The Celebrity's Ex-Wife

Chapter 1

“Julie Devies?” I stood straight as my name was called. After a long day of waiting for thirty-nine other contestants to finish their auditions, it was finally my turn.

I gulped as I made my way to the stage. Red luxurious curtains, gold carpets and all works of art hung on the walls. There were dozens of seats fitted into the rehearsal hall. In the front row sat the judges. Highly professionals, I was told.

A lady in a black cardigan had a cold smile on her face, her dark hair flowing down the sides. Seated beside was a man in his 40s looking through papers, wearing a polo shirt and thick reading glasses. The last judge surprised me, she was a young blonde with piercing blue eyes. She looked around my age, surprisingly young for a professional judge.

She folded her arms together and crossed her legs, a neutral look on her face. I got up the stairs and positioned myself in the middle of the stage. The spotlight loomed over me menacingly, the white light capturing the full attention of the judges.

“Tell us a little about yourself.” The female judge in her cardigan questioned, her fingers drumming on the table.

I forced a wobbly smile on my face, trying my best to speak with full confidence. “Hello, my name is Julie Devies. I have acted in a few small roles back in New York City, before I moved to L.A to pursue my dreams of becoming an actress.” Or maybe to get away from my past...

I thought as I watched the judges take down notes. “Thank you. We will now proceed to the script. You will now be reading the lines of Juliet in a scene from the play, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Roxanne will pass you a script.” The blonde, well, Roxanne, stood up and walked over to the stage, passing me a set of notes. “Start from... here.”

Roxanne scanned the page and moved her finger to the 7th line in a scene of Romeo and Juliet. She saw how nervous I was and gave me a reassuring smile.

“Just take it as auditioning in a school play.” She laughed softly and returned to her seat. The male judge gestured for a young man to come on stage. He looked equally as nervous as I was.

“Alex here will be your Romeo for today, read through the lines thoroughly. We are looking for people with passion, and would use all their heart to act out the lines.” The lady in the cardigan spoke again, hands pushing her bangs to the back. “Whenever you're ready.” she ordered.

I glanced at Dave, scanning his features. He had ruffled gold hair, with dark blue eyes to match. Wearing a white tee and a pair of jeans, he looked rather cute.

He looked at me with approval, nodding his head. He pointed his index finger, mouthing one. Followed by two and three. He gave the script a quick run through and started reading aloud.

ROMEO

If I profane with my unworthiest hand

This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:

My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand

To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

JULIET

Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,

Which mannerly devotion shows in this;

For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,

And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.

ROMEO

Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

JULIET

Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.

ROMEO

O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;

They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

JULIET

Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.

ROMEO

Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.

Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged.

JULIET

Then have my lips the sin that they have took.

ROMEO

Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!

Give me my sin again.

“You kiss by the book.” I finished, a blush forming up my cheeks as Dave kissed my hand. There was pin drop silence.

Then, Roxanne started slow clapping. The male judge joined in, soon forming a round of applause. We held hands and did a great bow, grinning from ear to ear.

“You two were brilliant.” Roxanne laughed, giving us a wink. “Marvellous. I haven't seen such talent in forever.” The man said loudly, I felt my insides squeezing into a knot.

The lady with the cardigan pursed her lips, she looked sour and unsastisfied. The other judges seemed to realise that too, and the laughter and clapping immediately died down.

Dave and I glanced quickly at each other, both frowning. What was she waiting for?

“As the head of the judges, I will represent us to say that you've put on quite a show... you have the role." She smiled bluntly. Dave and I highfived each other, screaming with joy. “...not you Ms Devies.”

She smiled coldly. I immediately stumbled backwards with surprise. “What do you-” She took my suprise to her advantage, interupting immediately. “I'm afraid you do not have the standards needed for an actress. My condolences and please leave immediately.”

I felt her words hit me, and my confidence shattered. I didn't know whether to cry or give the lady some sass. The other two judges started arguing at once.

“She's the best actress we've ever had!" The lady lifted a hand to gesture silence, the other judges silenced, but unwillingly. “My say is final. Alex, come over so we can discuss your first movie. Julie, please make your leave before I do it for you.” She smirked as I gritted my teeth.

I had a strong urge to slap her, but I could tell that that wouldn't change her mind. I exited the grand hall, earning looks of pity from the other judges. My first audition turned into a failure. I sighed as I felt a quick vibration in the left pocket of my jeans. I picked up my phone and checked my texts.

Hey, honey. How did the job audition go?

I sighed as I doomed the moment I had to tell my Mom the news. I began to text back.

Not very well.

Before I could tell her more, hands grabbed me from behind.

They've found me.