The Green Room

Chapter One

Author's note - Hello, everyone! I hope you enjoy this story. Don't worry, even if theatre's not your thing, you can still enjoy this story! Also, dedicated to irishrose for being awesome!

Ophelia was walking back to her apartment with a spring in her step. Likely this had something to do with the script she was carrying tucked firmly under her arm. She was clutching it close to her with a possessiveness that suggested that she was worried that the cold December air wanted to snatch it from her grasp.

Now, she smiled as she bounded up the stairs and through the door of the building, smiling at the concierge on the way. He grinned back.

"Well, Ms. Stearns, what makes you so happy today?" the portly man called light-heartedly as she practically danced her way to the elevator.

"I got my script today," she called back, showing it to him proudly.

"For your play?" he asked.

Ophelia punched the "up" button as she sang her response. "Yes."

"Which role did you get again?" asked the concierge. Ophelia knew that he was already fully aware of which role she'd somehow managed to land, but was most likely humouring her out of fatherly affection.

Ophelia grinned as she stepped into the elevator. "Lady Macbeth," she called. He chuckled. As the doors closed, Ophelia continued. "The leading lady."

Then a smile soared across her face and she punched the air for pure joy. Against all the odds, she - a nobody in theatre, auditioning for only an ensemble role - had landed a leading role in a fabulous play with a prestigious theatre company.

Then a twist of unhappiness caused her to hug her script even tighter. Perhaps it hadn't been exactly a fair audition, what with the favour she'd done the director, but the role was still hers.

"Yes," she growled to herself. "It's mine. I'm talented and I landed the role, no matter which strings I had to pull. It's still mine."

So she was smiling again as she opened the door of her apartment. But before she even had the chance to take off her shoes, she heard a beguiling voice call from the bedroom:

"Ophelia..."

She paused, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment. She recognized the voice. Putting her precious script down on the table in the tiny living room, she strode on slightly trembling legs into the bedroom. What she found there shocked her a little.

Lyle was lazing in the bed, completely naked,  when she walked in. Her mouth dropped open and he sat up.

"What?" he asked, chuckling. "Something on your mind?"

"What are you doing here?" said Ophelia, gaping.

Lyle laughed. It simultaneously caused a warm feeling to spread throughout Ophelia's body, centring between her legs, and a shuddering feeling of disgust to ripple through her.

"I thought you might want to repay me for that little favour I did you," said Lyle.

Ophelia unbuttoned her coat and set it on a chair. "I thought last time was a one-time thing," she murmured.

"It was - that is, if you only want one role for the rest of your life," said Lyle. He sat up and regarded Ophelia in a way that made her shiver with nervousness.

She looked down.

He laughed, but this time it was soft and dangerous. "I think you know how this works, Ophelia," he said quietly. "As long as you continue to give me everything I want, I'll continue to give you everything you want."

She didn't look up.

"Come on, Ophelia, I can have you thrown out of the play. Your understudy is likely just a competent. And no one would question such an esteemed director as myself tossing out a green actress like you," he said, leaning forward. His clever blue eyes were alight with craftiness. "And besides, what's the harm? I dare say you enjoyed it last time. Come on."

Ophelia looked up and with quivering fingers took off her scarf.

"That's it. Good girl," purred Lyle.

Now she kicked off her high heels and began to unbutton her blouse. When it was gone, she unzipped her skirt and stepped out of it. Looking up, she found Lyle grinning at her. She shivered yet again, lifting her hands to unhook her bra.

"No - let me have that pleasure," said Lyle. "Come here and lie down next to me, Ophelia."

Ophelia walked over to the bed and climbed in. As she did, Lyle grabbed her roughly and tossed her onto her back, his fingers undoing her bra and removing her underwear with ease. As he kissed her, he growled into her ear:

"Ophelia, enjoy it."

And so Ophelia did. As much as she felt like a dirty whore for it, some sinful part of her enjoyed him. But the enjoyment faded quickly as, after he was done, Lyle got up and immediately put his pants back on. Ophelia felt as though he should throw money at her and then leave, having made use of her services.

"Good day, Ms. Stearns," he said, smiling. "I will see you in rehearsal tomorrow. And who knows - I might see you afterwards, too."

Ophelia looked away in disgust. Lyle began to whistle as he left. She heard him shut the door behind him as his whistling faded away.

Getting out of bed, she traipsed out of her bedroom and to the shower, not bothering to put on any clothing. Only when she was safely ensconced in the warm water did she heave an enormous sigh. She turned her head and sniffed her shoulder, her lip curling in disdain as she smelled Lyle's strong but lovely-smelling cologne clinging to her skin.

So she scrubbed her entire body, scouring her flesh until it was pink and inflamed and smelled only of soap. Then she shut off the water. Heaving another sigh, she ambled out of the bathroom. She didn't particularly feel like going back into her bedroom to find some clothes, so she simply pulled on a terry-cloth bathrobe and went into the small living room.

With nothing else to do, she decided to do a little research on the other actors that had been cast. Most were names that were familiar to her - veteran, strong actors. But she nevertheless flipped open her laptop and began to type.

Most of her research proved useless except to pass time. The fact that she discovered that Paul Flynn - playing Duncan - had been divorced three times was of little help. The fact that Leonard Burkhart - portraying Macduff - had a dog named Rusty was an adorable anecdote but would not help her better understand the way he would be playing the character.

The only information she gleaned that she found interesting was when she looked up Henry Taylor, the man who had landed the title role. She already knew that he was a theatre heavyweight with many roles to his name, but she gawped as she took in the enormous list he'd been credited with.

"Shit," she breathed. She wondered how he'd react upon finding out that his leading lady was an unseasoned no-name.

Then she shrugged and closed her laptop.

"Oh well," she sighed, and got up. She would find out tomorrow at the first rehearsal.