Page 105 of Cast to be Mine

“What?”

“You heard me. You’re wrapping today, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then nail it. Focus on the work. Get the movie in the can.” He paused. “After that, you can figure out the rest. The girl, the publicity, all of it. But right now, you need to be a director first. Everything else comes second.”

It was good advice. Practical. The kind of advice my father excelled at when he wasn’t being a stubborn jackass about family feuds.

“I’m still not thrilled about you dating Gordon Sterling’s daughter,” he added. “But no matter what happens with the girl, you don’t want to get branded as problematic by dating your actors. That reputation sticks. It’ll follow you for the rest of your career.”

“I know.”

“Do you? Because right now, every casting director in Hollywood is going to think twice before sending their clients to audition for you. Every actress is going to wonder if you’re going to hit on her. That’s the reality you’re facing. You don’t want to get canceled before you get started.”

My stomach twisted. He wasn’t wrong. The optics were terrible, regardless of the truth.

“I’ll handle it.”

“See that you do.” He cleared his throat. “And, Micah? For what it’s worth, if she’s half as talented as you say she is, the work will speak for itself. Eventually. People have short memories in this town. Give them something new to talk about, and they’ll forget all about the scandal.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Don’t thank me. Just don’t screw up the movie.”

He hung up without saying goodbye. Classic.

I stood there staring at the ocean. Beautiful. Peaceful. Everything I wasn’t feeling right now. My father’s words kept echoing in my head. Figure out the rest later.

It was solid advice. The only advice that made sense right now. I couldn’t control what the press was saying. I couldn’t control what people on social media thought. I couldn’t even control whether Grace would still want anything to do with me after all this chaos.

But I could control the work. I could deliver the movie I’d promised the studio, the cast, and the crew.

Everything else would have to wait.

I found Toby near the production tent, his tablet clutched to his chest like a security blanket.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine. Just ready to wrap this thing.”

I wasn’t fine. But I would be. I had to be.

The vans were loading up, crew members filing into the seats. I scanned the crowd for Grace but didn’t see her. She’d probably already left, retreating to her hotel room to lick her wounds in private.

I wanted to go to her and promise her we’d get through it together, but I couldn’t. Not tonight. Tonight, she needed space. Time to process everything that had happened and decide for herself what she wanted.

“I think we’re done for the day,” Toby said. “I got that B-roll you wanted. I’m going to put the drone up and get some more. Anything specific you want me to look for?”

I thought about it. “Show me what you’ve got.”

The vans were pulling out. Toby and I often hung back, getting more footage without the crew and equipment.

The footage was stunning. Toby had captured shots of the coastline that looked like something out of a nature documentary—sweeping aerial views of the cliffs, the water crashing against volcanic rock, but the sunset backdrop was the money shot.

“This one’s my favorite,” Toby said, swiping to a new clip. “I was thinking we could use it for the behind-the-scenes package. Maybe the opening credits?”

“It’s beautiful,” I said. The kid had real talent. Under different circumstances, I would have been over the moon about what we’d captured today.