Page 39 of Best Served Hot
Alex let out a sigh of existential misery. ‘We had someone on the set that could give her the Heimlich, and she cleared the kid’s airway. But in the process, she cracked a few ribs. Which punctured her lung.’
‘Double Christ!’ Nicole said.
‘Apparently, that’s pretty common with the Heimlich,’ Alex sighed. ‘But she had to spend months recovering. So naturally, the parents sued me.’
‘What the hell for?’ Nicole demanded.
‘Because they said she choked because I inflicted emotional distress. She was so upset that I shouted at her that she…’
‘Forgot how to eat?’ Nicole asked, totally on Alex’s side.
‘That’s what they claimed, yes. And maybe that’s true. I don’t know. All I know is that I mistreated an actor, and she spent six months in bed as a result.’ Alex stopped, exhausted from the tale.
Nicole was dismayed. ‘Oh, Alex… You know it was probably a coincidence that happened right after you yelled at her? And from the way you described her, I’d be shocked if you were the first person to lose your temper with her.’
Alex shrugged. ‘That’s possible. But I can’t ever know that for sure. So, it’s best if I assume fault on my part and never call action again. No good could come of it.’
‘When did this happen?’ Nicole asked.
‘Five years ago.’
Nicole was freshly shocked. ‘Five years? I think that’s a long enough atonement for something you don’t even know if you caused.’
‘I’m not atoning,’ Alex replied a little snappily. ‘I’m just not supposed to do it. That’s why I switched to the producorial side. I’msaferthere. And so is everyone else. I hope.’
Nicole was annoyed at—and for—Alex. ‘I don’t agree.’
‘You think I’m still a threat?’ Alex asked, wide-eyed.
Nicole rolled her eyes irritably. ‘Alex! You got unlucky.’
Alex shrugged. ‘Doesn’t matter. I’ve let it go. It’s gone.’
‘It’s notgone. You wanted to do it once. You got further than most. I don’t believe that ambition just goes away,’ Nicole said passionately.
Alex looked her square in the eye. ‘Believe it.’
Nicole opened her mouth to argue. But then thought better of it and shut it again. Eventually, she said, ‘Fine, I’ll believe it. You made your choice.’
Alex nodded and took a sip of her drink.
‘But it was a bloody stupid one,’ Nicole added. ‘And that’s my last word on the subject.’
Alex looked at her with a thin smile. ‘Why don’t I believe that?’
‘Oh!’ yelled someone, and they both spun to see Ethan, pint in hand, standing in front of the table, realising he’d walked into his nightmare.
Nicole was annoyed to see him, but not for the usual reasons. She was annoyed that he was interrupting her chat with Alex.
But she wasn’t supposed to be pissed off about anything at all, so she slapped a smile on her face. ‘Just knocked off?’
Ethan nodded eagerly. ‘Umm, yeah. Just having a drink with a few… People.’
‘Ah. Well, Alex and I were just having a debrief, but we’re heading out now,’ Nicole said, standing up.
Alex stood, too, finishing her drink. ‘Yep.’
‘Oh, alright. See you, then.’ Ethan nodded and walked away with one furtive glance over his shoulder at the pair.
