"Cut!"

Julia Ogden exhaled, wiping her brow and moving immediately from the glare of the cameras, into the cool shade. She was content to sit down on the roots of the tree that cast the shadow for a while, watching the bustle of the set, the light chatter that arose from it. As a rule, Julia was quite the social butterfly, but seven hours of filming with the blazing sun beating down upon her black costume had drained the life out of her.

Biased as she was, Julia had to admit New York City was breathtaking. It truly was the city of a million stories waiting to be told. Upon arriving in the city for the first time four years ago, Julia had been stunned into silence by the magnificence of the golden sun sinking below the skyline, leaving rhubarb-pink and fiery red-orange clouds in its path. She had, naturally, been homesick for Toronto, but the buzz of constant traffic, honking horns and conversations was familiar and comforting. The skyscrapers towered high above her, caressing the sky and twinkling brightly, their silvery sheen reflecting the neon lights of the cars rushing through the streets. It had taken her the space of a year to get used to New York, but she found herself finally able to expertly navigate the city. She finally felt she somewhat belonged and was no longer an outsider.

Of course, living in America was a challenge. In Canada, she had felt as if she had more of a private life. There were noticeably less reporters and paparazzi, and never before had she been stopped in the street for a photo or an autograph. Nowadays, she had to fight her way through swarms of people simply to dash into the grocery store tucked on the corner in order to pick up a carton of milk. There were endless parties, personal invitations, important award shows, and interviews. Everything in America was larger, flashier, and diverse, and Julia much preferred her quiet life in Canada. That said, moving to the States had been a vital step upwards in her career, as her agent had forthrightly put it. Julia agreed, and despite being the punch line of endless jokes about igloos, maple syrup, and hockey, she didn't regret her move. She was now doing what she loved most and had dreamed about when she was just a girl- acting.

Julia's thoughts were rudely interrupted by the harsh argument between her director, a short, portly man, and her co-star. Her lips twitched into a smirk as she leaned forwards, attempting to listen to the heated conversation.

Darcy Garland was huge in the film-making industry, and no matter how hard she tried, no matter how generous she attempted to be, Julia could not see why. She had initially been rather impressed with his portfolio- fourteen movies already under his belt, but had swiftly discovered his acting skills were second to none.

As Julia regarded the pair with curiosity, Darcy threw up his hands in frustration, a vein pulsing on his forehead, and strode away. "You're the expert," he spoke with acid, tossing the vicious words over his shoulder.

The director looked satisfied, patting his pockets, his own forehead beading with sweat. "Take a short break, Mr. Garland," he said with some degree of smugness. "Then we're onto the next scene. Moving up the lawn."

Darcy grunted an intelligible word, stalking over to where Julia sat. Julia, who had enjoyed the little confrontation, curled her hands over her knees and forced her frozen lips into a lighthearted smile. "Mr. Garland."

"Please, Julia," he waved a hand, "call me Darcy." He sat down beside her, only inches away, and Julia gritted her teeth on a protest. "Our director is absolutely… vulgar."

"Mr. Prenfrew?" Julia laughed out loud. "Take no notice of him. He is very passionate about his films. I do admire that about him. Why did you disagree?"

Darcy grimaced, pulling a face and tugging at his hair. "I didn't agree with his take on the scene we're filming. I envisioned it quite differently."

Julia wrinkled her nose, scooting away from Darcy, and attempting to draw little attention to the fact. "He is the professional, with many awards to prove it. Asides from that, the man is impossibly stubborn. It won't do you much good to bicker with him."

"You've worked with him before?" Darcy's surprise was evident, and she rolled her eyes.

"My first project. It's partially thanks to him that I got where I am today." She leaned back absentmindedly, ignoring the rough bark prickling her back, keeping her eyes on the horizon.

Darcy smirked. "And, of course, thanks to that agent of yours."

"Speak of the Devil," Julia mumbled quietly, having spotted a bright, almost eye-blindingly, yellow sports car pull into the lot besides the set, "and the Devil shall appear."

"What was that?" Darcy asked politely. She paid him little attention as she hopped to her feet, brushing small twigs and blades of grass off of her costume.

"Oh, you'll have to excuse me. My agent, manager, and representative- a man of many talents, you see- has arrived. I must go and greet him."

Without waiting for a reply, Julia hitched up her skirt and made her way over to where the car sat. "What are you up to, Thomas?" she called to him loudly, ignoring the stares it incited.

"Do I always have to be up to something, sunshine? Can't an agent just want to see his favorite client?"

