Camille was trying to hide the script from Devin so he wouldn't know she was going to audition for the role. It would have been easier to do her job and practice the scene if he wasn't there, but he had to meet with a few of his clients and stayed in the office.
"Make 30 copies of this…" he said as he threw a thick packet of papers on her desk before walking away. She, desperately, wished he was nicer. She wished he knew her name. It was kind of hard working for a man that didn't even call you by your name.
"Yes, sir…" Camille said in a flat tone as she hid the script under a stack of papers on her desk. She grabbed the packet of papers and went to the copier. She wasn't in the mood for him today. She had barely slept trying to figure out how to get into the character. It was such a dark character with a dark childhood, and she had pretty much a normal, happy childhood. But, she knew she needed to try for this part. She was giving herself another 6 months of being in L.A. before she was deciding to go back to Connecticut. She didn't tell Jo or Logan about this. She wanted to believe moving to L.A. wasn't a waste of time. Her dad had stopped supporting her, financially, since he lost his job in L.A. and had to move back to Connecticut to work.
"Hey you, in my office…" Devin said from his office and Camille knew he was summoning her. She walked to the doorway of his office and she stared at him trying to hide the annoyed look on her face. Most people would say she was insane for staying with a terrible boss. "Can you explain to me how is it that I didn't find out that Megan cancelled her appointment until just a few minutes ago when I called her?" he asked and Camille knew she was going to get fired. It completely slipped her mind and she knew that didn't look good.
"Well…I…" she stammered and Devin sighed as he began rubbing his temples.
"Why are you an assistant, Carmen?" he asked and Camille knew that was the last straw. He had berated her and mistreated her long enough. At least, if he was going to demean her, he could get her fucking name right.
"It's Camille…" she said and he stared at her with uncaring confusion. He was confused, but he didn't bother to ask what she was talking about. "My name is Camille."
"Whatever. I hired you because I you were the most enthusiastic person I interviewed to be my assistant. You clearly don't know how hard it is to run this office because you've never had to be in this position, but I thought you would, at least, have the competency…" he trailed off as Camille stared at him. She was about to cry, but she was determined to not cry in front of him.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Chase. I…" she began, but stopped when he began rubbing his temples again. He let out an exasperated sigh as he stared at her.
"Isn't it time for your lunch break?" he asked and she nodded. "Maybe you'll be more useful once you've had some sort of sustenance in you…" he trailed off as she nodded and was about to turn to leave. "Camille…leave the copies on your desk. I'll get them from there." he said and she held back a comment before walked back to the copier. She retrieved all 30 stapled copies and threw them on top of her desk before grabbing her purse and taking the elevator down. She was so frustrated, she knew she just had to get out of that office before she exploded. She reached for her phone and dialed Logan's number.
"Hey, Camille." he said sounding somewhat surprised. She rarely called him mid-day. "What's up?" he asked and she began to cry.
"I need to have lunch with you. Devin was horrible today. Are you up for some sushi?"
"Of course. I'll meet you." Logan said before he hung up and Camille cheered up a bit.
Logan entered the sushi restaurant and saw Camille. She looked as if she had been crying a little, but she smiled brightly as she saw him enter. He was more than willing to be there for Camille as a friend, but he wanted more. He was kind of sick of the on and off relationship and wanted something long-term with her. He knew they were both afraid to just date exclusively. Though he would admit that he loved her, without hesitation.
"What happened today?" he asked as he walked to her table and sat down. She let out a frustrated sigh and he gave her a sympathetic look before the waitress came over with the menus. They ordered and the waitress walked away.
"He sort of yelled at me for forgetting to tell him Megan Fox cancelled her appointment with him. I swear, it slipped my mind. I don't even know how I forgot."
"Well, you're human. I hope he realizes that. I would quit if I were you. He's nothing more than a tyrant and you don't deserve that."
"I know, but he's a very good agent. If I could land this part, I know he would represent me. It's seems silly to stick around with such a mean boss, but a lot of people have bad bosses."
"He's not just a bad boss, Camille. He's…soulless. I mean, the man makes you work long hours and, yes, you do get paid extra for working over-time, but he's so…"
"I know, but I need as much money as possible to cover my half of the rent with Jo and to save up. Jo and Kendall are very serious and…I think they might move in together. Where does that leave me? In an apartment I can't afford."
"Well…maybe you and I can move in together…" Logan said and they were both shocked at what he had said. "I mean…well…"
"You want to move in together?" Camille asked and Logan sighed before he nodded. He couldn't hide his feelings any longer.
