Page 29 of Hate To Be Mine

Good, I thought with petty satisfaction. Screw this lady. If she was going to make my life more difficult, I’d give it right back to her.

The crew started moving equipment, grumbling but compliant. I led Clarissa to the new location. It was a beautiful spot under a canopy of tropical trees, with filtered light coming through the leaves. The ocean was visible in the background but at a safe distance. No cliffs. No unstable ground. It wasn’t quite the vision I had originally, but it was still gorgeous. It was soft and romantic. And safe.

No reason for Bernadette to object.

I looked up at the trees, checking the composition, and my eyes landed on the coconuts hanging in clusters above where Clarissa would be standing.

Falling coconuts are deadlier than sharks.

“Actually, let’s set up over here instead. Better angle.”

Whatever. I was being safe. That’s what everyone wanted, right?

If Bernadette came at me again with another one of her little sticks, I might toss her over the cliff. And that would be very bad.

The photographers started setting up their cameras in the new location. The lighting crew positioned their reflectors to work with the natural canopy. Wardrobe did a final check on Clarissa’s dress.

And finally we started shooting.

Clarissa was a professional. Despite the earlier drama, she found her angles, worked with the light, made the dress look incredible. The filtered sunlight through the leaves created this dreamy, romantic atmosphere that was actually better than the cliff would have been.

Not that I’d admit that to Bernadette.

I got lost in the work, calling out directions, checking shots with the photographers, making small adjustments to Clarissa’s positioning. This was what I was good at. I had been on the other side of the camera enough times and seen the product to know what looked good.

The morning progressed with no additional interruptions from our safety guru. I brought out Tempest and Portia for some group compositions.

I was doing my job. Proving I could handle this.

I noticed Bernadette on the perimeter. She was doing her best to stay out of the way. No one was talking to her. I didn’t think they were even giving her any attention at all.

Good.

She was the outsider. She didn’t know the first thing about modeling or photography. I needed her to sit her fine ass down and let the professionals handle the job.

12

BERNADETTE

Istood at the edge of the shoot, trying to blend into the background while keeping my eyes on everything. The new location was safer. It didn’t eliminate the risk of deadly spiders or snakes in the grass, but that was a risk anyone took no matter where they were in the world.

Sebastian had even moved the model away from the coconut trees without me having to say anything.

So why did I feel so terrible?

I was used to being the bad guy. That was part of the job description. Insurance representatives weren’t supposed to be popular. We were supposed to be thorough, cautious, and the voice of reason when everyone else wanted to throw caution to the wind. Being the hall monitor was just another part of my job.

But I’d never been on-site for a job like this before. I never had to stand in front of people while they openly hated me. In my office, I could write my reports, send my recommendations, and never see the faces of the people who resented my existence. The hatred was at arm’s length. I didn’t have social media, so they couldn’t find me. I got my fair share of nasty emails and shitty voicemails but it was very easy to delete and move on.

The anger I felt right now was very real. And it was everywhere. I couldn’t just delete it.

A photographer’s assistant walked past me, close enough that I had to step back. “Excuse me,” I said.

She didn’t even acknowledge I’d spoken.

One of the models was heading toward the wardrobe tent when I accidentally stepped into her path. I’d been watching the lighting setup, making sure they weren’t creating any trip hazards with their cables, and didn’t realize I was standing on the designated path.

“Move,” she said flatly.