Invested

Everything about her was a lie. Eliza got kicked out of her acting class for “taking things too far”, as her acting teacher put it. She couldn’t help it, she invested herself into every part, no matter how small. Now she was going to try to get some real world acting experience, for free. Eliza dressed her part carefully, tight dress that showed off her curves, heels and her hair was fixed in a tousled style that looked natural but was anything but. She grabbed her clutch and headed across town to a luxury hotel.

She sat at the bar, and was glad she had come. There were a lot of men there, and she hoped one of them would approach her. She got a soda in a lowball glass because it was so much cheaper than a drink. It took longer than she had anticipated, but finally a man approached her.

“Is this seat taken?” he asked. She shook her head and he slid onto the bar stool next to her.

Eliza smiled at him, “Hi,” she said.

“Hi. I’m Stan. I’m here in Los Angeles for business. I’m really feeling lonely, and I saw you are alone, so I thought I’d come talk to you.” He smiled back at her. “Can I buy you a drink? What are you having?”

Here goes, Eliza thought, you can do it. “Oh this, I don’t really like this,” she said in her best British accent, “I’d really like a martini.”

“Oh, you’re from England?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m here on holiday. I was supposed to be traveling with my sister, but she got sick and so I had to travel alone. I’m Lily, by the way,” she said as their drinks appeared. She grabbed the martini and took a healthy sip for courage.

“Oh, too bad for her, but good for me. I’d love to talk somewhere more private, where we can discuss the details.”

“Details? About what?” she asked and he looked annoyed.

“You know, about your, um, fee,” he actually blushed a bit. “Sorry, I haven’t done this in a long time. Maybe we should just forget this. I am married.”

Eliza choked on her drink and sputtered out, “No!” completely forgetting her accent. Regrouping, she said, “Wait, you think I’m a call girl? What makes you think that?”

“Well, you’re at the bar alone and I was getting a vibe off you.”

“You mean, like a sexy, come-hither vibe?” He nodded and she smiled. Great! But now what? “Well, couldn’t we just talk a bit? If you’re lonely you might as well talk to me. I’m not a.. you know, that kind of girl.”

“Oh, so sorry, I see. Well, I guess we could finish our drinks. I’m tired, but I could talk a bit. Lily, why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

Eliza was elated. This was perfect! “Oh, how nice of you to ask. I was raised by my grandparents because my parents died when I was young,” she brushed a tear away, looking to see his reaction. “They had a small cottage in a village beside the sea. My entire childhood was spent fishing and enduring the harsh winds that blew in from the ocean. I fell in love at sixteen, but the dear boy died at sea.” She took another drink and looked at Stan.

“Oh, boy that sounds rough,” he said.

“Really? You think that sounds rough?” she asked. “I guess it could be a bit much, so much tragedy.”

“What are you talking about?” Stan asked.

“But you do believe me, don’t you?” she looked at him expectantly.

“I mean, I do. I have no reason not to, I guess,” he said. “Is it important that I believe you?”

“Oh yes,” she said, finishing her martini and losing her accent all together, “I’m going to be an actress. Someday you’ll tell all your friends, ‘I had a drink with her’ and they’ll be so impressed. Well, maybe not your wife. She may have a different reaction. But anyway, thanks for your time!” Eliza stood and breezed out of the hotel, hailing a taxi.

I’m doing this again, she thought. Next time I’ll go somewhere and pretend to be rich. Oh, she thought, this could be more expensive than acting class.

Copyright ©2025 Lisa Paul

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This week’s Story Starter teaser is:

Everything about her was a lie.

Fandango’s Story Starter #219