AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“On administrative leave, then.” Renee gets up real close, her hands sweeping over my shoulders. “You’re really tense, Mr. Stride. Let me help you with that.”
I pull away, more than a little aware that I’m on the receiving end of everyone’s stares and whispers. Since those pictures leaked, none of the members of my crew have been able to look at me the same way. A couple of the gaffers look impressed, while the make-up team looks at me with judgmental dismay. In their minds, I’m one ofthosedirectors. The kind that takes advantage of young women because of the power I hold.
Of course, it’s the furthest thing from the truth.
What Eden and I have… It’s not like that.
When Renee laughs it off and tries to give me another shoulder massage, I swat her hands away. “Don’t touch me, Ms. Thatch.”
“As you wish, Mr. Stride. Is there anything I can do to help you make today a little easier? If you’d like, I can call El Blanco and have the chef send over your favorite meal so you don’t have to eat the disgusting coconut curry they’re serving at crafty today.”
My jaw ticks. “They work hard to prepare our food. If it’s so displeasing to you, maybe you should pay for your own lunch elsewhere.” I get up from my director’s chair. “I have to speak with my actors. You’re dismissed.”
Renee shifts her weight from foot to foot, twirling a lock of her dyed dark hair around her finger. “Are you sure, Mr. Stride? How about I get you a snack? I know Eden used to put in invoices for that Thai restaurant downtown and—”
“You’re not Eden,” I snap. “Kindly leave my set. You’re getting in my way.”
I’m pretty sure I see her bottom lip tremble as she turns and hurriedly leaves, but I don’t give a rat’s ass. Who does she think she is? Dressing up like Eden, trying to take over Eden’s job, cozying up to me like I’d ever give her a chance. Renee reeks of desperation and it sickens me.
I make my way over to Annabeth with notes on her performance. She’s already making excuses before I can get a word out.
“I heard a car alarm go off in the parking lot,” she insists. “It distracted me.”
“You know as well as I do that we can take it out in post. Our sound guys have two booms and a lav mic on you, so they probably didn’t hear anything, anyway.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry.” Annabeth tilts her head to the side, looking at me in a pitiful manner. “Have you heard from her?”
“No. Have you?”
She shakes her head, glancing down at her shoes. “No. I think she blocked my number. Her roommate really hasn’t seen her?”
It’s my turn to shake my head.
I feel God awful. For not being able to protect her, for the things I said… Right now, I’d give just about anything to know Eden’s safe. I’ve already contacted my lawyers and we’re in the process of pressuring TMZ for their source, but even if I manage to track down the bastard who sold the outlet those photos, the damage is already done.
This is a special kind of pain. It’s insidious, incurable. A scandal of this size doesn’t just go away. It only grows and grows as people retweet, share, send, eventually taking on a life of its own as the world looks in and judges us without truly understanding what we’re going through.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, the pressure building inside my skull threatening to make it explode. I have a movie to film, dammit, but I feel like I’m being spread too thin.
“We’re going to start the scene from the top,” I tell her. “Stay focused. We’re almost done—”
“Hey!” one of the PA’s shouts somewhere to my left. “This is a closed set. You can’t be here!”
I turn just in time to see a man marching toward me, his eyes bloodshot and his nostrils flared. His fists are clenched, ready to swing at anything and everything in his path —especially me.
“You son of a bitch!” Thomas roars at the top of his lungs. “Mydaughter?”
Today just went from bad to shitty.
People gawk. A couple of unfortunate crew members are shoved out of the way. In the blink of an eye, Thomas is in my face, grabbing me by the shirt collar while Annabeth screams.
“Let go of him, Thomas!”
“I’m going to fucking kill you!” he hisses. His breath reeks of alcohol. “First you steal my wife, and now you’ve sullied my daughter?”
“For fuck’s sake, Thomas,” I snap back. “I never stole your wife! When the hell are you going to get over it you, you stupid motherfucker?”
“Thomas,” Annabeth shouts, “let go of him right now —someone call security!”
