Page 49 of Between Takes
“I think I need to reassess our relationship.”
“Yeah, I would too, but fill me in first.”
I rolled my eyes at the excitement in her voice. Somehow, we’d switched roles; I used to be the one living vicariously through her.
“I’m not sure I can,” I said, hesitating more because I didn’t want to admit everything and I knew that once she got me started, there would be no shutting my mouth.
“Your NDA doesn’t apply to sisters in the biz.”
I chuckled. “I highly doubt that was an exemption clause.”
“Yeah, yeah. Read it later, spill now.”
The need to talk became too much. I hadn’t so much as spoken vaguely to Alys or Tilly. Now, Isla’s insistence invited me to break the dam. “It was hell at first. Shaun was every bit the ass the tabloids painted him: he was shouting at the crew. He purposely tried to hit me with a door—”
“HE WHAT?”
“I’m not sure he would have actually done it, but it was apparently a ploy he’d used to scare off many assistants, something neither you nor Sherry told me. Thanks for the warning there, sis,” I said, forcing the words between my clenched jaw.
I proceeded to fill her in on more of Shaun’s antics, charting the full rollercoaster ride of life working with him.
“I had no idea he was pulling shit like that. Sherry assured me he wasn’t dangerous. Last time I offer her my help,” Isla bit out, indignation rolling down the phone.
“One minute he’s being an inconsiderate twat, and the next he’s all apology and charm. Honestly, Is, it’s a jarring sight. I tried to quit pretty fast. That obviously went nowhere.”
“Eh, that went nowhere because you didn’t want to quit. Don’t lie to me.”
Caught off guard, I fell silent, my brow furrowed as I considered her words. Had I really sabotaged myself? I’d never let a “no” stop me from doing something I wanted before. Maybe she was right. If I’d really wanted out, I would have just left, agreement from above or not.
“Now that I’ve set that light bulb off, why don’t you tell me what’s really going on, because this is superficial crap and I want the goods.”
My answering chuckle was half hearted. I couldn’t give her “the goods”. Shaun trusted me with his addiction, and sharing that with my sister wasn’t on the cards.
“Mona, for god’s sake, you’re hot for the man.”
I spluttered. “How the hell do you know that?”
“There’s not as much hate in your voice as you think. You’re soft on him, so either he’s made a complete one-eighty or you’re crushing.”
My brain stalled on that, and the quick denial died unspoken on my lips. I’d never been good at lying to Isla. Why did I think I could fool her for the first time in my life?
“I wouldn’t say crushing…”
“In lust, then. Same difference,” she huffed, amusement hardening the Scottish undercurrents in her voice. “Is he interested?”
“Isla, he’s my boss,” I hissed.
“So? Do you honestly think actors don’t hook up with their assistants?” I let my silence speak for me. “This industry isn’t very above board in most places. I can guarantee you that half the people working on that set is fucking someone else on the production. It’s just a fact with these high-stress, isolated situations.”
“That doesn’t mean I want to join them.”
Isla laughed. “Try it again with a little more conviction.”
“He’s my boss,” I bit out, clinging to that fact with both hands.
“And other than him being your boss—” the quotation marks were almost audible “—are there any other reasons you wouldn’t jump him if he looked at you the right way?”
My answering laugh sounded thready, uneasy. My mind raced, searching for a plausible reason. I couldn’t hold his asshole moments against him anymore. I genuinely thought he was trying to do better. He’d started smiling at people on set, took the time to learn people’s names, and even brought me food whenever things got crazy busy.
