Page 83 of A Simple Love

“Get on it,” Annie instructed.

“Done,” he replied and signed off.

Davis leaned his head back. “Can we add costing me millions personally when the film isn’t finished if this is true?” he muttered.

I exchanged a glance with Annie. “You’d fire her, Davis?”

“She’s breached about ten items in her contract. Plus, if she did put the burrs in the blankets with intent to harm? That’s a whole other legal issue right there. She could be charged with a serious offense if you decide to go after her. What choice do I have? I’ll have to recast and reshoot a huge portion of the film or walk away and shelve it.” For the first time ever, I saw Davis lose his cool. “Fuck!” He slammed his hand on the table. “This is what I get for ‘seeing’ something in a person on-screen. It’s my own fucking fault.”

Annie spoke up. “Fucking nonsense. It’s Oliver’s fault.”

I gaped at her. “What?”

“If you weren’t so hot, she wouldn’t have gone after you.”

I was at a loss for words. Then she winked at me and laughed raucously. Davis grinned, and I had to chuckle, knowing she was simply stopping the blame game.

“Seriously, boys, this is on her. She didn’t get what she wanted, so she’s acting out like a child, not caring who else is hurt in the process. She deserves to be fired, blackballed, and run out of town.” She inhaled long and deep, then blew out the vapor slowly. “But that fucks everyone. Myself included. And I hate being fucked. I much prefer being on the giving end.”

“Thanks for that mental image, Annie,” I muttered with a grimace.

She waved her hand, not bothered.

I looked at Davis. “You’d reshoot?”

He stood, grunting in displeasure as he paced. “I’ve soaked millions in. This is all me. If I recast and reshoot, maybe I can salvage something. I walk away, and not only do I lose everything, there’s a giant black mark against me.”

I frowned. “I’ll give up my salary.”

Annie’s head snapped in my direction, and Davis gaped at me. “What?”

“I’ll work for free.”

“We need to discuss this,” Annie hissed as Davis shook his head.

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t. I offered.”

He sat down, perplexed. “Oliver, this isn’t your fault. You didn’t do this.”

“I still feel partially responsible.” I drew in a deep breath. “In fact, if you decide to go ahead, I’ll finish the film with her.”

He and Annie stared at me.

“You would do that?”

“You took a chance on me and trusted me with this character. I’d trust you to look after me with her,” I said simply.

I looked at Annie, who was studying me closely. She looked—proud?

“There would have to be stipulations,” Annie said firmly.

Davis and I exchanged a glance. “What do you have in mind, Annie?” he asked.

“Beat her at her own game. We get her to admit she was in on it. You, Oliver, be the big man and finish the film. You do the red carpet with the whole cast when it’s released. You laugh it off.”

“And?” Davis prompted.