Thomas Brackenreid was the type of agent every actor required in order to make it big in the business. He managed to get the best of gigs and opportunities, snatching them from right under other agents' noses and enjoying it all the while. The man could charm any director or filmmaker into getting what he wanted for his client, and though Julia hated to admit it, he had gotten her out of several tense situations. He had his shortcomings- a nasty temper at times and a slight drinking problem (despite assuring his wife he had not touched a drop of alcohol in months)- but Julia was thankful to have him.

"What have you done?" she said, sighing, leaning against the car.

"What have I done? What have you done? I seem to recall a little incident whilst filming your last project, sweetheart. I came to make sure you hadn't lost your temper-" he looked at her meaningfully- "again."

Julia narrowed her eyes, moving aside so he could get out of the car. "Are you ever going to let that go, Thomas? Just because I grew angry…."

Thomas smirked, crossing his arms. "And attacked the director with a pool noodle."

"That was aggressive negotiation," Julia protested, smiling. "It's good to see you, truly, Thomas, but why are you here? Don't think I haven't noticed you continue to call me 'sweetheart' and 'sunshine'. You only do that when you've done something you know I won't approve of."

Thomas winced, and expertly avoiding the inquiry, he glanced over to where Darcy still sat, looking rather forlorn. "That must be your handsome co-star," he said, his grin widening. "We haven't yet been introduced." Without waiting for Julia's reaction, he made his way over to the man. Darcy immediately leaped up to eagerly shake Thomas's hand, while Julia watched suspiciously, having no desire to join the two men.

When Thomas returned to his car, he found Julia waiting for him, barring access to the car door. She wore a look of stubbornness upon her face, and she smirked as Thomas leaned back in resignation. "What is it?"

"I spotted you and Darcy whispering conspiratorially, and I'd much like to find out what it was you were discussing." Julia crossed her arms, refusing to budge.

"Personal matters," Thomas replied, narrowing his dark blue eyes, and attempting in vain to step around Julia. Julia's eyebrows shot up. "You've only just met the man. Surely you are not revealing your deepest and darkest secrets to him?"

"Perhaps he was confiding in me. I've been told I'm quite the fatherly figure," Thomas shot back, and Julia found herself unable to suppress an unladylike snort at that statement.

"Are you doubting me?" Thomas asked, very clearly trying to wriggle his way out of the subject at hand.

Julia immediately recognized his evasion tactics, being quite familiar with them herself. "I'm serious, Thomas. If you were discussing me, I think I have a right to know."

"All right, you win. I was…" The agent winced, clearly aware she would not commend what he was about to tell her. "Well, sunshine- I was thinking, and I figured you needed a little more publicity. You haven't been on the front pages of the tabloids for weeks."

"That's what this movie is meant to do," Julia countered, keeping her steely eyes on him.

"Yeah, but that's taking too long. You need something big now. So… I… you know Darcy Garland is one of the most popular actors out there. If the media were to think the pair of you- you know- were involved, you would make a big splash."

There was a lengthy pause as Julia processed this, her eyes widening and her cheeks flushing with a dark red rage. "Thomas," she said finally, her voice flat. "For your sake, I sincerely hope you aren't thinking what I think you're thinking."

Thomas was already edging towards the buzzing crowd of people, clearly under the impression large numbers would protect him. "I ran the idea by Darcy, and he liked the idea. I made sure he knows it's only for publicity. We arranged a date for you two, very public, lots of room for pictures and reporters. You'll be a page-turner again."

Julia's muscles tightened and her teeth gritted; her green-blue eyes shone with fury. She had been trying her best to keep composed, determined to not fly off of the handle again- but control evaded her at his final statement.

"I will not go out on a date or be involved with Darcy Garland for the sake of publicity!" she shrieked, throwing her hands in the air.

There was a beat of quiet whilst Thomas worked on a reply. "I know it sounds odd, but it's for the greater good, sunshine."

"What is the greater good, Brackenreid? The money it will put in your pocket? You had no right to go behind my back and arrange something that you knew I wouldn't go through with! If you want publicity, you go on a date with Mr. Garland! That will certainly make front pages!" Julia lowered her voice a notch, aware she was attracting unwanted attention from further up the set.

Thomas smirked a little. "Now you're just going over the top, Julia."

She glanced briefly to gauge the witness situation, and while she was occupied, he managed to slip by her and into his car. Confidence regained, he turned the key in the engine and as it purred, he flashed her another unfazed grin. "You'll come around, sweetheart. You always do."

"It's uncanny how much you sound like my father," Julia said coldly. "You're wrong. I won't give up on this, Thomas. I won't go about getting attention this way."

She watched as the car pulled away, joining the busy roads that outlined the grass lawn, scowling heavily. She had no intention of letting her exasperating agent win this particular battle, no matter what it cost her…