Stuart turned, waving one of his assistant over. The latter had been standing a few ters behind the trio, just far enough for him not to hear whatever they might be discussing.
’’Phone?’’ he requested, as soon as the assistant got near enough to hear him.
It took him a minute to dig out the picture he wanted to show them, and when he did, Avery’s eyes widened in shock while Jodi seed unbothered.
’’It was pretty obvious considering you two’s relationship,’’ she shrugged. ’’Here I was thinking it was soone...Wait! If she is the one, then you must be more pained by her death than everyone thinks.’’
’’I am...I don’t think I deserve to say this now though,’’ Stuart said, his voice so low that neither Avery nor Jodi would have heard, if the wind was any stronger than it was.
’’Yeah, you don’t," Avery echoed, her voice slightly shaky. He couldn’t protect her, so he didn’t deserve to.
Her eyes were still glued to Stuart’s phone where a selfie of her smooching Emma’s cheeks was displayed on the screen. While Emma’s face was completely visible in the selfie, the only thing that could be seen of Avery was her dark hair.
’’Didn’t catch that,’’ Stuart’s voice made her jerk her head up to et his gaze.
The questions and confusion clouding his eyes told her all she needed to know, that he heard her just now, and she shook her head.
’’Nothing. Where did you get this?’’ she asked, trying to dispel the flood of emotions threatening to rush up her face.
’’From a post she made earlier this year,’’ Stuart replied. ’’I’m so glad I have it saved.’’
When Avery arched her brow at him, he explained, ’’All pictures of her were taken down from the internet weeks ago.’’ She continued to stare at him so he added, ’’Oh! You must want to see the picture of the one who looks like you?’’
’’I don’t,’’ Avery deadpanned. ’’I saw it countless tis on TV.’’
Stuart shook his head, a broad smile spreading across his face.
’’Trust , Ava, you’d want to see this. The ones plastered across the dia stations are distorted, they are mostly pics of Avery frowning so it’d be a lot more believable that she did that to her family. The one I have is one of her being herself, with Ems of course. She sent the picture to brag of how her younger sister would definitely make it in the entertainnt industry with her face card alone if she decides to leave the business industry.’’
Jodi leaned in, her eyes sparkling with genuine curiosity, ’’For real? I would like to see that."
Avery’s eyes were sparkling too, but with unshed tears that she was blinking back.
’’Is her face card as impressive as that?’’ she managed to ask.
Stuart didn’t give a response. Instead, he swiped the screen and there it was, her face staring back at her. Avery couldn’t rember what day it was that she took this picture. But one thing was obvious, she had been really happy on this day. The smile she was wearing in the phone showed her that.
Nostalgia flickered across her eyes at the sa ti a voice resounded in her mind, ’’You would never be able to smile like this again. Never.’’
’’Do you think she’s beautiful?’’ Stuart’s voice reached into her thoughts, dragging her out the dredges of sadness.
’’I don’t know,’’ Avery whispered.
Jodi shook her head in disagreent.
’’That’s because she’s a bad person in your eyes, Ava. Are you beautiful?’’ she asked.
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Avery thought about it for a few seconds before replying, ’’I am. Obviously.’’
’’Then this Avery is beautiful. Bad person or not, I don’t discriminate beauty,’’ Jodi said, her tone as serious as it could get. ’’Now you can understand why the dia had a field day splashing your face all around. That,’’ she pointed at the screen of Stuart’s phone, ’’Is your doppelganger, baby.’’
Avery didn’t reply to that. Her gaze lingering on the displayed picture for a few seconds more, she suddenly snapped her head around to et Stuart’s eyes,
’’Why are you showing this though? I am supposed to...hate this person for making life hard for when I barely just started my career,’’ she questioned.
Click.
Stuart switched off his phone instantly and the small smile on his face disappeared.
’’I showed you that to answer your three questions,’’ ca his calm response.
’’I only rember asking one,’’ Avery stated.
’’Why I’m offering to point out your mistakes when I am known to stay on my own, on set; What I ant by the ’selfish reason’ I’m helping you for; and why I don’t need to cultivate, in your words, chemistry with Valentina," he outlined.
Holding Avery’s gaze, Stuart was about to continue when the assistant rushed over.
"The break is over," he announced to them, and turned to leave imdiately after taking Stuart’s phone.
"Help with my phone too," Avery extended hers.
The attendant stared expectantly at Jodi, waiting for hers.
"Will get it to you in a few minutes please. I wanted us to get a few pictures while we are here; the sun would have set by the ti we’re done with the second take," Jodi said, an earnest plea in her eyes.
As soon as the attendant turned to leave, she pulled Avery up to her feet as quickly as she could.
"Let’s take this fast before Leroy sends a second person." Without asking, she pushed the phone in Stuart’s hand and continued, "If you want to help by pointing out our mistakes, you might as well do this too."
He exhaled out loud, "Why not? For my own selfish reasons, I can do anything. Even if it ans I have to reduce myself to a photographer for you two."
Avery was silent throughout, while the other two talked. The questions Stuart had outlined earlier, echoing in her mind as she slipped out of the coat to expose the bikini.
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