His Last Chance

Chapter 36

2 weeks ago, I put my pen to the paper.

A contract was signed.

I at least have my job for the next 12 months secured, even if everything else seems uncertain.

I don't know if I made the right choice or not.

But there's no turning back now.

I need to start preparing myself for the next project.

"Hello everyone!" Martin called to the crowd before him. "It's amazing to meet you all and I'm really looking forward to working on this film with you. We won't get into anything too heavy today, just give everyone a chance to get to know each other. I trust that you have all been assigned your roles, so we'll hand out the scripts, and you can take this evening to familiarise yourselves with your characters. Tomorrow, we'll meet here at 8 and we'll do a sit-down read through of the script. Then, we'll get the gears turning from there. But for now everyone, welcome to the studio!"

He's met with a wave of applause from his cast. Timothee Chalamet, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, even Meryl Streep. So many amazing actors, standing before him, praising him for the work he is yet to do.

He turns to me, a giddy look on his face. "Well? How was it? How did I do?"

"You did amazing, Martin," I say as I move forward to give him a hug. "It was inspirational, aspirational and I'm sure many other words ending in 'tional'."

A choked laugh comes from him, but his cheeks are flushed red.

"Genuinely, you're going to be incredible."

"I just wish you were gonna be here with me," he smiles sadly, and I match that remorseful expression.

"Me too Martini Man. But you know I'll only be at the other end of the phone."

"Do you really have to go?"

"I do. Jamie was right. This is an opportunity that I just can't pass up on."

He nods slowly and sighs, "I understand. I don't like it, but I understand."

"I have every faith that we're going to be back together again in a year, working on whatever amazing project we get handed next."

"Bitch you'd better be," he pulls me in for another hug with teary eyes. "This feels weird. It feels wrong. Like we're saying goodbye."

"You'd better not be saying goodbye to me right now. I'm going to be calling you as soon as I get to Spain and I will literally be texting you every single day. If I don't hear back from you then I'll spam you until I either assume that you're dead or that you've been kidnapped by Chalamet but really you haven't been kidnapped and you're just running off into the sunset together."

He leans back to stare at me with bemused eyes. "Well that would just be heaven."

I grin and hug him tightly one last time.

"Have you got everything?" When he releases me, he wipes some fallen tears then crosses his arms.

"Yeah I think so. I was very tempted to just leave a few things scattered around so you don't forget about me, but I figured that might be annoying, so I didn't. Or did I?" I wiggle my eyebrows and grin.

"Girl, I swear to god, you're gonna be the death of me one of these days. Now get out of here before you miss your plane."

I pull my small suitcase towards me. "I've got to load this into the back of the car, then go meet Jamie back at the house to grab the last few bags before we go to the airport."

"So he's going with you then?"

"Yep. Didn't even have to try to convince him, he agreed to it straight away."

"Wow. He really loves you."

I don't think we've actually said it to each other since getting back together, not yet, but I do feel it. I love Jamie. And I'm pretty sure he loves me too.

"Yeah. I think he does."

We stand there for a few more moments, chatting and saying our goodbyes, but time's ticking on.

"Y/n, as much as I love you and want you to stay, you really need to shift your ass or you're never going to make it on time."

"I know," I say sadly as tears flood my eyes once more. "I love you Martini Man."

"I love you too, you crazy bitch. I'll see you later."

I grab the handle of my suitcase and start heading for the door before the floodgates open. When I turn back one last time, I send Martin my middle finger as a parting gift, and he grins and sends his own back.

I'll see him again soon.

It's 12 months. Not a lifetime.