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He stalked over to the director, Carlos. “How long have we got left?”
“Just a couple more hours to do some more pitches and some blocking,” Carlos replied. Will wanted to have a tantrum and it must have showed. “What’s up with you? You had your little time away, we put everything on hold so you couldlive your best life, now it’s hard work time,” Carlos mocked him.
Will took a step forward but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned and saw Ezra Jackson, one of the newer Vipers.
“Not worth it,” Ezra’s deep voice warned. Will eyed Carlos again before deciding Ezra was right and turned to stalk back to his dressing room. It wasn’t hard to miss, it was the biggest one in the fucking place. Too big. He preferred smaller spaces now, like a cabin or a trailer home.
It was a moment before he realized he wasn’t alone. He spotted Ezra leaning against the doorframe, arms folded over his chest. He had only spoken to Ezra a few times before putting him forward as a new Viper on the show. Ezra was a tech mogul who made his fortune selling apps before becoming one of the pioneers in software development. His company soon joined the Fortune 500 list and he became the ninth Black executive to be on that list.
Will liked him, not only for his business acumen but because, like Will, he’d had a tough start in life and had worked his way up through sheer grit and determination. Ezra called people on their shit but wasn’t easily riled. His calm persona was the perfect opposite of Will’s explosive, aggressive one and they worked well together on set, becoming rival Vipers. But it was all an act.
“Talk to me,” Ezra said.
“Nothing to say,” Will replied, dropping down on the couch.
Ezra pursed his lips and pulled at the cufflinks on his shirt. “Wanna try that again?”
“Fuck!” Will shouted, to try and shift some of his frustration. He ran a hand through his hair. “I just…” he couldn’t get the words out.
“What happened in Citrus Pines?” Ezra asked, shocking Will. “Oh, come on. You didn’t expect me not to figure out where you’d gone?”
Will didn’t say anything, surprised that Ezra had known the whole time where he was and he was touched that Ezra had never leaked the information.
“Was it a woman?”
“Yeah.”
Ezra bared his teeth in a terrifying grin. “Of course it was. And now you’re questioning everything you thought you knew and the weight on your chest is slowly crushing you and you want to punch every fucker who tries to talk to you?”
Will stared at him, amazed. “How are you in my head?”
Ezra chuckled, a low rumble that sounded like the beginnings of an earthquake. “I’ve been there, my friend.” He pushed off the wall and took a seat beside Will.
Will scrubbed a hand over his face. He’d had his break and yet being here, he felt more exhausted than ever. “Honestly, I’ve been questioning things for a while.”
“Tell me about it?”
He told Ezra how he’d been feeling before going to Citrus Pines. How he’d been conflicted about business and didn’t have the same passion and hunger for the deal. That he was bonetired.Then he told Ezra about finding the shelter, building it up, and about Rebelle.
“Man, I’ve never seen your eyes light up like they did just then.”
Will sat with the words for a moment, playing with his watch. “Have you ever wished…” he trailed off.
“Wished I was still in my studio apartment that I shared with two other people, tinkering with an old computer where no one knew my name and I was just having fun?” Ezra said.
Will nodded.
“Sure. But I’m only just starting out. I’ve got years to go until I think it’ll get too much. And if those thoughts ever overshadowed how often I was grateful for you finding me and where I am, then I’d make a change.” Ezra stood up, signaling the end of their chat. “What I will say is; you’ve been in the game for nearly twenty years. You’ve done your time, you’ve made your mark and helped other young people get a footing on the ladder. If you decided to stop, people would shit themselves.”
Will snorted. “Helpful.”
“They’d shit themselves and then be onto the next thing. People are resilient, we both know this, they’d get over it and have moved on before you know it. It’s not quite the tragedy you think it would be.” Ezra held out his hand and tugged Will to his feet.
“Man, you don’t pull your punches.”
“I know, it’s one of the reasons I caught your eye, remember? It’s harsh but true.”
Will tucked his hands in the pockets of his slacks. “But what about all I can do with my money, isn’t it selfish to stop helping?”
