Friends With Way Too Many Benefits (18 page)

In front of Paul's house, he held her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. "I've got to see you again."

"Call me when you're in town." She smiled up to him.

"Are you extremely busy? I mean, do you think you could fly to Miami?"

"Really?" She put on a look of surprise.

"Yes, could you?"

"I think I could maybe fit it in."

"I'll call you once I get settled. We're doing all this location scouting for a few days, but after that I'll know better where I'm going to be."

"Okay." Rising up on her tip toes, she kissed him hard, sliding her tongue into his mouth. "Don't go burning that tongue on any hot food of anything. I'm not sure what I'd do without it."

"I won't."

She pulled slowly away from him and slipped into her car. She turned on the ignition, pressed a button and the top retracted back and folded away. The sun from the perfect California day quickly went to work warming the cool leather seats. Smiling up to him, she blew him a kiss. "See you."

"Bye."

He watched wearing a huge grin as she drove away through the open gate.

Over the next few days a grass-roots viral internet campaign was launched to oust Debra Messing from the project. No one claimed responsibility, but the source was traced back to a twitter account with over two million followers which seemed to spring up from nowhere and lead the charge.

When Ms. Messing got word of the groundswell, she quickly pulled out of the film telling
Entertainment Tonight
in an interview that she simply had a scheduling conflict.

Rumors spread that a New York-based publicity company was responsible for the campaign and its efforts funded by an individual with a bank account sourced from the Cayman Islands. The person was never identified officially, but was said to reside in the South Florida area.

When Leslie Moore, a little known actress in her late thirties, was announced as Ms. Messing's replacement a call was placed from a prepaid cell phone in the Miami area to the publicity company in question. Using a passcode, the caller was routed to a certain phone extension which was picked up on the first ring. There was a bit of yelling during the call, all of which originated from the South. When the caller was asked if Ms. Moore needed to be 'handled' as well they replied that she did not.

You see, the caller was actually less pleased with Ms. Moore than Ms. Messing, if that were even possible. It was generally thought that Leslie's acting abilities didn't measure up to Ms. Messing nor did her bra size. But going on the axiom, be 'careful what you wish for…' the caller feared the third choice might really be a doozy. Minutes after the call ended, the twitter account vanished. And when Jillian broke the news to Victoria she acted disinterested and quickly changed the subject.

Less than a week later, Natalie lay naked and grinning in the luxurious king-sized bed in the Mandarin Orange Hotel suite in Miami. Paul had left two hours earlier and if all went as planned she'd be receiving the call at any time. The body double hired to perform in Rebecca's scenes was already on the west coast and probably sleeping late in preparation for her photo shoot later that day. After calling in a few favors from the editorial group at Playboy, she was able to provide the young model with a last minute golden opportunity she could not refuse. That combined with some well-orchestrated miscommunication on the set and Paul's knowledge that she had body double experience, the ability to pull off any acrobatic requirement they could throw at her, not to mention the perfect body for the job, assured her that her phone would ring.

When it did, she was so excited she answered it on the first one.

"Natalie."

"Paul, what? Do you miss me already?"

"Of course, but that's not why I'm calling. I need a favor. Our body double for Lindsey flaked out on us today. She's in LA. Blew us off for some Playboy thing. Didn't tell anyone or we didn't get the message. I really don't know what happened."

"That stinks."

"How would you like to fill in for her?"

"Paul, oh, I don't know, it's—"

"It pays fifteen hundred a day and you're perfect for it. You'd really be helping us out."

"Can't Lindsey do it, I mean, is she that much of a prude?"

"I doubt she could even lift her leg up to her waist and even if she could there is no way she's showing even a breast on screen. It's in her contract. If we even so much as release a nip slip, she gets a ten million dollar bonus. She's terrified of Mr. Skin."

"I really don't want to let you down, but I just, um, you see—"

"Look Natalie, the scenes will all be tastefully done. You're doubling for a ballet dancer who can strike this pose with her leg pointed to the ceiling while the other is on the floor. It's called something like… devel… devant derr—"

"Développé leg devant à la derrière."

"Yes, exactly. You see, this is perfect for you. Look, there are just a couple of bedroom scenes, nothing full frontal... no crotch shots. You'll be working with Chance Hart. I mean, how many women get the opportunity to get paid to lay naked in bed with a Hollywood super star like him?"

"I'm sure not many, but, um, well…"

"This is a once in a lifetime—"

"All right, I'll do it."

"Really?"

"Yes, I said I'd do it."

"Great, a car is on its way and will pick you up in the lobby in ten minutes."

"Oh, really, you were that sure I was going to say yes were you?"

"I had a hunch… and Natalie?"

"Yes."

"Just don't fall for Chance."

"Don't worry." Natalie giggled and ended the call.

Ninety minutes later, Natalie was dressed in costume and waiting in her dressing room. Since arriving on the set, she maintained a low profile heading straight to her small room and summoning makeup to her location instead. As of that moment she still hadn't seen anyone she'd recognized, not Jillian nor even Paul for that matter.

When the Production Assistant led her toward the set, she passed Lindsey Green, the previous Disney Channel superstar, who wore an identical outfit and was being followed by four of her handlers. As Natalie heard them heaping praise on the uptight, coddled actress she held back a giggle.

