She moved so quickly that the crew on set didn''t even have time to react.
It was the director, seeing someone wander into the shot, who finally yelled, "Who is that? Don''t walk into the frame, get out of here!"
Noreen Gilmore ignored the director''s shouting and walked straight up to Madeline Lynwood.
Madeline was in the middle of a makeup touch-up, leaning backfortably in her chair with her eyes closed. "Use a darker shade of lipstick," she instructed the makeup artist. "It''ll look better on camera."
The makeup artist hesitated, wanting to suggest otherwise. It was a shampoomercial, after all. If the makeup was too heavy, it would distract from the product they were supposed to be highlighting.
But she didn''t dare say a word.
Madeline was far too intimidating, and a humble makeup artist like herself couldn''t afford to cross her.
As she reached into her kit to select a lipstick, a hand beat her to it, grabbing one of the tubes.
"Hey..." the makeup artist started, but the next second, she was speechless.
Noreen took the lipstick and drew arge ''X'' across Madeline''s face.
By the time Madeline realized what was happening, Noreen was finished.
She opened her eyes, ready to unleash a torrent of abuse, but when she saw it was Noreen, she stammered, "Ms... Ms. Gilmore, what are you doing here?"
Noreen didn''t deign to speak to her. Instead, she kicked the chair, sending Madeline tumbling, chair and all, into the swimming pool.
Everyone on set was stunned.
Madeline''s agent stormed over, furious. "Who the hell are you? Do you have any idea what you''ve just done? Let me tell you, you''re finished!"
Finished? Noreen highly doubted that.
"Get her out of there!" the agent yelled, ordering the crew around.
Noreen promptly kicked over a nearby disy tableden with shampoo bottles. The crash was so loud it froze everyone in ce. "I dare any of you to help her." Meanwhile, Sandra was helping ire Chase out of the other side of the pool. ire was shivering uncontrobly, her face deathly pale.
"I''ll take her to get changed," Sandra said.
Madeline''s agent, finally piecing things together, sneered. "So you''re with ire. Well, let me tell you something. Both you and ire have crossed the wrong people! Her career is over!"
"Is that so?" Noreen said, a smile ying on her lips instead of anger.
The agent thought she was bluffing. "I''m making a call right now. ire Chase can get ready to be cklisted by the entire industry!"
She immediately dialed Felix Quigley''s number. "Mr. Quigley, Madeline is being bullied! You have to get over here!"
As if on cue, Madeline began to scream for help from the pool. "Help me! Felix, save me!"
The set descended into chaos.
The director and the representative from the brand finally made their way over, looking ready to settle the score.
"I don''t care who you are," the director snarled at Noreen, "but you''ve caused us a
significant loss today, and you will be paying for it!"
Noreen ignored him and ced a call to Wilbur.
Wilbur happened to be on the golf
course, enjoying a leisurely day. Seeing Noreen''s name on his
screen, he answered instantly, his tone light and teasing. "Well, well. has the sun risen in the west? To what do I owe the pleasure of a call from my favorite little
?
troublemaker?"
"I need a favor," Noreen said.
Wilbur''s demeanor instantly shifted to one of keen interest. "Name it."
Noreen''s gaze fell on a bottle of shampoo floating in the pool. After reading the name, she said to
Wilbur, "I need you to acquire a
personal care brand for me it''s
called Zylo. The sooner, the better
Wilbur chuckled. "Funny you should mention them. Mypany is one of their
biggest investors. Easy enough. Give me five minutes."
Overhearing Noreen''s n to buy the brand, the brand manager burst outughing. You''ve got some nerve, kid. Acquire our brand? What do you think this is, buying a handbag or a tube of lipstick?"