Page 38 of Broken Rules

What did I expect?A moment of honesty?Sincerity?A moment in which we could connect?

“I’ve told you everything I need to tell you,” he replied, his tone short.“Now, if you wouldn’t mind, I have work to do.I need to fix what you’ve fucked up.”

“Dad, so help me,” I warned, shaking.“Do not touch this movie.It’s mine.You gave it to me.”

“Nothing at this studio belongs to you until I say it does,” he replied in an icy tone.“And considering your refusal to produce the film I told you to produce, it looks like nothing ever will be.I didn’t give my life’s blood to this studio all these years for you to fuck it up like some loser.”

I was going to be sick.It was one thing to know the man didn’t think much of me, that he kept me around for the sake of his good name, for his so-called legacy.It was another to look him in the eye while he spoke to me like I was a stranger on the street.Someone he didn’t care for and never would.

I had nothing else to say.Nothing that wouldn’t end with us screaming the walls down.As it was, there were voices on the other side of his door, each one representing an employee who might love nothing more than to spread gossip about the boss and his son getting into a screaming match.

“Fine,” I grunted as I backed away.“Consider me gone.And if you expect me to play along and revise history so you look like the good guy in all of this, you can give it up.It’s never going to happen.”

“What do you think you’re going to do?”he asked with a faint laugh.“What else are you cut out for?”

“According to you, I’m not even cut out to be here,” I reminded him.“But don’t worry.I’ve got more than enough resources of my own.There might come a day when you regret this.No, I’m sure there will be.”

I was holding the doorknob, prepared to walk out and never come back, ready to face the consequences.“Wait,” Dad barked out behind me.

So predictable.All it ever took was calling his bluff.“You mean that, don’t you?”he asked.“You would walk out the door and never come back.”

“That’s right because I’m not going to compromise what I’m making.”I turned my head, catching his eye over my shoulder.“It matters to me.To all of us, everyone who’s worked on it.This is the hit we need.”

“There’s nothing I can say to get you to see my side of this?”

Turning slowly, I said, “That’s the thing, Dad.I do see your side, but you’re wrong.I know you’re not used to hearing that, but you are.”

He took a deep, slow breath that he released just as slowly while I watched, waiting.“Have it your way.”He sighed.“I hope for everyone’s sake you’re right.”

“You mean it?”I wasn’t a child.I had given up on believing in Santa a long time ago.

“Get out of here while I’m feeling generous,” he grumbled, almost growling as he gestured toward the door, swiveling his chair away from me and turning it toward the window overlooking the lot.

Could I trust him?I wasn’t sure.I wanted to.I wanted to believe there wouldn’t be a ‘gotcha moment’ where he went back on his word.

Was it really as simple as standing up to him?How many people ever had?None that I’d witnessed in all the meetings I’ve sat in as a kid, all the afternoons I spent doing homework in the corner while my father conducted business.He was never treated as anything less than the final word in any discussion.It was time for him to learn he was as fallible as anyone else.

It was time for me to take my place around here.

For some reason, Summer’s face was the first thing that came to mind.We were in the home stretch, and soon, it wouldn’t be easy to carve out the time to see her.She would be more worried than ever about optics now that those photos had gone public.I couldn’t tell her Dad planted the story when explaining why he did.It would inevitably confuse and hurt her.

An idea was starting to form by the time I returned to my office.It would take calling in a lot of favors, but she was worth it.I needed one night with her, just the two of us before the already expedited process of making this movie turned into a speeding express train.

Without bothering to call Clay for confirmation beforehand, I texted Summer.

Me:Friday.8:00.Pack an overnight bag.No excuses.

16

SUMMER

“Tell me I’m not making a mistake.”

“You’re not making a mistake.”Claudia’s quiet, deadpan response surprised me.I stopped halfway between the bathroom and my bedroom with a handful of toiletries waiting to be tossed into my overnight bag.She was lying on her bed with the door open, scrolling through her phone while wearing a face mask.

“Did you mean that?”I asked as I approached the doorway.“Or are you just saying it?”

“Babe.”She lowered the phone to her chest, folding her hands on her stomach.“You’re driving me crazy.I’m sorry.I love you, but you are.”

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