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There’re a few rumblings around the table while they confer.
“What if the press asks if the patron in question was Lilah?” Keane asks.
“We redirect. Say we want to maintain the individual’s privacy, that it doesn’t matter what the woman’s name was because she represents all the women in this country who have to put up with unwanted attention from the other sex.” Jake’s an intelligent guy. Why does he work for Bernie?
“That might work,” the female PR rep for the studio says.
We all turn our heads in Bernie’s direction. His chest is heaving, and he looks as if he’s trying to rein in his temper.
“Fine,” he says. “Let James’s PR people release the statement.”
I hate when they talk about me as though I’m not in the room, but I realized a long time ago that all I am to them is a fucking means to an end, the end being profit in their pockets.
“Any more shit like this and I don’t care whether you’ve known her since you were sucking on your mom’s tit. You’re gonna cut all ties if you want to stay on this movie.” Bernie points at me as if I’m a child.
Staying silent goes against everything in me, because I will never cut her out, but I have no choice, so I nod. Lilah will always be in my life. She’s my best friend and I love her, but it’s more than that. We’re… well, we’re complicated.
“I’m serious, James,” Bernie drones on. “This reboot is a big deal. I can’t have The Regulator in the headlines for being on the wrong side of the law.”
I push back from the table and stand. “It won’t happen again.”
Without another word, I leave the room. I’m pissed off and I don’t even know at whom. Myself for getting in the fight in the first place? Lilah for once again putting herself into a situation I needed to get her out of? Bernie for trying to dictate how I live my life? Who knows. But right now, I’m pissed off at the world and need to get the hell out of here before I say something and spur one of Bernie’s legendary tantrums.
I exit the building and the Los Angeles sunshine beats down on my head. I squint until my eyes adjust.
As soon as I’m in my car, I dial Lilah’s number. She doesn’t pick up, so I dial it again then fire off a text, asking where she’s at. When I don’t get an answer, I toss my phone on the leather passenger seat, trying my best to ignore the steady and constant worry that pricks at the back of my neck like a tattoo needle.
The responsible thing to do would be to go home and sleep. I was up late last night, and tomorrow is my first costume fitting for the movie that starts shooting next month. I shouldn’t chance the paps clicking a photo with Lilah and me.
Leaving the parking lot, instead of turning left to head to my place, I turn right.
Screw Bernie. Screw his reps. Screw my people.
Lilah comes first.
Chapter Two
LILAH
“C’mere, girl!”
Daddy’s voice boomed throughout the decrepit shack we called home. I slid under my bed until my back pressed against the makeshift wall.
When I didn’t answer, his footsteps echoed through the living room, my heart thumping in my throat the nearer he drew. He stopped and I held my breath, hoping he’d change his mind and not come looking for me. Maybe he’d think I was still out playing with Jimmy.
But a minute later, he stomped closer to my room and stepped inside. It didn’t take long before the scent of whiskey was all I smelled. Today must have been sampling day.
He and Jimmy’s dad made moonshine in the deep woods and sold it secretly to people. Every time they went to check on their stills, they came home drunk. I tried to stay away from home those nights, knowing what they meant for me, but Jimmy had to help his aunt, who lives farther up the mountain, with some new pigs. So tonight, I was alone.
“I dun know where you are, girl, but I’m not goan be happy when I find yah.”
Daddy was slurring, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Eight is old enough to know that being unable to see his muddy boots on the floor didn’t mean he wouldn’t be able to see me if he bent over and looked under the bed.
This felt like the worst part. The anticipation of what was coming. You’d think the during would be worse, but to me, it was always the before.
He walked slowly to stand in front of the bed. He knew I was there. We had so few things in our place that there really weren’t many places to hide. My only hope had been that he was drunk enough that he’d forget about me and pass out.
No such luck tonight…
