The Fontaine casting was on a Thursday in June.
Carla had warned her: competitive shortlist, six names, the room would be tight. The creative director was decisive and did not soften his decisions with politeness, which Carla considered a virtue and which Lina considered useful information.
What Carla had not warned her about — because Carla had not known — was that Cece Romano was on the shortlist.
They saw each other in the waiting area outside the casting room. A pause of exactly two seconds, long enough to be a communication without being a confrontation.
"Lina," Cece said.
"Cece."
A beat. Then Cece smiled — the warm, genuine-seeming smile she did very well. "The Fennic campaign is beautiful. Ravi is very pleased with himself for booking you."
"He did good work," Lina said. "The art direction was his."
