Page 38 of Seven Days in June

“But I don’t have time to eat Shane!” moaned Eva. “Today alone, I have a meeting with a potential director and a parent-teacher conference…”

“Anda book due to my inbox on Monday,” reminded Cece.

“Oh. Well, prose before bros,” cosigned Belinda.

With that, Eva reached for her bag. She was feeling floaty and tingly from the painkillers, her brain-throb ebbing to a gentle wave. “Love y’all. If I survive this day, I’ll text later.”

Eva soon found herself stationed between two dynamic women in a Soho landmark again. But this time, it was at Crosby Street Hotel, and with Sidney Grace,Cursedproducer, and Dani Acosta, the buzzy director interested in filming it.

Set back on a quiet cobbled street, the hotel lobby was like a surreal secret garden—where kooky dog sculptures and rococo chairs coexisted with lavish greenery. What better place to discuss bringing Eva’s adult fairy tale to life?

And it was going shockingly well, considering that Eva was midcrisis. In the eight months since Sidney had bought the film rights, a stream of big-name directors had rejected her proposal. Dani Acosta was Eva’s final hope. Her most recent indie,The Lady Came to Play, was a Toronto International Film Festival smash about a violinist haunted by a ghost who makes invisible love to her during performances. Dani was wearing navy lipstick and a sequined tank—and the only thing surpassing her enthusiasm forCursedwas Eva’s enthusiasm forher.

“…and I see lushly ominous visuals with erotic undertones—you get me?” Dani had been raised in East Harlem, and her voice had sumptuous Nuyorican flavor.

“LikeBram Stoker’s Dracula!” gasped Eva.

Drunk on creative synergy, Dani raised her hands to the roof, where a human-head-shaped chandelier hovered. “We’re kindred, you and me.”

“Literally.” Sidney delivered “literally” the same way she would’ve said,Sorry for your loss. She’d attended LA schools populated by Ritchies and Joneses, and now she had a deadpan vocal-fry pitch that never varied. The biracial daughter of an Earth, Wind & Fire guitarist and a sitcom actress, she was quite connected—and a lot savvier than she let on. At twenty-seven, she’d already produced two Netflix documentaries.

Sidney was desperate to produce a feature film. Dani was desperate to prove she wasn’t a one-hit wonder. And Eva was just desperate.

“Dani, I sawThe Lady Came to Playtwice,” said Eva. “What inspired the invisible lover?”

“I made love to a ghost,” whispered Dani. “I was vacationing at this bizarre ancient hotel in Istanbul. One night, a spirit whooshed under my blankets, and we had mystical intercourse. Ghostly hands all over me.”

“Werk.” Sidney had no patience for this budding girl-crush. What about production details? Budgets, locations, talent.

“Who was the ghost?” Eva was wide-eyed.

“Turns out, I was hallucinating from an intense Turkish flu,” laughed Dani. “Myown hands were ravishing me!”

Eva giggled. “I’ve lost my touch. Pardon the pun.”

“I like you.” Dani leaned forward, coffee-brown eyes boring into Eva’s. “And I like your ballsy witch. Let’s make magic.”

Eva glanced at Sidney, who gave a deadpan nod.

“Dani Acosta,” announced Eva, “I think you’re the perfect director forCursed.”

“Saaame,” drawled Sidney, who’d made the decision forty minutes ago. “Let’s talk casting. Newbies? Zendaya? ThoseDear White Peoplecuties?”

“I’m thinking actual white people,” said Dani.

“Actual what now?” asked Eva.

“To get real distribution and financing, this film needs white characters.”

“But…they’re Black,” sputtered Eva, suspended between disbelief and confusion.

“They’re a fantasy,” retorted Dani.

“Wakanda’s a fantasy, but it’s in Africa!”

“Wakanda has Marvel power behind it,” Dani reminded her. “Two Black leads will handicapCursed’s potential. You don’t want a Black film; you want abigfilm. I see Sebastian as theSpider-Mankid, Tom Holland? And Kendall Jenner playing Gia.”

Eva was aghast. “She can barely playherself. Have you seen her on a runway? It’s like she’s walking the plank!”

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