Perhaps that's it. Her personal appearance is too glossy, and even too strong? They don't think she can play the role convincingly. Annelie doubted herself, her own assessment, since she reacted the way she did to Carolyn. Perhaps the investors and marketing experts fear she's too much herself. The very part I find so intriguing.
Diana Maddox was the kind of character who seemed to jump off the page. From the moment she'd read the first chapter of Dying for Fame, Annelie had been convinced that Maddox could attract just as large a fan base as other fictional female heroes. Getting to know the lesbian investigator was perhaps even more absorbing than author Delia Carlton's compelling plot lines. Though Annelie knew they were sitting on a winner, she could never have anticipated the books would stay on the best-seller charts for several years or that sales would skyrocket worldwide.
Fans of Diana Maddox, and of Delia Carlton, had flooded the publishing company with letters and e-mails, wanting to know more. Delia was not comfortable with the attention, so after brainstorming with Gregory and Jem, Annelie decided to give Diana Maddox a voice, if not yet a face, and purchased the rights to turn the novels into audiobooks. And instead of hiring a talented unemployed actor or actresses for the recording, as she usually did, she assigned a cast, a different actor for each character in the book, plus a narrator.
For Maddox, Annelie had thought of Carolyn Black instantly. The actress's voice held a rare quality that made people stop and listen. It could vary from a dark growl to a seductive purr, and because they would need a wide range of tones for the series, she was the obvious choice for the lead.
Carolyn and the other actors signed contracts to read three novels. Annelie had expected only the devoted fans to buy the audiobooks, but when sales of the CDs and tapes not only tied with the hardbacks and paperbacks but surpassed them, Key Line wrote publishing history. Now they were set to expand their market exponentially, and she didn't have much time left before they began filming. Even Delia Carlton was asking if the lead actress had been cast yet.
Annelie would have to make her decision soon.
Not even glancing at the glossy pictures of Carolyn, she clicked on her first e-mail. She had work to do.
***
Carolyn had lost count of her laps and the time. Muscles quivering, she climbed out of the pool and reached for a large towel draped over a deck chair.
"I can make you some coffee and a bagel with cream cheese, if you like, Ms. Black," Annelie's housekeeper said behind her. The petite, wiry woman had greeted her at the door when she arrived, informing her that Annelie would be at the office all day.
"Thank you, Mary. I'd like that. You spoil me, you know."
"Ah, think nothing of it. I was going to have a cup anyway."
"Then why don't you join me here on the patio?"
Mary looked shocked and appalled. "Now, how would that look? I have work to do."
Amused over her apparent faux pas, Carolyn walked into the guest room to change. When she returned to the patio, she found coffee, orange juice, a bagel, and assorted fruits.
Carolyn reached for the coffee cup and, inhaling the aroma of her favorite type of coffee, Royal Copenhagen, she sipped it carefully. Black and strong, it seemed to go straight to her veins, rejuvenating her after her strenuous workout, and she secretly commended herself for bringing two packages as a gift for Annelie.
A beeping sound came from her bag. Pulling out her phone, she grimaced when she noticed two missed calls from Beth and one from Grey Parker. Immediately worried, she dialed her sister first, but the phone went dead the moment Beth answered. When it wouldn't power up, she realized she'd probably forgotten to charge it again.
Carolyn grabbed her wallet and rushed into the house, looking for the housekeeper. "Excuse me, Mary? Is it okay if I use the phone? My cell died on me, and I have a calling card."
"Of course." Mary led her into Annelie's study. "Here you go. You can use the one on the desk."
Thanking her, Carolyn sat down in the black leather chair behind Annelie's large cherrywood desk.
While she waited for her call to go through, Carolyn studied the room curiously. The walls were a pleasant forest green and the carpet off-white. The bookshelves, also made of cherry, held numerous reference books and long rows of binders. Two wine red chairs on the other side of the desk were obviously for visitors. Soft classical music from an invisible source permeated the entire house, including the office.
"Hello!"
"Beth, I'm sorry. My phone died again."
"For goodness' sake, Lyn. You're the most technically challenged person I know." Her sister sounded much more her feisty self, which was reassuring.
"Was there something you wanted?"
"Yes, I know you'll be pleased. I've taken a leave of absence, and my boss says whenever I want to come back, my job's waiting for me."
"That's wonderful." Carolyn smiled and leaned back in the chair. The scent of leather mixed with perfume soothed her senses. "So Joe's willing to let me help?"
"To be honest, he was more willing to accept than I was." Beth paused. "I was worried about his pride. You know what I mean."
"I know." In Carolyn's experience, Joe didn't have an ego. He focused on what mattered. "Listen, I won't have any problem helping you guys out during the pregnancy. If you need help around the house, just hire somebody. The sky's the limit."
Beth's voice was warm. "You're so thoughtful, sweetie. Thank you. Tell me, does anyone else ever get to see this side of you?"
Carolyn smiled. Sisters were allowed to see through one another. She had to keep the rest of the world at arm's length or they would eat her alive. "No. I have to maintain my image as a witch on wheels to keep them on their toes."
A small sigh. "Are you coming back this weekend?"
"That's the plan. I'll call you when I know which flight I'll be on. Take care of yourself and hug Joe and Pamela."
"I will. You take care too."
About to call Grey, Carolyn glimpsed a small picture in a silver frame at the far end of the desk. It was one of the promotion shots from The Passing of Time, taken during the second season. A much-younger Carolyn Black gazed at her with confidence that was only skin-deep at the time.
Her success as Devon Harper had opened many doors for her in show business, especially when the show's ratings climbed and she was credited for attracting a wider audience. She'd played Devon Harper for more than two years, at the same time seeking minor big-screen roles.
Carolyn took a deep breath and stared down at the photograph once more. Why did Annelie Peterson keep a picture of her in her study?
The only other picture she could see was a group photo on one wall. It looked like a class reunion—Annelie with a bunch of other women.
A twitch at the corner of her mouth developed into a smile. Tapping the picture frame with a well-manicured nail, Carolyn thought about it some more. Annelie, it seemed, could be a fan of hers from way back. If she played her cards right, this could prove rather useful.
Her mind racing, she set the picture back on the desk and dialed her agent.
***
Jem stuck her head in the door of Annelie's office. "Can I talk to you?"
"Come on in." Annelie gave her chief editor a quick smile. "What is it?"
"A couple of things. First, we're going to have to find at least two more authors in the fantasy genre or we'll have an unbalanced catalogue. I'm sure I saw a promising manuscript and now I can't find it!"
Jem was famous for losing things. Keys, cell phones, wallets… Annelie couldn't keep track of how many times the whole office had been in uproar—all pitching in to help the energetic editor find her missing belongings.