Action (DNF)

Chapter 7: Interview

Clay POV.

I’d spent the morning with George, with me explaining a little bit about the dinner tomorrow night so that he was prepared for some of it. We then switched between just talking and playing some of the board games that the brunette had. I hadn’t played board games since I was a teenager and it was honestly quite enjoyable, not that either of us took the game seriously.

But now I was sitting in a meeting room at a hotel somewhere downtown. A lot of interviewers, reporters, and photographers had turned up for the charity auction, seeing as it was one of the biggest events to happen in the UK yearly, and all of them had been organised to stay at this hotel.

This meeting room, along with several others, had all been converted into rooms perfect for interviews. There was a backdrop showing a picture of the outside of the theatre where the auction was held, with several chairs in front of it, so that multiple people could be interviewed at a time. Another chair was facing the one I was sitting on which was meant for the interviewer.

Along the length of the wall, out of sight of where the cameras would be, was a snack table, including sandwiches, fruits, bottles of water, and a bunch of other food. It was meant to be for the interviewer and the crew, since they’d often have to go hours between being able to leave the room, but I’d been allowed to grab myself something while I waited.

There had been a thirty minute break between myself and the person who was interviewed before me, so the crew and the interviewer had all left for a while to stretch their legs. I’d beaten them back because I turned up slightly early, but I was fine with waiting.

Interviews were always the same. For my first few, back when I was a teenager and in my first movie, I’d always been tense. I’d sit rigidly on the edge of my seat, with sweat always streaking down my face, which generally had to be edited out afterwards. Now though, I am older. I always relaxed in the seat and always felt the interviews were more like conversations.

My attention had been drifting from thing to thing, sometimes talking to the few members of the crew around, or just focusing on my food in front of me, that was until I heard the door open. A female interviewer entered the room, noticing that I was here and giving me an apologetic look.

“Sorry that I left you waiting.” She muttered as she took a seat facing me. “I wasn’t expecting you to be here as early as you were.”
“It’s fine.” I reassured her with a smile. “If you need to have a few minutes to get ready I could go for five minutes.” The interviewer smiled, but shook her head.

“No need, I’m fine.” After a small, exhausted sounding breath, she reached her hand out to shake mine. “Anyway, my name is Amy Mallard, I am going to be interviewing you today.”
“I’m Clay.” I returned the greeting, although since she was interviewing me she’d already know that. All that I really knew was the company I was being interviewed by.

“Are you both ready to start?” A man standing behind the camera questioned, leaning over so that he could see both of us.
Amy looked over at me and I gave her a nod, so she looked back to the camera man and smiled. “I believe we are both ready.”

He nodded and made an announcement to the rest of the crew. “We are recording in five… four…” When he got down to three he just began doing hand signals, so that when the camera came in, there wouldn’t be any trace of his voice. Me and the interviewer watched the entire countdown, and when his last finger went down, she began a greeting.

“Hello, I am Amy Mallard here with StarsUK.com and today I am going to be interviewing famous actor Clay Smith.” Her accent was an eccentric Irish, and it seemed she played it up slightly for the cameras. She aimed at the camera, but then her attention turned towards me. “Clay, it is great of you to be able to meet up for an interview today. How are you?”

“I’m good thank you,” I grinned at the camera. “How are you doing Amy?”
“I’m doing great, and I am here to ask you about the charity auction tomorrow night, since it is the biggest event of the year here in the UK. But first I was wanting to ask how you are enjoying the UK? ”

“It is a great place,” I smiled. “It’s my first time here, and production actually wrapped up a couple days ago so I have time to check out the sights. All the history, and culture, and people are vastly different to the US though.”

“Well it’s great to know that you love it,” the interviewer beamed at my explanation. “And is it true what’s being said online about you travelling a little between the Charity auction and the premiere of your new film so that you can meet your fans?”
“Yes it is Amy. I always like being able to meet new people.” I stated.

Then I turned my attention away from her for a moment and towards the camera. “There is information on my Twitter page about where and I am visiting for anybody who is interested!”
Amy chuckled lightly at what I said before clutching the cue cards in her hand, which told her what she was meant to ask me.

“So, for the Charity Auction,” she smiled, now moving us over to what the interview was mainly meant to be about. “This is the first time a bunch of different actors from the US are coming, including some people I heard are close personal friends of yours, Sapnap Armstrong and Karl Jacobs. How are you feeling about being able to experience this well known event with them?”

“It’s great that I am able to spend time with them. We often all have to travel when we are filming so it’s rare that we actually get to spend time together.” I admitted. “But a lot of us are all going to be seeing each other tomorrow night and that’s always great. My friends; Sapnap, Karl, and some others, are all like family to me.”

“Are you thinking of putting a bid on anything? There is a range of exclusive art, jewellery, memorabilia from famous times and places in history. Anything you are interested in?”
“All of the items that are at the auction aren’t announced until they are brought on stage, so I guess it is one of those situations where I will bid on something if I like it.” I shrugged.

Amy gave a nod, flipping over to another cue card. My expression grew slightly wary as a mischievous and maybe even scandalous grin grew on her face. “So, all people invited are welcome to bring a plus one.” She stated, making me tense up as I figured out what the question was going to be.

“You are a well known Hollywood bachelor Clay, but are you thinking of bringing anyone with you to the auction? A lucky lady? Or man if you prefer.” She questioned. I thought about it for a moment, trying to decide my best way of answering.

If I told her that I was bringing someone then the internet would blow up as they tried to figure out who it was, making up celebrity couples or guessing anyone I’ve been seen within ten feet of. If I didn’t tell her that I was bringing someone and nobody found out until we walked down the red carpet, then the internet would blow up.

Neither sounded like an overly enticing option, but a smirk grew on my face as I leaned back on my chair. “Actually yes I have met somebody.” I stated smugly. “Tomorrow they will be accompanying me to the charity auction. Not as a date though… just as a friend.” I could honestly feel my heart beating in my chest as I said that, but I didn’t know why.

The interviewer however, took this as a challenge, she set down her cue cards and gave me a smile before moving onto her next question, this time especially about the person who I would be having join me at the charity auction.
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