Page 22 of Keep It

“You leave now, don’t be surprised by tomorrow’s headlines.”

I pull the phone away from my ear, my fingers clutching it so hard it might snap in half. The thinly veiled threat makes my blood boil. I don’t even bother to ask what he’ll ‘leak’ to the tabloids. My father likes to use the threat of leaking stories to the press. It’s his way of keeping me in line. He can tell them anything and they’ll print it. Foursomes with escorts, destroying priceless artwork, selling meth to children. Even if I swear till I’m blue in the face that it’s all fake, no one will believe me and I’ll be slaughtered in the court of public opinion.

I grit my teeth. “Tell him to keep his mouth shut. He does his lines and he fucks off. I will not put up with this bullshit.”

“Do I look like that pretty little babysitter of yours?” Charles asks. “The day to day has no interest to me. Grow up and do the job you’re being paid to do, Daniel.”

I pull the phone away before I have to hear that man hang up on me. I pace the small length of my trailer, making the room shake with each heavy step.

My fingers hover over the call button, but I don’t click. Sitting on the couch, I contemplate calling. I know if I speak to Pip my anger will just send her spiraling and she’ll either panic or cry. Neither of those options are particularly appealing.

I could just not mention it to her. What is she even going to do about it anyway? She’s in New York in fittings all week, she might not even hear when it comes out in the press. I could call her later, when I have the time to sit and talk through it with her, hopefully with a cold beer in my hand and Callum McBride off my set.

Taking a deep breath, I steel my nerves. If I don’t tell her as soon as I know, she’ll be more upset later finding out I kept it from her.

Me: Callum McBride is in this.

Pip must have her phone in her hand because her text bubble appears immediately. It keeps disappearing, a clear sign she doesn’t know what to say.

Pip: Did you know?

Me: I just found out. Charles is behind it.

The bubbles again.

Pip: Don’t do anything stupid.

I won’t do anything he doesn’t do, I think to myself.

Me: I won’t.

Pip: Don’t make it a thing.

Me: I’m going to speak with Gwen and get him kicked off.

Pip: I guess Charles thinks the attention will help revenue, right?

Me: Pretty much

Pip takes so long to reply I think she must have left her phone.

Pip: I want this to go well for you Danny. If this helps the film and helps YOU, I will live with it. I won’t even be involved really. I just need you to keep cool about it.

Me: Pip, I can’t keep cool around that prick

Pip: You’ll have to.

Me: I’ve got to go, they need me over here.

I throw my phone with frustration, taking a deep breath.

Fuck this, I don’t care what Pip or my father says, I’m not having that man on my set. Just thinking of last year, when I held my little sister as she sobbed over that piece of shit, makes my decision final. No, he’s not staying.

I fly out the door and down the metal stairs, nearly plowing into Anya as she clutches my daily sides in her hand.

“Hey, I was just bringing these—” I storm past her. “Where are you going?”

I ignore her and hear her footsteps keeping up with me. She doesn’t even know where we’re going but it feels almost like she’s got my back.

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