She looked one last time in the mirror and thought she had done a damn good job. She looked marvelous. Perfect to do the part of a confused girl who wanted to help her family but just got them in more trouble. That was the part she was asked to read for. It was a very small part in the movie, but if she got the part it could be the start of a real carrier and maybe the last days of burglarizing and stealing.
That would be good. Getting jobs was getting harder and more dangerous ever since she lost the good graces of most of her contacts. She was sure that was due the fact that she had broken her relations with Jim Moriarty a year ago and he was probably trying to strong arm her to get back to business with him. Which she wouldn't.
So, getting an (fairly) honest, well paying job was her best chance to keep up the way of live she'd grown used to without risking death or jail.
On the way to the restaurant she considered again if she would really give up her illegal ways. Maybe she was fooling herself. She liked the danger after all and it could pay more than the movie business. And she could not forget the fact that if she went straight she would probably loose the interest of one particular detective, well, consultant detective. She surely didn't want that, now that she's gotten his full attention.
But she liked to think that she could get out of this life if she wanted to. Maybe Sherlock would like an honest Irene, one he didn't have to try to outwit.
She arrived at the restaurant and met the director that was already waiting for her in the table. They talked for a while, about London, her trip, her carrier, his ideas for the movie and then about her playing the part.
"You know, Irene, I'm not going to lie to you, I saw you in that little play in New York and I thought you have a real potential. I'm just concern about one thing." The director said, when they finished eating and asked for coffee.
"And what's that?" She asked giving her most flirtatious look to him.
"Can you take directions?"
"I'm a professional actor. You tell me what to do and I'll do it."
"See, that's not what I asked. You strike me with someone with a very strong personality and during all our talk it's all I've seen. You are very confident, which is very strange for young unknown actresses. They normally can successfully fake confidence, but they don't have any. And you have a lot. More than a director normally likes."
"So my excess of confidence is the problem. I can be more insecure if that's what you want. I'm that good of an actress." She said a little annoyed by his clearly chauvinistic tone.
He smiled, leaned forward and brushed his hands against hers.
"Bet you can." He said, trying to sound smooth. "And I would really liked if you showed that to me. Maybe you could do another read for me, back in my hotel room and you could show me how insecure you can be." He licked his lips and looked at her with a hungry stare.
A wave of disgust took hold of her and she held her breath to make sure she would not let it show. She just stared back at him with the same smile she had before.
"Sure, why not?" - she said smoothly - "Would you excuse me for a moment? I have to go to the toilet." She said and left the table without waiting for his reply.