The Actress Ellen Thompson

“Ellie dearie turn your head just a little bit more to the left. Yes, perfect.” said Luke, who was the photographer for this photoshoot. “Now if you would please go get changed into the second outfit we want you in both of the major dresses for the poster. Alejandro! Please come get me when she is ready.” as Luke shouted the last line he walked out of the room.

Ellie went to the dressing room as Mandy and Lina followed her to help her get into outfit and change her makeup. “So glad to almost be done?” Mandy asked.

“Yea working on this movie has been great and I love all the people working on it but I would like to move onto another work where I am not just typecasted as the stunningly attractive girl who happens to have brains.”

“Well I mean the shoe does fit, you are a stunningly attractive woman with brains, though I do get them not appreciating your actual acting abilities. At least they aren’t trying to pitch you as someone who is just a pretty face.” said Lina.

“Oh I have definitely gotten those though I made clear to my agent that under no circumstances would I take those roles. The role needs to have substance or at least be one where I can be proud to be an example to young women. Anyway I guess it is time to get in the dress” Ellie said as she side-eyed the gorgeous golden gown, it was anything but comfortable but damn did it look great. She tried to talk the director into changes but was told that most of the things she wanted wouldn't be possible and still keep the aesthetic they were looking for.

“Okay now breathe in” Mandy said and as Ellie did Mandy laced up the corset so she would fit into the dress. She then stepped into the floor length dress and they laced up the back. It was smooth to the touch and felt amazing against her skin with over the shoulder straps on each side showing off a bit too much cleavage for her tastes. Finally she put on the 3-inch heels that went with the dress.

“Okay you should be all ready. Need anything before we go tell the others?” Lina asked

“Just some water, maybe a minute or two. It is always so difficult to move around and breathe in this dress. Otherwise just tell them I will be out shortly.”

“Not a problem, here” Mandy said as she handed Ellie a cup of water. “We will go let them know you will be out in a few minutes.”

Mandy and Lina left Ellie in her changing room. Ellie looked herself over in the mirror. She looked radiant though perhaps a little flush though that is likely from the corset being tight making her a little light headed. As she stood up she became dizzy as her vision went black for a moment.

When her vision and balance returned she found herself on the side of a theater stage. Where am I? She thought, this doesn’t look like any of the sets or stages we have. Also who are those people on stage? As she thought this she felt like she had to go out onto stage with her heels loudly clicking against the floor. As she heard the short blonde woman sitting next to the only man on stage say “let’s all welcome your celebrity crush.”

As she reached the chairs she stood between the people and asked “what is going on? I don’t remember coming here and what do you mean celebrity crush?”

“That dearie is easy to explain. You are the next contestant on this season of Harem Hotel: Missed Encounters. A show where you will compete with eight other women for the affection of your new master and a place in his harem and I am your Host Cassandra.”

“Absolutely not, I don’t know who put you up to this farce but you will be hearing from my agent. I am not going to be on some dating show, certainly not one with such a demeaning premise.” Ellie tried to leave but found herself rooted in place.

“Alas it isn’t up to you or even me really, we are all actors playing a part on this stage and your part is that of a contestant.” Cassandra stated with a tinge of lament in her voice.

“Wait a second.” Mark spoke up. “I thought you said all of the contestants were people I know at least somewhat. While I might be a fan of Ellie’s I don’t know her and have never met her. Also what you said about alternate realities you really expect me to believe that with a small change I would have had a chance with her?”

Ellie looked at the man and noted he didn’t seem as distraught as the women but was clearly annoyed at the situation but also seemed to know what was going on. Also what was that about alternate realities, though yea I suppose it would have to be an alternate reality for him to have a chance with me. Ellie thought, not that she was overly vain as the man wasn’t half bad looking but most of the people who were attracted to her didn’t see her for herself but rather as the characters she played on screen or were just after her wealth. Though he did say that while he was a fan he didn’t actually know me, I guess that is a point in his favor.

“Well Mark, …” Cassandra began “I didn’t say you would know the contestants personally what I specifically said was ‘while the women will be people you are familiar with, they aren’t ones you were ever super close with’ which you are most certainly familiar with who Ellie here is even if she isn’t familiar with you. As for your second point, yes actually in many of the realities you pursue your creative writing instead of going into science you end up in Hollywood and end up meeting Ellie here on set and things go from there. Anyway enough, we are already way over for this episode so onto the introduction.”

Ellie felt compelled to swoon into an empty chair and she could remember the introduction of the other three women knowing that she now had to give a similar introduction. She sat upright and faced the empty theater and began “Hi My name is Ellen Thompson, though I go by Ellie to most of my friends and colleagues. I don’t know Mark at all as this is the first time I am meeting him. I am an actress and have been since I was eleven when I got my first big break playing the witty female sidekick in a fantasy show. I am 34 years old, 5’5”, 110lbs, my measurements are 32B”-22”-34”, I am straight though I wouldn’t mind fooling around with other women, and have done so for parts before. My last sexual encounter was with my ex-boyfriend three years ago, where he tied me up, blindfolded me and teased me by licking all over my body before finally having his way with me. I loved the loss of control, intimacy and gentleness. Though the memory is somewhat ruined because I learned a few weeks later that my ex was cheating on me.”

Ellie could not believe the thing she had just said and how detailed she was. She realized that the other women were compelled to speak too, otherwise why would they all give essentially the same info and in the same order and such personal details as well. But none of the other women went into that much detail describing their sexual history, she couldn’t help but wonder why, did I?

“Alright as we are now behind schedule I will be speeding things up and have multiple introductions for the next two episodes.” Cassandra said in a hurry. “Mark, for the last five we are going to be going back to your undergraduate days. These next two, are individuals who knew of you and who you knew but you just never spent a lot of time with them specifically, even if you did ask one of them out on a date once. Alright everyone, let's welcome our next two contestants.”