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“Excuse me?”
“You’ll have to check with Frankie.” And then the man hung up.
Jake’s pulse throbbed at his temple. What the hell was this?
“Problem?” Frankie asked as she stood, arms akimbo, blocking the bathroom door.
“Did you tell the tile supplier not to give me information?”
“No.”
Jake’s relief was intense but brief.
“I told all of our suppliers not to talk to you. I am point on all of those accounts, and I will be sending them business long after you leave town. The Valenti name still means something, at least until you drag it through the mud with this show.”
“Frankie, the Valenti name will always mean something in the Bay.”
She took his elbow and pulled him into the back bedroom that was already half staged for the reveal, away from the prying eyes and curious ears of her crew.
“Even after you make me look like a prize idiot? Even after you make me look so incompetent that my own father can’t find a kind word?” she hissed and shut the door behind her, closing them in.
He wished that she had a quickie in mind for this private moment, but he feared those days were gone for good. He had to convince her if he was ever going to get back to that place of trust. "Frankie, you know that's not true. That's not how you will look. I can show you—"
Frankie cut him off with a wave of her hand, brushing his words aside. "I thought I knew what was true and what was fake, but now I wonder just how good an actor you really are."
"I never acted with you. Everything with you was real," Jake said softly, his heart on his sleeve.
He watched her lip tremble, but then she firmed it resolutely. "Tell me, Jake, if they had decided to go in the direction of Dad's pilot, would you have let it go to air?”
Jake paused to think about that. All along he’d been so sure of his vision, of her skill and screen appeal, he’d never truly considered that the network wouldn’t see the obvious choice. In his mind, it had never really been a choice. Before he could figure out how to say that, Frankie leapt into the silence.
“And there’s my answer. You once told me that this show was a stepping-stone for your career. I didn’t realize that the stone would be on my back or how heavy it would be.”
She pushed past him before he had a chance to defend himself. Honestly, he didn’t know what else to say. She didn’t get it. The pressure, the expectations, the money—they were all parts of how the Hollywood game was played. But he hadn't intended to fall for her. He never would have used their relationship against her. Her lack of faith and trust slashed at his heart, but he could see where she was coming from. He just couldn't figure out how to fix it.
Arguing was not the answer. She wouldn’t listen to him explain it right now. One thing he knew for sure: trying to reason with a woman at the height of her temper was never a good idea.
“All-crew meeting in ten minutes!” She opened the door and bellowed the command at full volume to a chorus of “Yes, boss,” replies. She tapped her phone, presumably sending the message to the outbuildings too, before she glanced over her shoulder at him. "Stick around, Ryland. You’re going to want to hear this one.”
Oh Lord, now what?Jake stomped after her out into the kitchen. She'd already cut him out of the supply chain. She'd questioned his integrity and slapped back his attempts to talk to her. This couldn't be anything good.
He took a sip of his coffee and grimaced. He’d forgotten it was cold. He’d lost sight of everything but her today. He was positive he’d have to completely redo the raw editing he’d put in, but he’d stay and hear what she had to say. And then he’d get his head back on straight. He had a show to run.
Crewmembers filed into the kitchen from all over the property, subcontractors and employees alike, and gathered around Frankie, who commanded the room from a step stool like a queen. Her troops gathered for battle, and she was their leader.
“Thanks for coming together so quickly. I’ll keep this brief because I know you all want to get out of here on time. Number one: all subcontractor and supplier changes will be communicated directly from me. If you hear something different than the original plans from someone else, I expect you to double-check it with me before you act on it. Number two,” she looked directly at Jake, eyes burning with fury, “anyone caught tampering with or altering supplies or plans will be slapped with trespassing and vandalism charges so fast his head will spin. The good thing about the show is this place is crawling with cameras. I’ll be adding a few of my own, and I’m sure Jake will be only too happy to cooperate if the police need evidence. Isn’t that right, Jake?”
“We always cooperate with local authorities. It won't be necessary.”
“Excellent.” She smirked. “My goal is to curtail the troubles plaguing this build and get caught up. I’m offering gift cards to anyone whose work passes first inspections under deadline. Any questions?”
“No, boss.”
“Got it.”
“We’re good.”
The affirmatives circled the room.
