering why I’m being given the job over someone more experienced?”

Kenzie laughed. “That’s the thing. Westerwald doesn’t have much of a film industry, certainly nothing like the scale of this movie. There are no film-experienced PAs here.” She dropped her voice. “And the work permit application to bring in someone from London has been held up by red tape.”

Highly unlikely. Westerwald’s bureaucracy functioned like clockwork. But Tessa had a very good idea who had held up the application. “So what do I need to do?”

“It’s very simple. You’ll be the main contact person between Christian and this office. Every day you’ll be issued a call sheet for the next shooting day. You let Christian know what time he needs to be on set, then in the mornings you check that the driver is ready and waiting on time. If there are any delays, you let the second AD know, and if there are any changes to the schedule, you let Christian know.”

Tessa raised an eyebrow. It sounded like a lot of hand-holding. Most grown men she knew were quite capable of setting their own watches without their PA’s help. Stefan certainly was.

No wonder celebrities turned into such arrogant monsters if they didn’t even have to take responsibility for getting themselves to work on time.

And Christian was definitely a monster. What rational person would slam the car door on her and stalk off just because she hadn’t fawned all over him?

Kenzie handed her a folder. “This is from Christian’s publicist back in LA. He has a few promotional commitments you’ll need to manage: you’ll need to coordinate the arrangements for a premiere in Paris after filming here in Westerwald is done, and there are a few press interviews, a photo op or two… that sort of thing.”

Like the charity banquet he hadn’t attended last night.

“Anything else?”

“You might be expected to make dinner reservations, perhaps do a little personal shopping… ” Kenzie looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, Teresa. I know this is a terrible imposition, and I’m so sorry to ask it of you, especially since you have your wedding coming up.”

Tessa gave a cool smile. “It’s no problem. And my friends call me Tessa.”

Relief blazed in Kenzie’s face. “We can’t thank you enough. With everything that’s going on back in Los Pajaros I just don’t have time to look into this, but Rik is very concerned. He’s very grateful for your help.”

But not enough to pick up the phone and talk to her himself.

Kenzie escorted her along the corridor, introducing her to a dozen people along the way, the casting director, the production people, the assistant directors.

She still had to pass an interview with Gerry, the unit production manager. While she’d never had to interview for a job in her life before, this one was a walk in the park compared to the grillings her father subjected her to.

“Christian’s easier than most,” Gerry said, leaning his elbows on the desk between them. “He’s not one of those stand-offish stars with an entourage around them who won’t look you in the eye or who’ll treat you like his skivvy. He’s very approachable and easy-going.”

Which didn’t gel with the first impressions she’d got. He’d exuded so much testosterone that “easy-going” was the very last thing she’d have described him as. She hoped Gerry was right and the man she’d met last night was nothing like the man she was about to meet.

“I’ve worked enough diplomatic parties to be able to handle whatever he throws at me,” she replied. Her voice sounded way more sure than she felt.

“I like you,” Gerry leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers, just as her father did. But that was about where the resemblance ended. Gerry looked like a cuddly teddy bear – not something her father could ever be compared to. “I was worried about hiring a female PA for Christian, but I think you’re going to work out just fine.”

She arched a questioning eyebrow and Gerry laughed. “He has a bit of a reputation with women, but you look like someone who can hold your own. Somehow I don’t think you’re going to go all fangirl on him and fall into his bed.”

“I should hope not!” Perhaps it would not be such a good idea sending Anna in to finish this job when she’d got the information she needed. Not that her personal assistant was in the habit of falling into bed with men, but it would be like sending a lamb into a lion’s den.

But finding a replacement was a worry for another day.

“What is the movie about?” she asked.

“The usual. A little romance, lots of action. It’s about the bastard son of a king and a slave girl who becomes a pirate. You’re in luck. Today’s a day off for the shooting crew, but Christian’s downstairs in the costume department doing some final fittings so you can meet him straight away. If you don’t mind waiting a few minutes, I’ll walk you over and introduce you. There’s just one call I have to return before we go.”

“I’d like her to meet Lee first,” Kenzie said, rising from the chair beside Tessa. “So we’ll meet you down at Wardrobe in ten.”

“Who’s Lee?” Tessa asked as they headed downstairs. She’d learned a few tricks over the years and was good at remembering names and faces, but she was starting to reach saturation point.

“My best friend. He’s an art director and he’s supervising the set-build downstairs.”

In the vast warehouse space Kenzie had to shout to be heard over the din of construction. “Principal photography started a few days ago. The first couple of weeks are all location filming, mostly at the palace, then they move in here and shoot the interiors of the pirate ship for a few days before the entire production moves to Los Pajaros. You have three weeks to find out what you need.”

Tessa nodded. And she had four weeks until her wedding. The quicker she could get this job done, the better.

From the outside, the set looked like nothing more than makeshift wooden walls on wheels, but passing inside was like moving from one world to another. From a dirty warehouse into the captain’s cabin of a pirate ship.

Smoke and mirrors, like everything else in the film business where nothing was real.

Lee was bent over a table littered with drawings and schematics. He straightened with a grin, dimples flashing. He might easily be the most beautiful man Tessa had ever seen.

“How’s my best girl?” He winked at Kenzie and pulled her close into his side.

“This is Tessa,” Kenzie said, hugging him back.

“Ah, the super-spy.”

Tessa frowned. “You told him?”

“I tell Lee everything. You can trust him too.”

Lee turned the full wattage of his grin on Kenzie. “If you ever need anything, just ask.”

Tessa cast a glance over the drawings on the table. “Did you do these?”

He nodded, pride shining in his eyes. “I designed this set. It’s kind of what I do. Interior design with a difference.”

“Any chance you do weddings too?”

“Tessa’s getting married soon,” Kenzie jumped in.