Olivia's Winter Wonderland Read Online Free

Pan.
But I never thought you’d say yes. Not in a million years.”
    â€œMe neither,” said Georgia. And she suddenly felt a bit funny, as if she was very hungry even though she had just eaten her lunch.
    â€œCharming!” said Olivia with a smile. “I thought that you’d think it was a role I was born to play. Gran seemed to think so.”
    There was a little pause, and then Georgia said in a small voice, “Did she really say that?”
    â€œWell, she seemed to imply I’m in with a very good chance, although she did warn me that I’d be up against some really stiff competition and so I wasn’t to get my hopes up too high and end up being crushed.”
    Olivia could see Tom looking at her very closely and rather suspiciously.
    â€œSo, that means we’ll all be up for it,” said Aeysha. “That’s going to feel a bit strange. Like being rivals. None of us have ever gone up against each other for the same job before. It’sgoing to be weird.”
    â€œOh!” said Olivia, sounding amazed. “Now I’m
really
worried. I hadn’t realised you and Georgia were so keen to play the back end of the horse in the Swan panto. I may have to withdraw.”
    For a second there was a tiny silence as her words sunk in, and then Tom roared with laughter.
    â€œGeorgia, Aeysha, she’s been winding you up. That’s brilliant, Liv,” he said, wiping the tears away. Aeysha started laughing too, and something like relief flashed crossed Georgia’s face before she grinned broadly and said, “So you’re definitely not going up for Zelda?”
    Olivia shook her head.
    â€œBut, Livy, seriously, why aren’t you at least giving it a shot?” said Aeysha. “You’d be great, I know you would.”
    â€œIt’s nice of you to say, Aeysha. But I just don’t want to. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for you and Georgia. I hope one of you gets it.”
    â€œWe’ll be rooting for you both,” said Tom.
    â€œOh,” said Georgia. “We might not even be called when they’ve looked us up in Spotlight.” Spotlight was the huge database of professionalactors that directors and casting agents used to find actors to play roles. “Anyway,” she added gloomily, “even if we do get called I doubt we’ll get past the first audition.”
    â€œBet you will,” said Tom.
    â€œEven if we both do,” said Aeysha, “in the end only one of us can be Zelda. One of us is always going to be the loser. In this business you’re either first or you’re nothing.”
    Â 
    Katie sat in the same chair in Alicia Swan’s office that had quite recently been vacated by Olivia. She was feeling nervous. She’d always felt that Miss Swan had the ability to see right through her. It made her feel uncomfortable, as if she had forgotten to put on all her clothes.
    â€œHow are you getting on, Katie?” asked Alicia kindly. The girl sitting in front of her looked so different from the sleek Katie Wilkes-Cox of old. In fact, thought Alicia, this new Katie may be less glossy, but she was actually far more attractive. Her work had improved too. Only the evening before Sebastian Shaw had said to Alicia that there was a new depth to Katie’s acting.
    â€œIn the past I always felt that Katie wasacting being an actress. Now I get a sense that she really feels it and lives it.”
    â€œYou’re not seriously trying to tell me that hardship and misfortune have made her a better actor, are you?” snorted Alicia. “I thought you had no time for the silly notion that all good actors are damaged people in one way or another. You’ll be telling me next that an unhappy childhood and being beaten four times a day is the secret to becoming a great actor.”
    â€œWouldn’t dream of trying,” said Sebastian. “It’s not a question of happy or unhappy