Fake It || H.S ||

Chapter 17

October 17th

We had another interview today. The boys would be doing a televised interview whilst I was doing an internet based one.  I was nervous and did not want the drama filled events of the first interview to carry over into this one. Even so, I relaxed a bit knowing that most of my mistakes would be edited out before the final production would be uploaded. 

I had only seen Harry that morning at the company building and we exchanged numbers.Since we'd meet, we had spent a large, mandatory amount of time together and never really had to coordinate apart. 

With the events of the previous interview on everyone's mind, we realized that this second one was scheduled disastrously close and these events will still be up in the air. Fiona quizzed me on a few plausible questions about my health and why I'm prone to fainting. I was to express that I was simply overwhelmed and taken by surprise. I was not up for expressing personal sentiments but, by being thrown into the lion's den, I had no choice. 

On the way there, my phone lit up with a message along with the sounding  notification lightly interrupting the flow of the 1975 coming into my ears. Checking it, I saw Harry's name and message just under the white stamped time. My stomach did flips when I realized in less than 40 minutes I would be surrounded by lights, microphones, and peering eyes. 

Harry: Relax. Don't get overwhelmed this time and take things one question at a time                                                                                                                                                                                                      ;) xx

I rolled my eyes with a light smile. 

Me: I will. I'll need a large burger after this for sure.... With an iced tea 

He did not reply as quickly as he had to the previous text so I locked my screen and resumed looking out the window. Fiona called for me to turn my music down and gave me a few details that any caring manager would have given their client earlier. The place was in one of Seattle's older locations. Judging by the relatively old buildings and houses we were passing, we were right in the heart of the city's founding. I would be interviewing with a studio that produces celebrity interviews to its 40 million subscribers online. The segment was called "Spotlight: Seattle" and apparently many other cities had these "Spotlight" segments to spread light on either local artists or new artists that needed more recognition. 

I listened to her practically mono toned voice practically recite the information before she finally returned her attention to her phone and I continued to focus on the sights peering from the other side of the window. Soon enough, the nearing familiar notification sound played through my earbuds once again. 

Harry: Just this once, I'll oblige to your weird fancy of chilled tea if you promise to relax.

Me: Fine. Deal. We have to do some random "sightings" for publicity tomorrow anyway. Might as well make it food related. 

Harry: I'd love nothing more.                                                                        

 I sat there reading over his messages and signature 'xx' after them when the vehicle came to a halt. Fiona silently got out of her side while I opened the door for myself and exited as well. The air was cold and I scurried inside, not wanting to sound sick during the interview. 

The building was small, only about 10 or so stories high.  My interview was on the first floor in an old ballroom.  Brad, an employee, greeted us in front of an elegant, large, pink marble desk in the lobby. He offered me some quick snacks and sodas and told me he'd be escorting me to the ballroom for my interview. 

Fiona mumbled a few words before taking a seat in the lobby and pulling out her phone. The driver of the company car hobbled into the lobby as well and sat quietly near her, his cap folded in his hands. I followed behind Brad, looking around at all the old furniture peeping from inside the many rooms.

"This place is cool huh?" he asked as he took note of my interest. I nodded in response, my eyes fixed on an eerie portrait of a young boy covering an entire wall. "This place used to be an old hotel back in the 1920's. The Great depression hit and it was empty for a few years until the Bolden Family purchased it in the 90's. They still haven't cleaned out like 90% of the first floor so everything you see is legitimate." He placed his hands on his hips and ended his statement with a nod. I mumbled a 'wow' and continued to follow him and take in the surroundings. Before I knew it, I'd nearly ran into my guide.

"This is the ball room. It's slightly renovated for proms and parties and stuff so you probably won't be very entertained here." he chuckled. I nodded and peaked into the room to notice a curly  brunette with a red themed plaid shirt on. Her smile was bright and she noticed me immediately. 

"Hi, Sephora. Please, come in." Her voice was friendly and calmed me. As I fully entered the room I noticed she was seated on a simple brown stool and that there was an empty one for me to use. There were many artificial lights set up just out of frame for the two camera's angles. The room had a surprising amount of natural light coming in from it's many windows considering how cold and cloudy it was outside.

"Hello, nice to meet you. I assume you're Angie?" I asked, trying to return the smile she'd delivered to me. She nodded greatly, her curls bouncing around her plump face. "Yes. Please, sit. We have a lot to cover so we can properly introduce you to Seattle's Spotlight."