Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“I’ll take care of it,” I promise.
“Good, and keep taking care of the king,” he says with a weird smirk on his face. “He’s going to be a star. It’ll be worth the seven million to have exclusive rights to the royal wedding.”
He turns and walks away.
He’s kind of a jerk, but that’s how producers are. And I want to be one, why? I walk down the hall, my shoes in hand and cell phone nestled against my boobs wondering why I want to do this.
Because since I was a kid, they were the people with the power. I grew up in this industry. Surrounded by it. It’s all I know, and production has the power.
I want to be a different producer than the ones like Thad, who care nothing about the story they’re telling or the people they’re working with. It’s not like there aren’t great producers out there, but there are an awful lot of Thads.
At least Joe turns out to be a good person to work with. I round the corner to make my way to the residential portion of the mansion. Soon this will all be over, and Luca and I will have some time to figure out if this can work.
I’m starting to believe it can.
“I told you I don’t want to do that,” a familiar voice says.
I can barely hear him. It’s Patrick, I think, but he’s trying to keep it down. I wonder who’s pissed him off this time. I feel for whoever it is.
“Stop,” he says, and this time he’s louder, and I can hear genuine distress in his voice.
I move toward the production office.
“You can’t say you don’t want it,” another voice says. “After all, it’s not like it’s the first time, Pat. You know what happens if you don’t do your job.”
A chill goes up my spine because I know that voice, too.
Sometimes rumors get twisted. We see what we think we should see and forget that anyone can be a target. Not only women. No. We’re equal opportunity sexual harassers in my industry.
So I do exactly what I would do if one of the women were behind that door. I throw it open and let Patrick know he’s not alone.
I never realized how big Joe is, but seeing him with his hand around Patrick’s throat makes it clear that the power imbalance goes far beyond their jobs. He’s got Patrick backed against the wall, and I can’t miss the sheen of tears in the PA’s eyes. I also can’t miss the fact that his hand is on Patrick’s belt.
“Hey, are you okay?” He’s not and I know he’s not, but I can’t think of anything else to say.
We’ve all been in this position. Every woman I know has had some man put his hands on her when she didn’t want him to. From mild annoyance to outright rape, this is something women deal with on an everyday basis, and my heart aches and I’m also angry at myself because never once did I think that the person who Joe was harassing was a man.
Patrick doesn’t deserve this, and I was sent here to make sure he doesn’t have to put up with it a moment longer.
Joe’s face is a florid red when he turns, his hands coming up as though he can show me he isn’t dangerous. Except I’ve already seen behind the mask. “Everything is fine. We were just discussing tomorrow’s shoot. Right, Patrick?”
Patrick is shaking as he nods. “Yeah. Tomorrow’s shoot. I’m going home now to get some rest.”
He rushes past me, his eyes not meeting mine.
“Anika, should we talk?” Joe asks me.
What is there to talk about? I saw what I saw, and I’m going to report it. Me standing here with him only places me in danger. I know when to retreat. I also want to let the monster stew in his own anxiety about what I’ll do. I give him a smile. “Not at all. Sorry I interrupted.”
He unleashes an audible sigh. “Sorry. My wife and I have an odd relationship. It’s open, so if you’re thinking about telling her, she won’t be surprised.”
Oh, she’s not who I’m telling. “It’s your business, Joe. On set affairs happen all the time.”
I need to appease this man or I’m worried what he’ll do to me. Tomorrow I’ll have my talk with Jessica, and we’ll have a new director shortly after that. I won’t have to deal with him again, so I’m willing to say anything to get from point A, where I’m alone in a room with him, to point B, where I will never have to see this man again.
“I’m glad you understand. You’ve been in the business long enough to know how these things go. I have certain needs my wife can’t fulfill.”
“Because you’re gay. Which is not a big deal in our business, so I’m not sure why you feel the need to hide it.”