Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“I need this shut down ASAP,” I replied. “Not for me. For Kassie. She doesn’t deserve this. I’m angrier about that than anything.”
Davis nodded. “I understand.”
“I want to face Sheri. I want to know why. Then, yes, if you decide to go ahead, I’ll finish the film.”
“With full payment,” Annie added. “Maybe a bonus for danger pay.”
“Will you press charges for the incident?”
“No. That will only perpetuate the animosity and cause another scandal. But she needs to take responsibility.” I sat back. “And apologize—especially to Kassie. Plus, make amends.”
“How?”
I shook my head, suddenly tired. “I don’t know.”
“Maybe she needs a salary cut. Or lesser billing,” Annie stated dryly. “Put Oliver’s name over hers.”
Davis winced. “That’s harsh, even for you. Deserving, but harsh.”
“We can figure out something. But I don’t want the cops involved, the lawyers bickering between us. I want the article retracted and him fired. I want it buried. Over.” I stood. “I’m going to my trailer.”
Sheri walked into Davis’s office looking displeased and bored. She didn’t like being ordered to go anywhere, and Davis had made it clear she had no choice but to show up.
Her demeanor changed when she saw Annie beside Davis, me sitting there, and her agent on the screen via Zoom.
“What’s going on?” she demanded, sitting down and crossing her legs, swinging one foot in agitation.
Annie slid her phone across the table, and Sheri stared at the screen, the image of her and Flynn doing exactly what Annie expected it to do.
She crumpled like a stack of cards. “I didn’t know it would be like this!”
“Why Flynn?” Annie asked.
“I knew he and Oliver had history. He’s always been okay with me. It was his idea about the burrs and the pictures. I thought it would be funny to watch Oliver squirm,” Sheri admitted, looking less amused and more upset by the moment. I sat back, surprisingly not enjoying this the way I’d thought I would.
“Did you stop to think your idea could have resulted in serious injury to Oliver?” Davis asked. “He could bring you up on legal charges of intent to harm—or something even worse.”
Her eyes widened. Fear flickered over her features, and she pressed her hands to her sides. I noticed the trembling and decided this was real, not a good acting job.
She began to look uncomfortable. “It wasn’t supposed to go this far,” she admitted. “I just wanted him to piss Oliver off a little.”
“Why, Sheri? Because I said no to you?” I asked, truly curious.
She flipped her hair. “You have it so easy! Everyone likes you. Davis listens to you. People barely acknowledge me.”
I frowned. “And that’s my fault? I’ve had to work to get people’s attention. And I did it by showing respect. Not demanding it. I’ve worked hard, learning my craft. I get to know everyone on set. Show them I’m just like them. You demand to be treated like a star.”
“Because I am one!”
Davis spoke, interrupting her. “Not as big of one as you think you are.” He steepled his fingers as he studied her. “You’re about to be cut from this film.”
She paled, sitting back. “No!” She looked at her agent. “Do something!”
Peter shook his head. “You already did it. I told you to watch the attitude. You broke the contract with your own bad decision-making. I’m simply trying to clean up the damage.”
“So I lose everything? You can’t do that!”
Davis lifted his eyebrows. “Yes, I can.”
She was furious, almost spitting in her anger. She glared at me. “Why should you have it all?”
I shook my head, completely in shock. I looked at Annie, who was oddly quiet.
“Have it all?” I repeated. “You think I have it all?”
“Yes. Everything goes your way. The roles, the accolades, everyone fawning over you—”
I was on my feet, anger burning through me. “Enough!” I roared.
She reared back, looking fearful. I stalked over, standing in front of her. I was aware of Davis and Annie both watching me, wondering. I ignored them.
“You think I have it easy? You have no fucking idea what I have gone through, what I have lost to be here today,” I began, my voice dripping with anger.
I leaned close, keeping my voice low, and I told her. Everything. Meeting Ed. Leaving Kassie. Losing all my money. Struggling to find my feet. How Ed played me. Realizing I was alone and had no one. How scared I had been all the fucking time. Lonely. I told her about Annie and the difference she made in my life. How hard I always tried to do my best.
And how I had struggled lately. I was even honest about that.
I straightened slowly, feeling exhausted. “Davis took a chance on me, and I will forever be grateful to him. You waltzed in here and decided to fuck me over. Well, congratulations, Sheri. It worked. But it’s not only me you fucked. Davis took a chance on you too, and you fucked him royally.”