Book one | Alexa Harvey, a celebrated actress known for her fierce independence and uncompromising nature, has always steered clear of the sports world. But when her latest film role requires her to shadow Jude Bellingham, a rising football star wit...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The call came on a rainy afternoon, one of those unrelenting downpours that seemed to wash away any remnants of summer. Alexa had been sitting by the window of her Madrid apartment, watching the rain streak down the glass in thick rivulets.
Her laptop lay forgotten on the small table beside her, the script she'd been revising blurred in her mind as the hours dragged on. She'd been so lost in her thoughts that when her phone rang, it startled her, pulling her out of her melancholic reverie.
The name on the screen was familiar, but it still made her heart jump to her throat. She had been waiting for this call for what felt like an eternity—days that had stretched into weeks, filled with nothing but anxiety and doubt. As she pressed the answer button, she held her breath, her body tensing with a mixture of hope and fear.
"Alexa?" the voice on the other end was warm, tinged with a hint of excitement that sent a ripple of anticipation through her.
"Yes, this is Alexa," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
"It's Elena from the casting office. I'm calling about the role of Lucía in *Fuego en el Alma*."
Alexa's breath caught, her heart pounding so loudly she could barely hear anything else. Fuego en el Alma was the project she'd been dreaming about ever since she first auditioned. A period drama set in the tumultuous backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, it was the kind of role that would push her limits, challenge her to explore depths she hadn't touched before. More than that, it was the kind of story that resonated deeply with her, a narrative about love, loss, and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.
She'd spent weeks preparing for the audition, pouring over historical records, reading memoirs, trying to capture the essence of a woman caught in the midst of a conflict that would shape her country's future. When she walked into that room, she had given everything, leaving a piece of herself behind in the hope that it would be enough.
But after the audition, there had been nothing.
Just silence.
Days of waiting, jumping every time her phone buzzed, staring at her email inbox as if she could will a response into existence. She had started to lose hope, convincing herself that the role had slipped through her fingers, that someone else had come in and blown them all away.
Now, hearing Elena's voice, all those doubts flooded back. What if it was another rejection? What if she wasn't enough?
"The directors and producers were very impressed with your audition," Elena continued, the words feeling like a lifeline. "They've made their decision, and they want you for the role. Congratulations, Alexa—you're going to be our Lucía."
For a moment, Alexa couldn't speak. She felt like time had stopped, the rain outside ceasing its relentless patter as the world narrowed down to the single fact that Elena had just confirmed. She had the role. She was going to be Lucía.
