Page 45 of Touch in the Dark

“I need to see you out of the lot.”

“Of course you do,” I grumble, pushing my phone back into my pocket and grabbing all the handles of all the things I need to carry. I wouldn’t have let him help me even if he offered.

I’m sweating carrying all of this, even though it’s colder than Santa’s balls. The guard waits until I’m away from the staff parking area, eyes me like I’m a criminal and then walks back inside, letting the door slam.

My eyes sting but I choke the tears back. Screw them. They’re not worth my time. Thomas sends me a message to say he is on his way now but could be about ten minutes. I don’t get angry about it, at least I have him to call. I drop my bag on the floor and sit down on the makeup trolley.

“God, I got fired,” I sigh. This sucks. I text Reggie not to come to work today, telling her I’ll explain later when I get back to the Brownstone.

“Hey, Elsa!”

I turn at the shout. Joel is hurrying towards me.

“What the hell just happened?” he comes to stand in front of me, and as I get to my feet, he takes hold of my upper arm and rubs it gently, his eyes full of concern. “What was that?”

“You saw?”

“I saw you being escorted out and I might have heard some shit, but I thought it was a joke.”

“No, not a joke,” I wave my walking papers. “That was me being fired.”

“Are you serious?”

“As a pink slip,” I laugh.

“Why? Did you do something wrong?”

I huff out a laugh and cross my arms, making him have to let go. Joel glances down at my equipment and cases and glances back over his shoulder.

“Did they at least give you a reason?”

“One I could see right through,” I say, letting out a heavy sigh. “Apparently I’m surplus to requirements, they have too many makeup artists.”

There is no point getting all worked up over it. It’s the injustice of it that stings. I haven’t done anything wrong but because some jumped up C-Lister didn’t like my face… Yep, I’m annoyed again.

“Shit,” Joel tilts his head back and looks up at the sky. “Is this because of me?”

“Don’t go getting a big head there will you,” I chuckle.

“She saw us the other night though, didn’t she?”

I’m only slightly shocked he has put two and two together. “She was there,” I agree.

Every other person on this movie will realise I got canned because of her. Not the first person either, the wardrobe girl quit on my second day on the job because of her. I do remember how she kept staring at Joel and I the other night. Like she wanted to tear my hair out.

“It might inadvertently be because of you, but it isn’t your fault. Well, maybe a little. You slept with her?” I give him a narrow-eyed look.

It’s a guess but one I’m fairly certain I’ve not read incorrectly. Joel is a good-looking guy, he’s funny and he’s smart. He has that whole rebel thing going with his dislike of his dad, his motorcycle and his devil may care attitude about holding down a real job. Plus, he’s been around these sets a lot and I know this particular wannabe actress has starred in a few of his dad’s pictures. Makes me wonder if she’s slept with Joel’s dad too. Ew.

“Crap,” he puts his hands on his hips and looks at the floor this time. When he lifts his eyes, they’re full of guilt. “It was two years ago.”

“Wow, you certainly made a lasting impression.”

“It was one time, and I knew it was a mistake more or less after I took the con-”

“Ooh, yeah, I’ve heard enough thank you,” I slap a hand over his mouth. “I got it.”

He gives me a sheepish look as I drop my hand. Then he shakes his head. “She full on stalked me. She moved on to some other unfortunate asshole when I left the country for six months though. I figured being around her now would be safe.”

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