The Luminary Adjudication

Chapter One

"Yes, I'm here to see Dr. Kathy Bell," Penny explained. "I'm Penelope Hofstadter with Zangen. We have an appointment at 10:30."

The young woman at the check-in desk consulted the daily calendar at her elbow and waved a hand. "Certainly, Dr. Bell will be with you shortly. Please have a seat."

Clutching her sample case to her chest, Penny walked across the room and lighted upon a plush cushioned chair. Noticing a magazine on a small table, she placed the case at her feet, picked up the dated Glamour publication and thumbed through it. A lazy yawn distorted her delicate features.

"Hey, I know you." The deep, masculine voice broke into her thoughts.

Looking up, she eyed a handsome gentleman in a three-piece suit sitting across the aisle. "Excuse me?" Her brow furrowed. His chiseled face, dimpled chin and piercing blue eyes didn't ring any bells. She definitely would have remembered meeting someone of his caliber.

"I know you," the man repeated. "You were in that lame movie called 'Serial Apeist', weren't you?" He pointed a long, manicured finger toward her nose.

Penny's eyes darted throughout the room. Oh, God! She was glad the occupants in the room were scarce but still didn't want to bring attention to her disastrous and failed former-acting career moves. Closing the magazine, she looked down at her fidgeting fingers. "Oh, I'm so sorry that you saw that," she said quietly.

"On the contrary," the man clucked. "Although the movie itself was a train wreck, you were pretty good if you'd allow me to say so." He stood and deposited his muscular frame into the vacant seat next to the pharmaceutical representative.

"You can't mean that," Penny released a nervous laugh. Man, was this guy hitting on her right in the middle of a doctor's waiting area?

"I honestly do mean that. Despite the horrible plot and script, you were the highlight of the entire thing. I could tell how much you were trying to keep it all together. It wasn't your fault it came off corny and just didn't quite work. Better writers, better fellow actors and, of course, with an increased budget I could see you going places."

Eyelids narrowing, she stared at the man beside her. He looked like he held an air of confidence, sophistication. He sat straight, his posture impeccable. His jet-black hair was slicked back and his teeth were straight and brilliantly white. Perfection. Her curiosity was heightened yet she was cautious. "Are you being serious?" She looked about the room again. "Am I on one of those shows like Candid Camera or Punked or something?"

The man chuckled. "No, no, nothing of the kind. Here, let me give you my card." He reached into his suitcoat pocket and extracted a rectangular piece of grayish-white paper.

Looking at the business card, Penny's eyes grew wide. "You're a movie producer?" She gasped and began to cough.

"Are you okay?" He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Do you need some water?"

Penny threw her hand to her lips and shook her head. "N-N-No," she stammered. "I-I'm okay. Umm, I think."

Removing his hand, he held it out. "Hamilton Kingsley at your service." He flashed his white teeth. "It's a pleasure to meet you in person, Miss Hofstadter."

Holding her breath, Penny gazed at Mr. Kingsley's hand and then gently took it in her own. "How did you know my name?" she croaked.

"I heard you tell the receptionist."

"Oh."

"I also saw you in that hemorrhoid commercial you did riding horseback. Do you ride often?"

Heat flushed Penny's cheeks and she stood to her feet. "Hey, look, I don't know what you're trying to pull here, Mr. Kingsley, if that is your real name." She threw the business card into the man's lap. "Anyone can make up fake business cards and use them to hit on poor, beautiful unsuspecting young women. You're sick; just plain sick you sicko."

"I'm not a fake, Miss Hofstadter …"

"Mrs. I'm married, it's Mrs. Hofstadter." Penny thrust her left hand into the gentleman's face, showing off her wedding ring.

"Mrs. Hofstadter, you can look me up on the Internet if you'd like. I don't know if you may have heard of any of the movies I have produced but I have also done consultant work on some you might have."

"Such as?" Penny's hand was on her hip, shoulders high.

"Well, I have worked on Titanic, The Girl on the Train and Hidden Figures just to name a few."

Rolling her eyes, Penny giggled. "No, you haven't." She turned to walk away.

"Look me up on the Internet if you don't believe me. I dare you."

She shook her head and folded herself into a chair in the corner of the room next to a dusty, artificial fig tree. Her bottom lip quivered. She felt warm.

A door swung open. A short, young Indian-looking woman wearing purple scrubs stood just beyond vision. "Mr. Kingsley?" Her accent was thick.

Hamilton Kingsley stood, straightened his trousers and disappeared into the catacombs of offices.

Penny dug to the bottom of her cavernous purse and finally produced her cell phone. Screen glowering, her fingers sailed across the tiny keyboard. "Let's see here, Hamilton Kingsley. Kingsley. K-I-N-G-S-L-E-Y." Her tongue pressed the outside of her lips and she smacked absentmindedly as she concentrated.

A full-color photo of Hamilton Kingsley was attached to the Wikipedia article. Yes, it was the same man from the waiting room. He had the same handsome, chiseled features. He had the same gorgeous black hair and shining blue eyes.

"Hamilton Macallister Kingsley (born March 6, 1961) is an American filmmaker. He received an Academy Award for his work on Kelly's Eyes in 2013.

He made his directorial debut in 2002 with Medical Release. He has gone on to direct other films such as Red Wagon, Cutting Me and Anything But Nothing.

Kingsley was born in Mason, Ohio to Hayden and Cora Kingsley, both of whom were elementary educators. He is of Polish and German lineage. He has two younger sisters, Rachel and Valerie. He was raised in the Baptist faith and fondly remembers his days in Sunday school, Vacation Bible School and church camp. He attended Western Row Elementary, Hughes Middle and Mason High School. He went on to double-major in English and Theater at the University of Cincinnati.

In 2000, Kingsley and his sister Valerie Nash co-founded Paradox Productions.

Hamilton Kingsley was married to actress Josephina Larini (1990-2001). They have two children, a daughter Aberdeen and a son Laird. He had a long-term relationship with actress Yadira Lisette but they split in 2012."

Penny's hands were shaking. "Holy crap on a cracker, it's true! He actually is who he says he is. I can't believe it." She looked away from her phone and saw the rejected business card lying on the checkered tile floor where the movie producer's feet had been. "I can't believe I talked to him like that." She ran her fingers through her hair, still trembling.

The door swung open. "Penelope Hofstadter? The doctor will see you now."

Penny leaped up. "Oh, good," she exclaimed as she scooped the card from the floor. "I think I need to have my blood pressure checked."