Page 5 of Love: Take Two

Missed Call

Luxe Partners

Missed Call

Luxe Partners

Missed Call

I stop scrolling and snap my eyes to hers.

"I had a prospective client breakfast uptown with Darna Cruz. My phone was off." I rake my hands through my hair. "What happened?"

"Nothing good," Camila says, shaking her head. "I saw Darlene running, then I heard Jim and Brent yelling something about Pinnacle right after cutting their meeting short. I wouldn't have known what went down except then Rory texted me that shit was about to hit the fan on set."

I wipe my hand down my face. Rory is Camila's sister. She's also producing the Yong-rae movie I closed two weeks ago. Filming literallyjuststarted. How could shit already be hitting the fan?

"OK," I sigh, agitated. "Thanks for the heads-up. Did she give you any details about what's going on?"

"No," Camila answers, her face apologetic. "She just said you need to get to set ASAP, or it's her ass."

I frown. I've only met Rory a few times, but I know she spent years paying her dues as an assistant director before finally landing a producer gig. Plenty of people in the industry still won't work with female producers, let alone women of color. This film could make or break her career, which means I need to get to set and get whatever is happening under control.

"Alright," I mutter, walking towards the breakroom door. "Do me a favor and let your sister know I'm on my way. I justhave to show my face with Jim and Brent and then I'll turn right back around."

I don't wait for her reply before I'm striding briskly to Brent's office, my mouth in a grim line. Only three days into shooting and already the studio and the producer are calling panicked? This doesn't look good.

I nod to Brent's admin, who immediately waves me in.

"'Bout time you showed up, Park," he barks, pacing. "Do you know what it will do to our reputation if Pinnacle has to shut down production after less than a week?"

"Shut down production?!" I gasp. "Brent, I was meeting with Darna Cruz when all this went down. What the hell happened?"

Brent pours himself a drink; it's eleven in the morning. Jim comes in behind me and closes the door.

"Whathappened," Jim snarls, "is that your golden bullet is shitting the bed. The director is saying he's forgetting lines. The producer said he smelled like booze when he showed up this morning. Tabitha has already threatened to walk out!"

I'm stunned silent.

If Edward Ash's uncanny ability to pump out box office darlings accounts for half of this movie's buzz, the other half is entirely due to Tabitha Styles. While there was a months-long talent search for the male lead, Tabitha signed on at the same time the studio bought the rights to the script. According to the writer, the role was created specificallyforher. Not only has Tabitha already ledtwobillion-dollarfranchises—something I'm sure investors are banking on—she's also an Oscar away from an EGOT. Everyone thinks this will finally be her year.

And now she wants to quit because of Yong-rae?

"I already texted the producer I'm on my way," I say, stretching the truth. "I'll smooth things over on the car ride out to Jersey."

"See that you do," Brent calls after me. "We went out on a limb signing that nobody. He'd better not turn out to be a dud."

My gut is churning; the smallest bump on the highway or sharp turn on a side street threatens to eject my breakfast.

Yong-rae may not be the most experienced actor, but his talent is undeniable. He beat out the competition at every step of the audition process. And now, two weeks after the deal closed, I'm on my way to the Garden State to talk his costar off a ledge. Or maybe to talk some sense into him? I still need the details.

I dial the number Camila sent and hold my breath.

There's no answer, of course. Why would a producer answer an unknown number in the middle of filming? I leave a brief message and text Camila.

Camila (Henry's girl)

Hey Camila. Can you please give Rory my number? She won't pick up otherwise.