Lights! Camera! Christmas!
Author: MoonStarDutchess and Rinoaebastel
Chapter 9: Contract Signing
Disclaimer: We do not own Fullmetal Alchemist and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than needed writing practice and enjoyment.
The limo cruised along the vacant streets in the early morning, going a bit faster than it legally should have been. They had ten minutes before cars crowded the area due to the morning rush, but they would arrive at their destination before that occurred.
"This is so exciting! I've never been to any important contract signing before, much less to one for a movie," Martina said and adjusted her dress. "Do I look okay?"
"You look fine," Riza said.
"Thanks for letting me raid your closet. I didn't have anything to wear. There was so much stuff, and I don't know how you sort through it and—you know, designers really should—"
"Martina, calm down. You're starting to ramble like mother used to," Riza said.
"Used to? She still does it," Martina replied and took a few deep breaths. "Okay, I'm good. It's just that this is a huge deal. How are you going to handle the press and—God! Aren't you nervous? I'm nervous for you and Mister Mustang."
Riza looked up from the small book in her lap she was writing in. "No, I'm not nervous."
"I guess you wouldn't be. You've done a lot of things like this."
"Exactly." Riza lowered her head and hid a smile. She hoped Martina wasn't too disappointed today.
"Riza?"
"Yes."
"Do you like Mister Mustang?"
"He's a nice guy, so yes, I like him."
"Wouldn't be too hard to date him would it?"
Riza glanced up at her. "Fake dating. But no, it's not hard to pretend. I have to know how to pretend if I want to be an actress."
Martina snorted and Riza raised an eyebrow. "What's that for?"
"He's really good looking, and he's the type of man you like."
Riza shut her book. "Don't go getting any ideas in your head that this will be anything more than what it already is."
Martina shrugged. "I'm just making an observation. Besides, according to what I've read, you're exactly his type too."
"This is a business thing. At most, we'll come out of this as friends. That's all."
"Okay, okay," Martina said.
"We are together until this movie is produced and has gone through all its showings, so if anyone asks you, you won't have to lie exactly."
"Right," she said with a smile that unnerved Riza for some reason.
The limo pulled up to two iron gates with a security booth in the middle of them. Half-a-dozen dark blue buildings with tinted windows were beyond the gates. They were of varying storeys and were all angled towards a giant fountain in the middle. Three were situated in the front nearer the fountain, and three at the back of those buildings. A driveway moved around the front of each building, making any front door drop-offs smooth and easy.
They drove through the gates and towards the front buildings. "Where are we anyway?" Martina asked.
"Flame Bang Studios. It's my agency location and where I record my albums."
"This is the place Gramps owns?"
"You've never been here?"
"No, I've only been to the other building."
"That's the accounting office now. It's down the street from here. These are new."
"Grandpa built the company all on his own?"
Riza shouldn't have been surprised that Martina didn't know anything about the company, but she thought they'd at least tell her about their grandfather's accomplishments.
"He owns all of these buildings. Grandfather built and owns the majority of the company itself as well."
"The majority?"
"There are some stockholders and all the debuted artists have a share of stock as well."
"Oh."
When the car came to a stop, they got out at the building in the middle. Martina looked around and looked at Riza, confused. Riza bit the inside of her lip to keep herself from laughing. "This way," she said. They went up a set of long, thin concrete steps, with Armstrong leading the way, ever vigilant regardless of how secure the area was.
They walked inside. Riza waved at a woman at the front desk as they strolled past.
The walls were a soft pastel green. The stairs, both on the left and right, were black metal with chrome rails. There were plush couches situated in the area. Down a wide hall on the far wall were drink and food machines. To the right of the machines were pots filled with coffee. To the left, bottles of water were in glass refrigerators, open for anyone to take.
"Is this where you record?"
"No, I record at my house usually. The recording studios for the company are in one of the other buildings."
They went up the stairs and turned to the left. On the walls were hundreds of various gold and silver records. Opposite them were tall display cases with several shelves lined with awards. The cases extended the entire length of the hallway.
"How many of these are yours?" Martina asked, motioning to the trophies.
"I don't know," she said. "I think grandfather keeps the majority of my awards at the lodge."
"Even the Grammi awards?"
"Yes, those are at his place too."
"Don't you keep any at your house?"
"I keep the fan voted awards. Grandfather takes more pride in the other awards than I do."
They took another hallway and Riza heard Martina muttering something. She was going to ask about it, but her sister spoke before she could.
"I've counted twenty so far. I wish Lauren would walk through this hall very slowly reading every trophy." Martina laughed. "Well, maybe not. She'd have an aneurysm."
"She's the accountant for the company."
"And she didn't have an aneurysm when she walked through here?"
"She only goes to accounting building down the street."
They came to a set of double doors and Riza knocked instead of opening them. Seconds later, they opened and Maes greeted them. They entered the room.
