Obsessed With The Movie Star

By Cherry Kay

They say that everything happens for a reason yet aspiring actress Karen was wondering when anything at all would happen for her. Her acting career was going nowhere fast and she was praying for some sort of divine inspiration to help her get her to where she wanted to be.

Her prayers were answered the day she met famous actor Louis Bender. The charming and handsome actor could have any girl he wants but he appears to be besotted with curvy Karen. With him by her side he promises to turn her into a star.

 

This is all seems too good to be true for Karen and in Hollywood nothing is as real as it first appears to be...

• Language: English
• Publisher: BWWM Romance
• Release date: Mar 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524292157

Book preview

Chapter1

Karen drummed her fingernails against the counter, staring into straight ahead into space.  Her thoughts were far away from work right now.  She wanted to be at home in her tiny apartment, working on memorizing lines, not stuck behind a cash register.  It was Saturday, and even though she’d been working in the store for more than half a year, she still felt unsettled about working on Saturdays.

Across the room, Jake picked up a stuffed tiger and made it dance in the air in front of himself.  He looked at her playfully and Karen couldn’t help but smirk.  Oh good, he called.  For a second, I thought you were catatonic.

She shook her head, both in denial and to clear it of any longing thoughts.  Acting was where her heart was, but sales associate in the Disney Store was her job.  At least she had made it to Hollywood.  Most girls fresh out of college couldn’t boast that.

I was just thinking about all the million places I would rather be than here, Karen said, straightening up from her slouch.  A little girl was pleading her case for why she needed a fez-wearing stuffed monkey while the girl’s mother was preoccupied with a cell phone.  Neither of them was paying attention to Karen, even though they were standing at the register.

Jake strode to the counter and stood beside her, taking the monkey from the girl and ringing it up while eyeing the mother for confirmation.  It took two agonizing whole minutes before the mom finally put a hand to the receiving end of the phone and shook her head.  Like the person on the other end could hear the gesture.  Great, Jake said under his breath, canceling the charge.  The little girl frowned at him when the numbers disappeared.

Don’t cry, Karen thought.  Don’t cry don’t cry don’t cry.  Please don’t cry.

Sure enough, the girl started wailing and the mother finally acknowledged her, albeit annoyed and embarrassed.

Are you saying you would want to miss this? Jake asked as the pair of customers rushed from the store monkeyless.  This is worth so much more of your time than some dumb audition.

"Three dumb auditions, Karen corrected, thank you very much."

Jake smiled at her.  But you admit they’re dumb.

Karen shrugged and picked up the abandoned simian.  She carried it around the counter and put it back in its place, in a stack of identical stuffed monkeys.  Hey, I’ll take what I can get. It’s not like Michael Bay or Quentin Tarantino are knocking down my door.

Screwing up his face, Jake shook his head.  You shouldn’t answer, even if they do.  You have the face for much sweeter movies.

Yeah, well, right now, I have the face for laundry detergent commercials and crowd scenes.

A bus load of tourists came into the store and that put an end to the friends’ chatting.  Karen hadn’t meant to sound so defeatist.  She never meant to sound that way.  It was just hard for her to always find her pep, which did feel ironic considering she was often surrounded by cheerful singing princesses.  She had a college degree, and not even a whimsical theater one.  She had majored in business so she would have solid footing, like her parents wanted. 

They hadn’t wanted her to move away to California after school, but she couldn’t let them control everything.

As she was absently watching Princess Tiana sing on the many screens, Karen found herself wondering if Disneyland was looking for costumed performers of that character yet.  That was a character she felt born to play, and not just because she was also black.  Like Tiana, Karen was determined to succeed and didn’t want or need help from anybody else.

The sea of humans mingled a bit near the front of the store after making their purchases and Karen and Jake watched the clock.  Only one more hour and they could be on their way out the door themselves.  Maybe Jake would still  have enough left  to watch her run through her lines via Skype, like the last seven or so times.  If not, there was always Alyssa.  Karen really couldn’t wait to go home.

Excuse me, a vaguely familiar voice said. Karen slowly blinked and looked over in the direction the sound had come from.  Somehow, within that blink of an eye, there was suddenly a tall, suave-looking blond guy amidst all the middle-aged people in city shirts.  She couldn’t quite say why she considered him suave, considering he was wearing slightly-holey jeans and a black, guitar t-shirt, but something about him made him stand out as other.

When he got closer to the counter where she stood, Karen noticed two significant things.  One, he actually had a little bit of silver in his hair, in his sideburns.  And two, she knew exactly why his voice had been familiar.  This suave-looking, blond customer was none other than Louis Bender, star of screen, smaller screen and every tabloid stand in America at least twice a month.  She did her best to hide both her excitement and her amusement.

Hi, how’s it going? he said when he approached Karen’s register.  I’m looking for something for a little boy.  My sister’s kid is having a birthday.  Up close, his green eyes were quite intense.  Karen thought about the last movie she’d seen him in, some World War II drama where he had to save a girl from German spies.  The movie screen hadn’t done his eyes justice.

Calmly, Karen went over and retrieved the stuffed monkey from the pile.  She handed it to Louis Bender.  This seems to be the hit of the day.

He smiled at her.  I think it’s perfect.  His eyes lingered on hers.  Her cheeks felt hot.  ‘Normal’ guys didn’t usually hold eye-contact like this with her.

You’re Louis Bender, aren’t you? Jake asked suddenly, breaking the spell.  He was leaning over toward Karen to get a better look at the man in front of her, grinning.  Oh man, I loved you on that show where you played that EMT who got into fights.

