behind the velvet rope | billie eilish wlw

CH5/Part 3

Claire arrived at the café early, her nerves buzzing quietly beneath her skin. She chose a seat by the window, the late evening light pouring in, casting everything in a soft amber glow. The small buzz of the surrounding conversations faded into the background as she ran her fingers over the rim of her coffee cup, trying to collect her thoughts.

The door swung open, and she spotted Samuel Hayworth right away—tall, clean-cut, with an air of casual professionalism. He caught her eye and offered a friendly nod before making his way over.

"Mr. Hayworth," Claire greeted him as he took a seat across from her, offering him a polite smile.

"Please, call me Sam," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "We're going to be working together, so no need for formalities."

She nodded, feeling the formality slip from the conversation already, but she held onto a bit of reserve. "Sam," she repeated, adjusting slightly in her seat. "I appreciate you taking the time to meet me."

"Well, I'm the one who should be thanking you," he replied, his tone full of genuine admiration. "Your script is something else, Claire. It's exactly the kind of story I've been looking for."

Claire smiled, letting herself feel the warmth of the compliment, but she quickly shifted to a more business-like tone. "I wanted to discuss my involvement in the project. As much as I'd love to be hands-on, I'm very wrapped up in my work in the music industry at the moment. It's where most of my energy is going. That being said, I still care deeply about the script and would like to follow the process and meet the director to understand their perspective on it"

Sam leaned back in his chair, visibly pleased. "That's more than reasonable," he said, nodding. "I think we can make that work. Actually, I already have someone in mind for the director's chair."

"Oh?" Claire raised an eyebrow, curious. She wasn't sure what she expected from him, but the idea that a director had already been considered caught her slightly off guard.

"Yeah," Sam continued, a small smile tugging at his lips. "This person is incredibly experienced. They've got a knack for capturing nuanced emotional stories, and I trust them completely with this one. I think they'll be able to bring that atmosphere—the bohemian, messy, beautiful feel of it—right onto the screen."

Claire nodded, feeling a subtle flicker of something in her chest— Was that a hint of regret? She had spent countless hours on this script, pouring her heart into every scene. Part of her had wondered—just for a moment—if she should have pushed harder, maybe even suggested herself as the director. She had the vision, after all. But as quickly as the thought arrived, she dismissed it. She was already booked solid for the upcoming season, with projects lined up in the music world that would demand her full attention. Taking on something as massive as a feature film, with all its complexities, was out of the question— completely delusional, she told herself.

"This is probably for the best," she said aloud, almost as much to herself as to Sam. "I'm confident you will do it justice. I just want to make sure we're on the same page, creatively-speaking."

"I'm sure you will be. I'll arrange for you to meet Luca once we move forward." Sam's smile broadened, and Claire could see he was already thinking ahead, anticipating the success of the film.

They talked a little more, discussing potential timelines, the logistics of the project, and what steps would come next. Their conversation flowed easily, both of them relaxed, satisfied with the terms.

As they stood to leave, Sam extended his hand. "I'm really looking forward to working with you, Claire. This is going to be special."

"Likewise, Sam," she replied, shaking his hand warmly. "I'm excited to see where this goes."

They parted ways on the street outside the café, the last rays of sunlight turning the buildings around them to gold. As she walked away, Claire's mind buzzed with a blend of excitement and lingering uncertainty. She had given up a chance to direct, but perhaps that was for the best— focus on the season ahead , she reminded herself.

Once she was a few blocks away, she pulled out her phone and quickly dialed a number. It rang twice before Paul's familiar voice answered.

"Claire," he said, his tone warm, always a mentor, always supportive. "What's going on?"

"I just left a meeting with Samuel Hayworth," she said, a smile playing on her lips. "He wants to produce my film."

She excitedly told her now close friend about the meeting and her feelings about the project. As their call ended she looked at her phone screen.

A text notification standing out on her phone.

"meet me at 10, my place. we need to talk" – Billie

She smiled to herself before taking her phone to her pocket, taking in the city's air.