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Anna
I managed to sleep for a while. Despite getting so much sleep the night before, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
I only woke up later when I heard knocking on the door. I yawned and got up carefully. Christopher must be back already and he probably forgot to take the apartment keys with him. Using the crutches, I made my way to the front door and opened it.
But instead of Christopher on the other side, there was Mark Henderson smiling at me. “Hey,” he said.
“Uh, hi.”
“I just wanted to come and check on you and personally apologize for what happened,” he said.
Something about the way he talked rubbed me the wrong way. He almost acted as if I should be grateful he showed up unannounced at my apartment.
“I’m fine,” I said. “Um, how did you get my address?”
“Remember the form you filled out for the casting call? I might have snuck a quick peek at them.” He grinned. “I shouldn’t have, but I just felt so bad about what happened.”
I kept a grip on the door. “Well, that’s nice of you but I promise I’m fine. I’m so sorry I made you come out all this way. I’m sure you need to betting back to work–”
I tried to close the door but he stopped the door. “How about I come in for a little while? We can chat and hang out. I can sign an autograph for you.”
“I’m good,” I said. “I don’t really watch movies. I just needed the paycheck.”
“Oh come on. There has to be some reason you showed up to a casting call. Do you want to be an actor? I can give you some tips.”
It was like he didn’t even hear me. Unfortunately, he was strong. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t close the door. “I’m tired,” I said. “Please leave.”
“Oh come on. It’s just for a little bit. And I came all this way to talk to you and make sure you’re all right. Doesn’t that count for something?”
“I never asked you for that,” I said. “With all due respect, I don’t know you. I’m not one of your fans. I just want to go back to sleep.” I wondered when Christopher was going to be back. I wanted Mark gone before he came back. I didn’t want them to have a confrontation right outside my apartment.
But Mark’s expression turned stony. He forced the door open. I backed up and tried to get away but I ended up stumbling and falling. I felt a stab of pain in my leg. He knelt on top of me. “Do you know how many girls would kill to have me in their homes?” He said. “Do you know how many would want me?”
“Get off!” I tried to push him off but he pinned me down. His face got close to mine and I could smell booze on him. Was he always drunk?
“You should be grateful I’m showing you any attention, you stupid bitch!” He shouted in my face.
Suddenly he was pulled back by the back of his shirt. Christopher was back. I tried to catch my breath as Christopher shoved Mark into the hall, punching him across the face. “You’re fired,” he growled. “And I’ll make sure you never work again.” He punched him again.
The panic was flowing through me and I could feel myself hyperventilate. I wanted to call out to him and tell him to stop but I couldn’t get the words out.
Christopher finished beating him and Mark lay on the ground, his nose bleeding. The actor slowly stood up and glared at the producer. “You can’t fire me,” he said. “You’re budget will be trashed if you try. I’m the star. What are you going to do? Double the budget overnight?”
“I’ll scrap the entire project before working with you after what you did,” Christopher said with a low growl.
I still couldn’t breathe and I was beginning to feel dizzy. I managed to let out a small whine and that got Chris’s attention. His expression instantly softened when he saw me. He turned back to Mark. “Get out of my sight,” he said before shutting the door in the actor’s face. He locked it and came over to me. “Hey, little one,” he said, gathering me up into his arms. “It’s okay. I need you to take deep breaths for me, okay? Deep breaths.”
I forced myself to breathe. Christopher rubbed my back, whispering reassurances to me as I slowly calmed down from the panic attack. When it was over, I felt exhausted and embarrassed. “I’m sorry,” I said hoarsely. “I shouldn’t have been so dramatic. Or I should have closed the door faster. I should have done something.”
“No,” he said harshly. I looked up at him to see his face tight with anger. “This is not your fault. This is absolutely not your fault. Do you understand?”
I shrugged. I felt like I was just causing more trouble for Christopher after he had been so nice to me.
He tilted my face up with a slight touch to my chin. “If you ever imply that what happened today was your fault, then I will punish you. Understand?”
I swallowed. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Good girl.” He pressed his lips to my forehead. “Do you want to talk about what happened?” he asked.