Mr. Bender nodded like he had heard that a million times.  Thanks. I’m glad you liked it.

Karen typed the code into the computer for the monkey and brought up the total.  Do you always wear shirts that match your name? she asked, eyeing the Fender logo on his t-shirt.

He looked down as Jake guffawed.  For a moment, Karen worried that she had offended the movie star, but when he raised his eyes back to hers, he was smiling again.  I hadn’t noticed.

He paid $30 for the monkey and declined a bag, holding it in the crook of his arm instead.  My other siblings have other kids, he said, putting on his sunglasses.  I’ll  probably need to come back.

Letting out a soft laugh, Karen nodded at him.  We’ll  probably be here.

Louis Bender reached a hand out for her and she took it.  They shook.  Oh, I am counting on that.

As soon as she got off work, Karen texted her best friend Alyssa to tell her what happened.  The two girls had known each other since high school in Virginia, and they both moved to California after graduating college, though Alyssa had continued on to law school.  They often joked that responsible, pragmatic Alyssa was going to become a lawyer so she could help protect the more carefree, adventurous Karen.  Besides, every famous actress needed a lawyer, right?

OMG, I can’t right now, Alyssa texted back.  Skype time when you get home.

Virtual audition practice would have to wait for another night.

When Karen got to her small apartment in Silver Lake, she finally allowed herself to freak out a little bit.  Louis Bender had touched her!  He said he would come back, too!  She hoped that she had seemed calm and normal to him.  Jake was the one who acted more like a fan.  Oh, hopefully, Louis liked that she didn’t act like a fan in front of him.  She was a fan, but she was also professional.

She looked at herself in the mirror, to give herself an appraisal before Skype.  Her brown, tightly-curled hair could use a comb.  It sat on her head, pointing in every direction.  Her amber-colored eyes were a little dazed, but with good reason.  But she knew one thing for sure: the grey Disney Store shirt would have to go.  She pulled it off and changed into a purple tank-top.  Now she looked much more like herself.

Skype started on her computer with the usual sigh noise.  Alyssa wasn’t on yet, so Karen made sure her microphone was adjusted the way she liked it, and made faces at herself with her webcam.  Jake popped online and immediately sent her a message.

Bender is into you! he declared, accompanied by about five grinning smiley faces.  It’s nice of him to take a break from his usual arm-candy to ogle you.

Karen snorted.  He did not ogle me, she typed briskly.  "You wanna video chat with me and Alyssa in a min?

You know it.

Stretching in her chair, Karen sat back and watched Alyssa’s name on her friends list, waiting for it to display as ‘available’.  Thankfully, it didn’t take long before her other friend arrived.  Karen clicked ‘call’ and Alyssa’s smiling face soon appeared on Karen’s computer screen.  Hey, sorry.  I’m using my phone because my computer is scanning.  Even with a phone’s web cam, Alyssa looked cute.  Unlike Karen, she was small and sort of pale, with auburn hair and freckles dotting her face.  She also wore glasses.  Not all of the time, but almost, because it made it easier for her to focus on work.  Or so she claimed.  So tell me more about Louis Bender.  Is he really tall in person, or is it a camera trick?

Oh, he’s tall, Karen said, laughing.  Hang on, let me add Jake.  He’s my witness.

She added Jake to the call and was not surprised by his enthusiasm.  Alyssa, you should be sad you were not there today.

He recounted his version of the day’s events and had both girls laughing.  Most of it was true, thankfully.  He did like to take liberties when storytelling sometimes, but he probably knew Karen would quickly correct him this time.

He’s definitely going to come back for you, Alyssa stated.  And I bet he won’t even buy anything.

Why me, though? Karen asked.  I’m pretty sure I was sweating up a storm after that group left.

Maybe he likes sweat, Jake said.

Eww...

Maybe he just thinks you’re pretty, Alyssa said.  He may be a famous actor, but he still has eyes.  And, with the sort of ladies he’s been seen around with, maybe you were a breath of fresh air for him.

Karen rested her cheek on her hand.  I dunno.  It all just kind of happened.  He didn’t even ask my name.

Finality, said Jake.  If he knew your name already, there wouldn’t be much for him to come in asking, now would there?  Plus, if your name was Laquisha or something, it would be a good enough reason for him to forget about you.

Jake, your sister’s name is Laquisha, Karen said, laughing in disbelief.

As I said.  Jake chuckled.  I think he thought you looked like Zoe Saldana and he wanted to cast you as his sex pot costar in his next epic.

Karen crinkled her nose.  If he wanted a girl who looked like Zoe Saldana, why not just cast Zoe Saldana?

You’d be cheaper.

Alyssa slowly shook her head.  All I know is, he obviously found you attractive.  When he comes back, maybe you can ask him why.

Blushing, Karen had to smile.  Her friends were always complimenting her.  It was nice to have them close at hand, especially on days where she was questioning herself.  She hadn’t been questioning herself before, but she was now.  Do you really think he’ll come back?

Yes! both Jake and Alyssa shouted.  Karen’s speakers buzzed from the loud sound.  If I were you, I’d wear your cutest Disney Store shirt every day until he comes, said Alyssa.  Just wash it every day, when you get home.

Jake tisked.  EVERY Disney Store shirt is cute.  Are you kidding?

The trio of friends chatted for about an hour more, mostly about their days and their upcoming plans for the summer.  Before long, Karen had to sign off and get some sleep.  She had a long day of work ahead of her, after all.  That’s right.  Work was the only