What? Gavin Sidorov was the director, producer, and writer of Midnight Lady, the film I’d been replaced on by my ex-BFF, the role I’d been excited about, the reason I’d escaped to Green Valley in a fit of temper and despair.
“Why would they call you?”
“They want to replace Lina with you.”
“What?” I had to shake my head, because . . . what? “First of all, why aren’t they calling John?” My agent handled all contract negotiations for film and worked in tandem with Domino. Whereas Domino was my manager and publicist. He managed my career from a holistic perspective—appearances, interviews, product sponsorship, guest spots, etc.—not just film.
Domino hesitated, making a weird stalling sound, and then finally admitted, “They tried calling him, but he wouldn’t take their calls. You know he didn’t want you in that role to begin with. He doesn’t want you playing a prostitute or location filming in Cuba. There’s still controversary about filming in Cuba at all.”
I growled, so frustrating.
“He’s only looking out for you,” Domino coaxed, ever the politician.
“He’s only looking out for himself.” Gripping my forehead, I glared at the kitchen counter, debating my options. No, I only have one option. If I couldn’t trust my agent, then he wasn’t going to be on my team.
“Hey. I don’t want to get in the middle of this.” Domino sounded anxious. “I’ve always got your back, but I have a good relationship with your agent.”
“Fine. I’ll talk to him.” Meaning, I’d have to think about firing him.
“And there’s something else.”
“What?”
“Harrison. Have you talked to him?”
“No. Not recently.” It felt like a confession. Harrison and I usually touched base every few days. These past few weeks, even before staying with Sienna, I’d been avoiding him along with everyone else.
“Did you know he’s been lobbying for you to get the role back? He offered to attach himself to Gavin’s next project if they ‘corrected their grievous error.’ That’s what Gavin said.”
“No. I had no idea.”
That sweet, stupid, high-handed man. He drove me crazy, mostly because I had no idea if Harrison was actually trying to be helpful or if he was somehow using me as leverage to get something he wanted. Being on my own with my own thoughts made me realize that I couldn’t trust Harrison either.
I straightened from where I’d been leaning against the counter. “You know what though? Forget it. I don’t want the role, not if they’re giving it to me because of Harrison.”
“Gavin wants you back because he believes deeply in his soul’s soul that you’re the right person for the role and he wants to replace Ralph with Harrison. Gavin got more funding, and so now he’s rethinking the project. He thinks you as the Italian prostitute and Harrison as the military traitor would be magic. The parts are completely out of your wheelhouses, anti-typecasting, and now he’s obsessed.”
I frowned at the ceiling of the kitchen. “Domino—”
“I’m not finished. And this might explain why Gavin felt like he could call me. His new backers also love the idea, they’re also obsessed. You two haven’t done a film together since Tabitha Tomorrow. And—and don’t freak out—they’d like you and Harrison to get married during production.”
“What?!” Here I was, shouting in Sienna’s carriage house kitchen early in the morning. This was insane.
“They want the publicity for the movie. Their investment is a big one, and they think that if you and Harrison secretly-not-so-secretly tie the knot during filming, everyone will come out to see you two on the screen.”
“No. Nope. This is crazy. I don’t want to do this.”
“Don’t say no. Think about it. Talk to your boy.”
I shook my head even though Domino couldn’t see me. “I don’t need to talk to Harrison, and he’s not my boy.” I loved Harrison, but I could now see that even our friendship—such as it existed—hadn’t been healthy for me. “The answer is no.”
“Think about it.”
I laughed despite myself. “Domino, you are . . . assillante.” I said this last part under my breath. I must’ve been really mad even though the tenor of my voice was calm; I’d resorted to one of my mother’s Italian insults. “The answer is still no.”
I took a moment and thanked my lucky stars that I’d taken this trip. If this idea had been proposed two weeks ago, I likely would’ve agreed to it since I’d wanted that role so much. I still desperately wanted the part, but not enough to continue pretending with Harrison. I could see clearly now, I’d started to disappear—the real me—under the weight of other people’s expectations and demands.
“Just think about it.”
“I’m hanging up now.”
“Wait! Do you want the role? Can I call Gavin back?”
I jabbed a finger in the air. “I don’t care if Harrison takes the role or not, we are not getting married, do you understand? And I don’t want to start filming for another month.” Goodness. It was amazing what time away from LA and being Raquel Ezra had done for my assertiveness. I hadn’t felt this focused on what I wanted in ages.
“It’ll be September at the earliest. Maybe even October. Production is shut down, he pissed off the union.”
“Then you know I can’t take the part. I have that romantic comedy.” I hadn’t technically signed the contract yet, but now that I was feeling more focused, I decided I would sign it. My panicked thoughts about retiring from acting felt so distant and faraway.
“Funny you should mention that. I gave them a heads-up that they might need to film around you until November. And they’re both studio projects, so you’d be on the same lot if they really needed you for a scene.”
“I thought Gavin’s film was on location in Cuba?”
“It was. But like I said, he pissed everyone off.”
I closed my eyes, crossing an arm over my stomach, feeling overwhelmed. “Dom, this is a lot. I’ll need to see the script again before I’ll agree to anything. And I want to see production notes on the set changes.”
“I’ll have Gavin’s people send you all the details ASAP, and also send the new contract directly over to legal for their review, you just have to promise that you won’t tell your agent I was the one who did it. I don’t want him thinking I’m working around him with his clients.”
“That’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“Yes, you sexy Cleveland flower, but I’m only working around him because it’s what’s best for you. If he’d picked up Gavin’s call—because he knows how much that part meant to you—then I wouldn’t have to work around him.”
“Fine. Send it to legal. If they think it looks good, I’ll consider the role—but no wedding.” My agent had me convinced for years that I couldn’t negotiate my own contracts, but I wasn’t so sure anymore.
The thought made me feel like a traitor.
“And thank you for looking out for me,” I added. Even though Domino was pushy, he went around my agent because he knew this role had been important to me.