The end of the day meeting between the director and the cast was just as tedious, not to mention long, as Veronika had feared. He went on and on praising the leading man for the wonderful job he did fake-fighting the atomic monster, praised the special effects guys for painting such an amazingly realistic looking mutant octopus - even though the machine that was supposed to power it had broken down and the star had just wiggled the tentacles around himself while pretending to be fighting it - and forecast an amazing return for everyone and all sorts of increased star power for his leading men and lady.<br/><br/>No apology for cutting her only line, Veronika noted, fuming all the while as everyone pretended to be happy with all of this. Sure, she could have most likely fixed the monster's engine in a few minutes but she wasn't supposed to know how to fix machines. And besides, she certainly wasn't getting paid enough to do this man any favors. This movie could flop for all she cared since nobody would be asking who she was afterwards!<br/><br/>She was getting up to leave at the end of the meeting when the director called out several names of actors he wanted to speak to personally. She froze and swore under her breath as her name was the last one called. She sighed and returned to her seat and waited as he spoke to everyone one by one in his office.<br/><br/>She made small talk with the others who were waiting while he took his time with each one. Some he was obviously yelling at. Some he was praising. Some he was begging to return in the sequel, which he was sure the studio would green light when they saw how amazing this first one was. Finally it was her turn. With a sigh of dread she stepped into his office, leaving the door open. Not that that gave her any real security, they were practically the only ones left in the lot now.<br/><br/>"So babycakes," The man said. "We need to talk branding. Now I know you're sore about losing your big scene but I think we can make it up to you in the sequel but we gotta have someone we can market a little more. I mean your last name it's a bunch of commie consonants that nobody wants to hear so, listen to this,<em>Atomic Beach 2</em>starring Vicky Angel. What do you think?"<br/><br/>"Vicky Angel...I..." it honestly wasn't so bad but she didn't like it coming from him, still she couldn't protest too much, "well I guess is not horrible - wait, you said starring?" All other thoughts left her head.<br/><br/>"That's right babe. Starring. I like what I've seen from you. And I know the cameras love you. So all you gotta do is show me you've got the chops to be a leading lady and we're set."<br/><br/>"Yes, yes of course I do, uh." She paused. "How do I-"<br/><br/>"Well let's try out one of the scenes. Okay, in this scene you've come to see your boy toy at work, he's a bigshot banker who never has time for you, that's why you end up at the beach, see, and you're doing your best to get him to appreciate you. Let's say i'm the boyfriend. Okay. Action!"<br/><br/>Veronika, Vicky she supposed, instantly was in character. "Oh Bobby!" She cooed at him, using the name of the hero from the first film, strutting around the desk, all trace of a Russian accent gone instantly. "I thought maybe you and me could go out on a picnic today, what do you say?"<br/><br/>"I dunno doll, I gotta lotta work to do here." He said.<br/><br/>"Oh but Bobby it will be like when we first met, you remember?" She lifted his hands from the papers on the desk and slid into his lap, kicking her legs up over the side of his chair and smiling a dazzling smile at him. "Out on the beach, lots of sun, everything so beautiful and free and -"<br/><br/>"Oh baby that does sound nice, maybe just today.." he leaned in to kiss her.<br/><br/>All the while though, Valentina's spy instincts had never left. Her eyes were everywhere, constantly, and she'd been reading the notes on his desk while pretending to be fixated on him. Several of them were jumping out to her. There were marks for what to do with each actor and actress. She noted quickly that Bobby's girlfriend from this movie was noted as coming back for the sequel. And she noted that next to her name it said - cut, too lippy. She narrowed her eyes. This wasn't an audition at all!<br/><br/>"Wait!" She said bringing a finger up quickly to put between their mouths before he could kiss her. She couldn't do anything about the hand on her ass, but she grabbed the other one before it could reach her breasts. "I want it in writing." She said sternly.<br/><br/>"What?" The director seemed stunned.<br/><br/>"This new part. I want it in writing." She glared at him, struggling with his hand as it did its best to push past her own and reach her breasts.<br/><br/>"Now that's not a great attitude. And you were doing so well too."<br/><br/>"Yes, doing well at being a sucker." She tried to get up. His hand around her legs gripping her backside wouldn't let up as she struggled. "Let me go!"<br/><br/>"Oh I'll let you go all right, just after I've had what you're here for." He dove in for a kiss again, she did all she could to keep him off. But if she really hurt him she knew she'd be done in Hollywood, and if she revealed how good she was at fighting well there would be some hard questions. But if she let him have his way, then, well there might be some harder ones if he got that hand around to the front of her waist...<br/><br/>She was considering just knocking him across the head and trying to black him out when she heard footsteps. Someone was still here!<br/><br/>"Help!" She called out. "Help!" Her second scream was muffled as he finally pushed her hand aside and kissed her full on the lips! "Mmmmf!" She protested, praying that whoever was coming was actually going to help her and not just leave her like this, where she'd be forced to either disable him or come to some even less pleasant arrangement!