Roy was already sitting at the conference table in the middle of the room with his lawyer. After greeting everyone, Riza walked over to the opposite side where her lawyer was sitting and took a seat beside her.
Maes looked at Martina. "You can sit down right there," Maes said, directing her to a comfortable couch next to a wide window.
She walked over and took a seat.
A tall dark haired woman was sitting at the end of the table. A shorter woman with a long braid in her hair sat next to her. She moved her glasses and perched them on the end of her nose. Her lips formed into a frown as soon as she saw Riza.
When they began going over the contract, Riza glanced over at her sister, who looked confused. Shortly after, she returned her regard to the director, Valerye Topez. She explained the shooting schedule, the pay, and the royalties from the music. Both she and Roy got significant creative input. When they read that part of the contract, specifically her part in arranging the way she sang the music, she noticed the assistant beside Topez roll her eyes.
"I want singing lessons before filming my song. That's my only stipulation before I sign," Roy said. "Other than that, I'm satisfied with the contract. I've done musical theatre before, but it's been a while," he said.
"We can arrange a teacher for you," Topez said.
"I'll be happy to help you out during our vacation," Riza said
"Then it's settled," Topez said.
The woman beside Topez coughed. "Ma'am, all due respect to Miss Grumman, but she's a mere pop singer. She's not a vocal teacher. Her skills are not on par with a proper vocalist."
"Bitch," Martina muttered.
That wording irked Riza. She hated it when people looked down on others for the music they chose to perform or enjoy. "Actually, I'm classically trained as well and not a 'mere pop singer', as you so put it. Any quick search on the internet would tell you that."
"We trust in her abilities, Kim. The producer and I have her as our first choice for a reason. I will not tolerate you questioning otherwise," Topez said.
"Sorry," she said, more as an apology to Topez than Riza.
"Then, I'll sign it," Roy said. He took a pen from his lawyer and signed the contract in the places needed.
Riza took a pen from a cup on the table and quickly gave her signature as well.
Kim gathered the papers, giving Riza a glare as she collected hers. When she started to move away, Riza noticed a fan club pin of Roy's on the cuff of her jacket.
So that's why. Though the internet fan clubs overall had been positive, she knew there were quite a few fans that saw Roy as off-limits to any woman. Most of the time, those fans were early teens or preteens, so it was surprising to see someone around Kim's age acting that way.
Topez took the contracts from Kim. "Go back to our main office, and wait for me there."
"Don't you want me to take the contracts?"
"I'll handle them," she said.
"Yes, ma'am."
After a quick glower in Riza's direction, the woman left the room.
"I have a request," Roy said, getting everyone's attention. "It's not something that should be in the contract, but I just thought of it."
"Yes?" Topez said.
"I don't want the woman that just left anywhere on the set. There's no excuse in her behavior towards my fiancée."
"Done," Topez said. "I hired her due to her efficiency but apparently she lets other matters get in the way of her professionalism. I'll keep her to a desk job from now on, and she will learn respect or be fired."
"Thank you," Roy said.
She stood. "I'll see you two in February. I hope you have a good Christmas and New Years Eve." She shook Riza and Roy's hands and left. Their lawyers left after having a few words with each of their clients.
"That's it?" Martina asked when the door clicked shut.
Roy, Riza, and Maes looked at her. "What do you mean?" Maes asked.
"Aren't there supposed to be reporters and people surrounding you when you sign? How about all the lights and fans and stuff?"
"This was a contract signing," Roy said.
"Exactly. Where's the fanfare?"
"You're thinking of a press conference. Most negotiations and contract signings for films here in Amestris are done behind the scenes," Maes said.
"Our film hasn't been announced to the populace yet, so something so public isn't necessary," Riza said.
"Why'd you let me get all dressed up then?" Martina asked.
"I just thought you wanted to wear some designer clothes." Truthfully, she knew what her sister had been expecting, but it was just too amusing watching her go through the closet. Martina had been so excited that she hadn't had the heart to tell her what really happened. Her younger sister had no desire to be famous, but the behind the scenes stuff interested her. She was so used to it that she had to remember that those that weren't involved only saw the glamour in it.
"Next time tell me," Martina said.
"I'll be sure to drag you to the press conference if we have one for this movie," Riza said and stood.
Martina nodded and directed her gaze to Roy. "So, you're going to come to the lodge with us for Christmas?"
"That's the plan," he said.
She narrowed her eyes. "Well, I don't care if it's pretend. If you hurt my sister in any way I'll Photoshop you into a bad situation and put it on Instaramen."
"Martina!" Riza scolded.
"It's Instaman," Maes said.
Roy smirked and chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm treating our relationship very seriously."
Riza was glad no one was focusing on her because the way he spoke made a blush come to her cheeks.
Martina crossed her arms and was about to say something else when the double doors burst open. An old man came through the doorway and grabbed Riza by the upper arms.
"Is it true? Am I going to be a great grandfather?"
Roy and Riza paled.
RW: 2022
