Page 36 of Steamy on Set

“Fine, then we’ll start there. I’m very aware that you did me a favor, and I took this job very seriously because of that. I tried to be the best at every assignment you gave me, because I knew it was a reflection on you.” Despite the fact that she was doing her best to make it seem like I wasn’t.

“You didn’t take it seriously, though, or you wouldn’t have left the way you did. You really put us in a lurch, Farrah.”

“I didn’t think about it like that when I took the job. I’m sorry.”

She clenches her fist and twists her mouth, making her feelings about my apology clear.

“I’m really sorry.” I fight the urge to cross the room and grab her hand. Instead, I put mine together in a pleading motion. She shakes her head again, her mouth twisting into a scowl.

“I don’t know why I’m surprised. I should have expected this.”

“What does that mean?” I fight to keep my composure, reminding myself that this is supposed to be a conversation, not a screaming match. But she doesn’t let up.

“You have always only thought about yourself. Even when we were in Paris, you always put your projects above the whole collection, needing to show off.”

My hands curl around each other, clasping onto my last bit of patience. I have taken ownership of my role in our beef, and she has the nerve to attack my character? I can understand her being upset, but taking it back to when we first met is next level.

“You know what, I’m really trying to make amends here, but this seems deeper than just me taking the acting job. After all, you blamed me before I even did that, so what is your problem with me?” I can’t help the slight rise in my voice as my emotions break past my calm demeanor.

She looks just as riled up, her neck starting to turn red.

“Let’s not go there,” she says in a clipped tone.

“Clearly, you have an issue beyond me leaving the job, so say it. Say what is really bothering you.”

Her lips pinch together like she’s fighting to keep the words in. But it’s clear they are ready to come out. They seem to have been festering in her long before I started working here.

“Say it Mira. What is your problem with me?”

She explodes, the words spewing out of her mouth like lava burning away all of our civility.

“My problem with you, Farrah, is that you think you’re the main character in everyone’s story! Not everything is about you. You aren’t special. I’m sick of people treating you like you are.” She stands and points a finger at me. Getting closer and closer with each word she speaks. A piece of hair tumbles into her face from the force of her anger.

“When you called me and asked for my help, I thought, finally, I get to be the star. I get to help her find a job and show her that I’m good, too. That’s why I got you this job. I wanted to be able to be the one in charge for once. But like always, you show me up by somehow getting a role in the movie. It’s just not fair.”

I go to speak, but she holds a hand up.

“Everything I have ever wanted, you get. You got Bruno when we took that trip to Cannes. You got the lead intern role at the design house. And now, once again, you get to one-up me onmyset. How am I supposed to be your friend when you are constantly putting me down?”

Breath leaves my lungs as her words act like a noose around my neck. She condemns me with each accusation that speaks like a crime I’ve committed against her. Ready to hang me for my perceived sins in her eyes, she looks merciless.

“Is this why you blamed me for everything? Because you think I’ve been going out of my way to make you look bad?” My mind races with this revelation as I start to think back on every interaction we’ve ever had. Yes, she has always said underhanded things, but I always thought it was more out of naivety than malice. To hear that she thinks I’m constantly trying to ruin her life by just succeeding shines a new light on everything.

She may have made her mistakes, but she is also the girl who fought a grown man for grabbing under my skirt at a bar. She taught me French so I could do better at our job, and held my hair back every time I drank too much. We’ve stayed up many nights together, sharing our dreams and wishes, curled under a blanket. To think that each moment this resentment grew and festered until we reached this point is what’s really throwing me.

“You should leave.” She goes to step around me, and I grab her arm.

“Mira?” I don’t want this to be the end of the conversation.

“Let go of me.”

I drop her arm and step back.

“I have never intentionally tried to hurt you. You could have just told me you felt like you’re living in my shadow instead ofdoing all this.” I wave my hands around like I can show her everything that has transpired these last few months.

“And what would you have said? You would have told me I’m delusional and that you haven’t ever been an attention hog. You wouldn’t have owned up to pushing me to the side so that you can be the best. Every chance you get, you take something from me.”

“No I don’t!” I yell, my voice rising with my frustration.

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