The Star Child by Mac Cusiter

Author:Mac Cusiter [Cusiter, Mac]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780994158277
Published: 2020-03-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

The photoshoot was scheduled to take place at a studio in the southern Sydney suburb of Camden, over an hour’s drive from their home. Mary Owens complained all the way. Her hair would be a mess by the time they got there. The limousine was hot, and her makeup was beginning to spoil. She had a date that night, and by the time all this was over she was going to be late. Why couldn’t they have shot all this in some studio close to the city? Aurielle stared at the countryside passing by and wished she’d travelled with Harry and the other security guards who were in the car in front.

Arts Arêtes Studio was a small privately run centre of excellence, which had drawn the services of quite a number of well-known fashion photographers and studio set designers. It occupied the entire top floor of an historic stone building on the main street of the town. In faithfully restoring the building to its former glory, the architect had tastefully modified the rear of the building to include a roof garden, totally invisible to anyone who happened to be walking down the street. This secluded area provided an ideal place for the staff to have lunch and the occasional barbeque.

Harry and two other security guards ushered Mary and her young charge up the sumptuously carpeted stairs to the studio, where a bevy of people were waiting for them. Somewhat out of place in a country town a long way from the coast, the company organising the soft drink commercial had chosen a ‘summer at the seaside’ theme. The backdrop was a huge picture of glistening yellow sands running down to the distant water’s edge.

“What’s with the picture?” Aurielle grumbled as they came on to the set.

“It’s for the promotion you’re going to do after we’ve been interviewed for an article in ‘Women’s Life’,” Mary snapped. “Some new soft drink with lemon and paeroa. That’s what the backdrop is all about.”

“Paeroa? What’s that?” Aurielle snapped back.

“Some sort of fruit, I think,” Mary guessed incorrectly. “Doesn’t matter, they’re paying us big dollars to promote it.”

“They’re paying you big dollars,” Aurielle muttered. “I don’t get any of them.”

“Stop complaining,” Mary hissed. “It all goes to pay for your education,” she lied smoothly. “For goodness sake try to look as though you’re enjoying the stuff, even it tastes awful. Put that little actress smile on your face like I’ve taught you. We don’t want to be here forever.”

A smartly dressed interviewer from ‘Women’s Life’ beckoned them over towards another set, decked out like a lounge room with comfortable chairs.

“How about you sit on your mother’s lap?” she suggested with a smile.

“Do I have to?” Aurielle grumbled.

“Yes,” Mary hissed through her teeth. “Remember what we said?”

Aurielle smiled obediently. It was purely an accident that the heel of her shoe happened to collide sharply with Mary’s right tibia. Mary responded by silently digging her fingers into Aurielle’s back where the smiling interviewer couldn’t see.

“That’s better,” the interviewer gushed.

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