Page 23 of Keep It

I storm up to the production truck and swing the door open without knocking.

Gwen, Michael, and Rachel sit around desks, littered with paper and half-eaten breakfasts.

“Danny?” Gwen asks, startled. Anya slips in behind me and quickly closes the door from prying eyes.

“Callum McBride.” My jaw hurts from how tightly it’s clenched. “I won’t work with him. If you keep him, I’m walking.”

They all glance at each other warily.

Gwen starts uneasily. “Look, I know you two don’t have…the easiest of relationships.”

I scoff and cross my arms across my chest.

“But it looks really good for our backers.” My father more like. “The buzz—”

“If I hear one more word about the fucking buzz I will throw something.”

Rachel pipes up, “At the end of the day, he’s signed his contract and we’ve already started shooting studio shots back in the UK. The only way he’ll get out is if he leaves voluntarily, and from what he’s said that doesn’t seem likely.”

“Then I’m out,” I say. “Burn my contract right now. I don’t give a shit.”

“Your father—”

“I don’t give afuckabout my father! Hang him for all I care.” My arms spread wide nearly touching the sides of the cramped production truck. Anya is pressed against the door of the trailer, her eyes wide and shocked, her eyelashes brushing those damn freckles. I must look like a madman. I blink, her wide eyes arresting me in my tracks. I take a calming breath and turn around.

Before I can speak, Michael says “Your contract is ironclad. You’re not getting out of it.”

“I’m sure my lawyers would have something to say about that.”

“We’d sue you for breach of contract.”

“I’ll sue you for dangerous working practices.” It’s only a matter of time before McBride’s poison seeps through the set.

“You’re not here to have an opinion on who we hire. Your job is to show up and read lines.”

I huff a sarcastic laugh, “Well, you can get anyone to do that. I can’t hear any more of this,” I turn and storm out the trailer. “Anya, get the car.”

“Danny.” I hear Gwen call behind me. I don’t care.

Chapter 10

ANYA

I feel like I’m most likely missing some important information but now is not the time. I jog to keep up with Danny as he makes long strides to where Jaques is usually waiting with the car.

“Jaques has gone on a pick up,” I tell him belatedly. He can’t hear me, his fury rolling off him in waves.

I jump to his side and gently steer him back towards his trailer like a sheep dog. He doesn’t notice.

“I won’t work with him,” he spits. “I don’t care what they say.”

I keep my mouth shut.

He doesn’t notice when I corral him to his trailer, stretching my arm to open the door for him. He looks around confused as he takes in his new surroundings.

He turns to leave but I block his door.

“Let’s just cool down a minute okay?” I say, raising my arms. He glares at me.

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