Page 71 of Heavy Shot

"And I can't believe that you don't see anything wrong with what you've been doing," Rhiannon said, with a trace of sadness. "But it's already done." With that, she pulled the door open and walked out.

Jill chased her out the door, "I didn't do anything!What do you keep thinking I did? I have been in the same places--public places--with Kline, at the same time. With," Jill shouted, "my clothes on!All of them! Now what else have I done wrong other than pose for pictures?"

"I think you and Kline should just cut out the middle man for the next awards show and actually go together. You make it seem like you're there together anyway," Rhiannon said, over her shoulder as she continued towards her car. "That romantic dance the two of you shared was a highlight of my evening."

"Romantic dance? What romantic—Oh hell! We were talking! We were talking about the movie, and I couldn't hear him, and I was swaying drunk, Rhi. It was totally innocent.Why can't you believe that?”

"Because it didn't look that way, Jill," Rhiannon said, turning around to face her, "It was like I didn't even exist last night. It was all about the two of you. You say it’s just business but what kind of business is it? You're playing up to the image that the two of you are the next great Hollywood love story, giving the press and the public what they want, right? Well, where does that leave me? Humiliated. I could expect it from any other woman, really, but you are supposed to be my friend."

Jill just gaped. "Rhiannon, it is business," she said, lowering her voice. "You don't see August over at Kline's telling him off for posing with me. It's just work. And I don't know where it leaves you—that's between you and Kline.Just…don't make it my fault if things don't work for you."

"It's not your fault that things aren't working for me. I just never would have let you walk into a situation like this without some warning. But, whatever, it's just business. I'm overreacting. I shouldn't pay any attention to the fact that I'm being made to look the fool because it's just business. I get it. Thanks for clearing that up," Rhiannon said, pulling her car door open and climbing inside.

"Good god!" Jill howled. "How was I supposed to know you and Kline hadn't talked about things? You've been in this industry for how long?! You know how these things go!"

"’Bout time I learned my lesson, huh?" Rhiannon said, putting the car in gear. "Word of advice, Jill. Watch what Roland's putting in the papers about you. The man does seem to love a scandal."

Jill turned and stalked back into the house to find August munching a muffin with a quizzical expression. She sighed. "We have a problem."

"Really? I couldn't tell from all the screaming."

"How are the muffins?"

"This one's good.Lose a friend?"

"Friend lost her mind.She thinks I'm sleeping with Kline.Or something."

August sighed. "Where did she get an idea like that?"

Jill sighed back."I don't know.From the pictures taken in New York for one.She thinks we were too cozy last night.I don't know.She wouldn't listen to me."

"I have a theory," he said, breaking off another piece of muffin. "Maybe Kline's not telling her everything. Or, he's stacking the deck in his favor when the subject comes up. That, combined with all of the press about the two of you, and the way everyone acted last night, I can see where she might be a bit upset. Especially if she wasn't prepared for it. Did you ever read that article I showed you?"

"You know I don't read my press," Jill sniffed, picking up a muffin of her own and leaning against the bar. "I always hate the pictures."

"Maybe you should start reading again, darling," he said, seriously. "You're taking big steps here and you're not on level footing like in New York. You have to keep an eye on your image."

"I have a team for that. I pay a whole media team for that. Can I hire you? Can't you do that for me? Be my complete stylist?Inside and out? Upside and down?"

"I wish I could. But you're smart, Jill. You have business savvy and you know what you want. You can't afford to have anything surprise you. That means keeping track of every aspect, including your press. Roland's good at what he does, but his ethics are questionable. He's set up this 'romance' between you and Kline without regard to anyone in your lives that might be hurt by it."

"Are you hurt by it?"

"I don't like it, but I knew it was coming last night. You still spent more close time with Kline than I would have liked, but you kept me in the loop, and you left with me," he said, honestly. "I don't think I could handle it on a regular basis, but I wasn't hurt by it."

Jill put down her muffin and gave August a one-armed hug to keep from disturbing his eating."It won't be regular.Just at things like that.But I'll be more aware of what's being said.Will you help me?"

"Of course.You could start by reading that article."

"Okay." She went over to the drawer she'd stuffed it in and pulled the magazine out. "When do you go to Paris?" she asked. He was working on a film that would take him away for five weeks.

"In two weeks," he said. "Want to go with me?"

"Of course! But you know I can't. We go into pre-production about the same time. Oh, you'll be gone when we start filming.”

"I won't miss much," he said, going back into his studio to retrieve his laptop. "I doubt they'llstart with the love scenes, anyway. I don't want to miss those. Or the murder."

"They always start with the love scenes," Jill laughed."Anyway, I don't think I could do them if you were watching.That would be creepy.Carl said that the murder scene would come toward the end of shooting because we'll be at a different lot for that.The love scenes are shot on the same set as the party scenes and the crux of the exposition."

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