When Natalie arrived at the stage setup to look like a college dorm suite living room, she knew immediately the scene they were shooting. She'd read the screenplay four times since she secretly borrowed a copy from Paul. It would be the college party fantasy dream sequence and would show off all her best assets and talents. Her heart thumped wildly knowing that her most convincing performance would need to come before the cameras started to roll in order for her to pull this off.

Paul entered the room. "Two minutes people." Spotting Natalie, he beamed and rushed over. "Sorry I didn't come see you yet. Thank you so much for doing this."

"I'm glad I could help."

"You all set?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry if you don't get the first take, we've got a few hours blocked out. It's an important scene."

"Okay."

Pointing to tape marked X on the floor, he began, "Stand on that mark and when the actors take a step back you'll simply get into the pose."

"All right."

"After we shoot it clothed, you'll, you know, take everything off and we'll shoot the rest of the scene."

"Okay."

Holding her gently by the shoulders, he gave her a smile. "Ready?"

"Uh-huh."

"Good." Turning from her, he walked away pointing out concerns to a crew member, stopping to chat with a producer until he retuned behind the camera and announced, "Places people."

Natalie moved to her spot on the floor as the other actors took their positions. Chance Hart was seated on a sofa and she gave him an embarrassed smile. He returned a wink, head nod combination and she felt like she might almost pass out or throw up or maybe both. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath then looked to Paul and gave him a smile.

A Camera Assistant moved in front of the set and held up the digital clapperboard.

"The Leg Thing— scene four take two." He snapped the clap stick closed and Natalie's face turned a pale white, her jaw fell open and her eyes bugged out of her head.

Paul moved to a monitor and yelled, "Action."

The four actors surrounding her took a step backwards, but Natalie didn't move. She held still accept for her hands which folded across her shivering chest. The look on her face was Oscar worthy. The other actors gazed at her with wide-eyed concern. Paul moved from behind the monitor and took a few steps toward her. "Natalie?"

Slowly she turned toward him like she'd seen a ghost. Suddenly she shuddered then rushed away toward the dressing rooms.

Paul looked around in stunned silence then took off after her.

When he burst into her dressing room, he found her curled up at the edge of the sofa, her arms wrapped around her pulled-up knees.

"Natalie." He moved in next to her placing his arm around her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"What's... um, what's the name of this movie?"

"The Leg Thing."

"I can’t believe that we never talked about this. I mean, I never knew what you were working on and you, you must not know either what... I—"

"What are you talking about?"

"This is my story. This is my life. A life I've been trying to put behind me for more than two years."

"Natalie, sorry, I just don't know what you're talking about."

"This is Jillian Grayson's story, right— from the book?"

"Yes."

"I'm Rebecca."

"Yeah, you are playing Rebecca's body double."

"No,
I am
Rebecca. I'm the real Rebecca, or Natalie Brookhart."

His jaw dropped. "You're Natalie Brookhart?"

Wide eyed and pale white, she nodded slowly.

"Oh my God. I knew that there was a lawsuit, but I didn’t follow it or… I mean, I had no idea."

"That book was filled with lies about me. Yes, sure some of the basic facts were true, but I was humiliated during the trial and after and I, I..."

"Let me get you some water." Rising up, he headed to a mini refrigerator and returned with a bottle. "Look, I swear I had no idea." He opened it and handed it to her.

After taking a tiny sip, she looked him in the eye shivering. "Are either Jillian or Brian here today? What if they had, I—"

"No. No." He knelt on the floor and placed his hands on her knees. "What can I do? I'll have the car drive you back to the hotel."

"Yes, please." Closing her eyes, she sighed.

"Okay."

"But wait, you're going to lose a whole day of shooting. Everyone is out there. I just don't know if I can do it."

"Don't worry about any of that. It's just money. You're what's important here." He placed his large hands over hers.

"Thanks." She flashed him a smile. "I've been running away from this for so long."

"I understand."

"I wish I could stop running, but I…" Her words trailed off and she sighed.

Rising to his feet, he held out his arms wide for her. She moved to him and he held her tightly. "Maybe, you could use this…" He shook his head. "No, sorry."

"What were you going to say?" She pulled back from him and gazed into his eyes.

"Just that... maybe this could be a way to put it behind you." He chopped through the air with his open hand for emphasis. "You face it head on and show it what you're made of."

"Yeah, maybe."

He gave her a supportive smile. "But only if you really think you're up to it. Only if this is what you want."

Wiping a tear from her eye, she put on a brave expression. "No, I think I can do it. I think... yeah, this is what I need. You're so smart. Maybe this was fate you know, just trying to push me past this."

Tilting her head up to him, she closed her eyes. He moved his mouth to hers and kissed her softly. The kiss went on and on and with the heat building between them, she wrapped her arms around his waist. She could feel his erection pressing into her body. Gasping, she pushed herself away from him. "You get me so hot. I just..."

"You're amazing." He stepped back and took a deep breath while gazing at her in awe.

"No, you are. I don't even want to think what a mess I'd be right now if you weren't here."

"Are you sure you want to go back out there?"

"I am."

"Do you need any time?"

Shrugging, she gave him a gentle smile. "Maybe, five minutes."