"Well, yeah. I mean…" Logan began before their sushi arrived. "I'm thinking of moving out of my apartment and you do live in a great neighborhood."
"Yeah…" Camille said as she began eating her sushi. "So, I'm still stuck on how I can get into this Elizabeth character…" she said not noticing Logan flinch a little. He was not comfortable with her auditioning for that role, but he knew she would be heartbroken if he didn't support her. "I just don't know how to get inside her head."
"Well, it's hard to get into a dark space when you're such a nice and considerate person." Logan said and Camille smiled at his compliment. Logan was hoping she wouldn't go for the role, because he knew what a method actress she could be. He didn't want to think of Camille talking to prostitutes to get a feel of how they think.
"Thanks. But, I need to be gritty and mean. I mean, I don't really know how to be her. I'm starting to think this whole thing was a stupid idea…"
"It's not a stupid idea. Maybe, there's another role that his actresses are too busy to play that will come your way and it'll be easier for you."
"I doubt it. I know I can do this. One thing I learned from an acting coach is that I should never let a role conquer me. I mean, acting is about being able to convince your audience that you are your character and you can do it convincingly. Even if that means, the character is completely different than your actual personality."
"I know, but…it's going to be pretty hard for me to imagine you as a prostitute who's been abused and molested since she was young. You're such a…positive person. You're patient person for putting up with Devin's crap." Logan said knowing he admired that quality in Camille that she was patient, but he wished she knew her breaking point.
"Well, I did sort of lose my patience today. I had enough of him not calling me by my name, and when he did, he called me by the wrong name. He called me Carmen. I told him my name, and he actually called my by my name. He still ripped into me, but at least he said my name."
"Small victories…" Logan said with a sympathetic sigh. Suddenly, her phone buzzed and she let out a frustrated sigh. "What is it, now?"
"It's going to be another day of working after-hours…" Camille said with a sigh. "I'm getting paid extra, I'm getting paid extra. I just have to remember that." she said before her phone buzzed again. "Great…he sent me out on some sort of assignment while's picking up a quick golf game with Hawk. You want to come with me?"
"Sure…I can't stay with you too late. We have rehearsal tonight." Logan said with a sigh.
"Oh, how's the new album coming along. I swear, I've been meaning to ask you about it, but I'm so tired from working, it slips my mind every time."
"It's great. You would love our new party anthem. You know…we could have you in the video again." Logan said hoping that would convince her to drop this role she's trying to land.
"No…I couldn't. I've already been in your music video before. Besides, I don't think I would have the time to do this with work and all…"
"Well, what are you going to do about work during the audition? You're still not going to tell Devin about it, are you?"
"I don't know…maybe. I don't know if he even knows I'm an actress. I just…I don't know…I want to prove to him and myself that I can do this. I don't want to be stuck being his assistant. I came to L.A. to be an actress and that's what I'll be."
"Well, you're already a great actress to me…" he said as he reached across the table and covered her hand with his.
"Thanks, Logan. I'm happy to have someone like you." Camille said as she did not want to just call him her friend or her boyfriend. She didn't know what they were right now, but they were in a content enough place to not worry about the labels just yet.
"I'm happy to have someone like you, too, Camille." Logan said feeling a sort of disappointment and relief. He didn't know whether it was a good or bad thing they didn't label their relationship, yet. Maybe they were working out their feelings in a somewhat healthy manner. At least they were friends instead of enemies.
After they ate lunch, Logan joined her in her assistant duties of getting his dry-cleaning and making sure there will be a carpet cleaning service available to steam the carpets in the office in the morning. Logan was trying to understand why she had to do the shit work for that man. He knew a lot of people put up with difficult bosses, but this was insane to him. No wonder the other assistant quit. She couldn't take being bullied by Devin anymore. Once she was done with her errands they were right in front of the office building which looked slightly intimidating under the night sky. She knew Devin was there and she sighed knowing that her pick-me-up was about to leave her.
"Well, I should get going. Good luck handling the tyrant, Camille." Logan said as he hugged her. "If you need me tomorrow, just call."
"I'll most likely call you." Camille said with a laugh as she pulled away and waved goodbye as she went in. She showed the security guard her I.D. which was slightly unnecessary because he had seen her a million times, but they both knew he was just doing his job. They made light conversation about after-hours before she went to the elevator and pressed Devin's floor. When the doors opened, she halted when she saw him sitting at the desk with the script.
"Camille, I told you to trash this script. Explain to me why it's sitting on your desk."
