Page 76 of Love Unscripted
“I felt you adjust with me,” she said, almost shy.
He nodded, a faint smile touching his mouth. “Yeah. It felt natural. See you tomorrow.”
That was it. No linger. No hug.
But later, alone, Camille realized she replayed the moment in her head—not the scene, but the way he had looked at her like she was his woman and he was pleased with her.
~*~*~*~
End of week fatigue set in, sharpened by the call from her lawyer.
Camille ducked into the shadowed end of the soundstage, phone pressed to her ear, eyes fixed on the tape marking her next scene.
“Camille,” James said, clipped but careful. “I want you to hear this from me before it shows up anywhere else.”
She leaned against a lighting cart. “Okay.”
“Halden’s legal team is filing the suit this afternoon. As expected. But they’re also seeking injunctive relief.”
“What is that? Injunctive relief, what’s that?”
“They’re asking the court to temporarily restrict your participation inEstherpending resolution.”
“Restrict how?”
“Best case, it’s symbolic.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you’re already making the film so they could just be asking that the film’s release be stayed. It means that you will shoot the film but it won’t be released.”
“How is this best case? If this is best case what’s worse case?”
“Worst case, they argue for both a stay on the release along with a pause on principal photography or promotion involving you. Which essentially kills any promotion of the film because you are the main character. It’s aggressive, but not uncommon.”
“Will it work? Do you think the court will agree to that?”
“I don’t think so,” he said immediately. “But it puts pressure on the studio. And if the studio sees you as a liability, they may consider it easier to cut ties with you.”
A personal assistant jogged past Camille, oblivious to her growing turmoil.
“They’re framing it as irreparable harm,” he continued. “Cascading losses. Contracts. Relationships. They want leverage.”
Camille closed her eyes.
“What do I do?”
“For now? Nothing. You show up and play the role. You don’t comment publicly. You don’t text anyone about this except me.” A beat. “And don’t let this make you do anything rash. Let it play out. See where it goes.”
She almost laughed. Let it play out? Her career was on the line. Her relationship with Aaron was on the line. And he was advising her to see where it went.
“Filings hit the docket by three.”
After the call ended, Camille stayed there for a moment, phone still in her hand. Then she straightened, took one shallow breath, and stepped back into the light.
She rushed a line in rehearsal—twice.
Aaron called cut.
