Page 20 of Between Takes
Chapter Seven
“That for me?” Shaun asked, tipping his head towards the coffee cup in my hand. For the first time in a week, a calm smile graced his lips, and my words and common sense ran away. No wonder the world had fallen in love with him. He was too much to handle when he focused that smile on you.
He didn’t wait for a reply. He plucked the cup from my hands and walked away.
Shaking the fog from my mind, I chased after him. Telling him I didn’t drink milk either had been my biggest mistake. Keeping a cup of coffee to myself was near enough impossible now.
Trotting alongside, I swiped my fingers across the tablet and brought up his schedule.
“You’ve got one more scene to film today, and then you’ve got a meeting with the producers at Harry’s. If the day keeps running behind, I’ll have your car waiting.”
He grunted but kept his eyes forward as he stalked through the sets with a singular focus.
Shaun pushed open a solid fire door, revealing stacks and stacks of equipment boxes. He wandered over to a short flight case and lifted himself onto it.
“What?” he asked, his tone defensive. My confusion must have shown.
“You have a perfectly nice trailer. Why are you in here?”
“No one thinks to look for me here.”
His tone was subdued, and my guard eased.
“What is this place?” I placed the tablet down and lifted myself onto the flight case, grateful for my Pilates habit.
Shaun glanced around. “It’s an equipment store. They put all the empty crates for the kit that doesn’t get moved around that much in here.” Despite the helpful explanation, there wasn’t much life in his voice.
“Have you always been like this?”
“Like what?” Shaun asked.
“I’ve known you for two weeks. Even I can see that you hate your job.”
“I don’t hate my job,” he scoffed.
I snorted. It wasn’t ladylike, but who cared? He was such a liar.
“I don’t!” His tone hardened and my eyes flew back to his face. “And while we’re having this heart-to-heart, let’s get something straight: You’re my assistant. Not my friend. Not my therapist. Chew me out in front of the crew, but stay out of my personal life.”
Stupid, Mona. As if you could actually help the idiotic man.
He didn’t deserve my help, anyway.
“Fine.” I jumped down from the box. “They want you back on set.”
Shaun’s feet landed on the concrete with a hard slap before I could take more than a couple steps.
“Oh, and I don’t need you at the producer’s meeting. I don’t need you showing me up in front of them.” With that he stalked out of the room without so much as a second look.
I stared after him, my brows furrowed with confusion. What the hell had I done to provoke that? “Nothing” was the answer, and dwelling on it wouldn’t get me through the day.
The crew had made up time and flew through Shaun’s remaining scene. The car was waiting and the producers had called to confirm the meeting at Harry’s. When they wrapped him, I handed over his phone and nodded goodbye with a relieved smile. I was dead on my feet and liable to fall asleep on the dirty studio floor if I didn’t find my way home soon.
I was on my way to my car when my phone rang. I frowned as the number of Shaun’s driver lit the screen. Why is Tom calling me?If Shaun needs something, he’ll text me.
“Hi Mona, do you have an ETA on Shaun?”
“He should be with you already. He left half an hour ago.”
