He continues without pause, “You were on our list of candidates for production assistants, and because you didn’t really look the part, we moved down the list.”
Asshole, I think.
“We had a position become available today and would like to give you the opportunity.”
Holding back my excitement I say as calmly as possible, “I appreciate it.”
“You may not when you meet the assholes you’ll be working with. It’s not an easy job. It’s badass men who don’t play all that well with others, all pitted against each other, which makes for an occasional unhappy workplace.”
“I know how to deal with badass tattoo types.”
He laughs. “I’m not sure you know what you’re agreeing to, sweetheart, but your references seem to think you’re an ass-buster. If you’re willing, get yourself to Miami; we need you here tonight, ready for tomorrow.”
Sitting up, I can’t contain the excitement. “Will you shoot me an email with the details?”
“Doing it …” He pauses. “Done.”
“Thank you so much, Mr. Gorgon.”
He laughs. “I hope you’re still thanking me when it’s all over by the first of the year.”
“I appreciate the opportunity.”
“We appreciate the acceptance. We’ll give you a couple of the easier cast members to produce.”
“I’d prefer to go balls deep, sir.”
He chuckles. “You really don’t want that, Isabella.”
Looking at my father and uncles playing full contact frisbee, I smile. “I think you’d be surprised at just how much I can deal with.”
“You pull this off, and I can guarantee you’ll have a job with us until you look in the mirror and think, what the hell am I living like this for?” He laughs.
I hear commotion in the background.
“For fuck’s sake!” he snaps. “I have an issue to take care of. See you later, Isabella.”
“See you later, Mr. Gorgon.”
Hanging up, I jump up and scream, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
The “crew” all come running with looks of concern in their eyes. Annoying but adorable.
I grab Kiki and hug her. “I got a job.”
“You got a job.” She looks skeptically hopeful.
“I got a job!” I shake her.
“You got a job?” Max beams.
I pull him into a hug. “I got a job!”
“You got a job?” It’s Brand Falcon, friends of the family’s teenage son.
I pull him in and hug him. “I got a job!”
“You hug me any closer, I’m gonna give you a new one.”
I push him away.
“Sorry, Bella, but you’re just so fucking hot.”
The little shit, who is now taller than me, has crushed on me for as long as I can remember. He has even serenaded me at family/friend gatherings and told people he was going to marry me. I would be flattered, if not for the fact that he’s seventeen and, due to the fame, his head has grown too big for his cowboy hat—he’s since begun sporting a backward baseball cap.
As Truth hugs me and whispers, “You did it,” I watch Kiki scowl at Brand then at me. As long as he’s crushed on me, she’s crushed on him.
Releasing Truth, I pull Kiki in. “You know I don’t like him. You should also know he doesn’t deserve your energy.” I step back and look at her. She smirks.
“Now that’s a fantasy.” Brand chuckles. “Two at once.”
Out of nowhere, Max lunges at him, and they both fall to the ground. Brand is laughing as Max shakes him.
“You got a better chance at the reality of my dick being shoved in your ass than that, Falcon.”
Brand attempts to hold back a laugh, but it’s a failed attempt.
Max pulls back his arm, fist balled.
“Max, no!” I yell.
Justice grabs his elbow and jacks him back. “Let it be. And Max, don’t threaten a dude with a dick in the ass.”
I see Patrick walk by Brand and kick sand in his face.
“What the hell’s going on?” Dad runs up, followed by Cyrus, Zandor, Xavier, Gage and Garrett Falcon.
“Bella got a job.” Tris claps.
Smiling, I look up at Dad … and he’s not smiling.
Back in the hotel room, Dad reads over the email with the attached itinerary as I toss clothes in my suitcase.
“Salary sucks, Bella. I’ll double it.”
“I need more clothes,” I say, trying to ignore him.
“Miami; Las Vegas; Richmond, Virginia?” He pauses then continues, “Flint, Michigan; Portland; Austin, Texas; San Francisco.”
Kiki brings in an armload of clothes. “Take these.”
I give her a one-armed hug. “Thanks, Kiki.”
“How the fuck do you go from Honolulu, Hawaii to Kansas City, Missouri?”
“I’m guessing a plane, Dad,” I say as I shove more clothes in my bag.
“Los Angeles, and then to Philly?”
“Oh my God, this is amazing!” Kiki laughs.
“Bella, you need to think about this.”
“What’s to think about?” I ask as I walk past him and into the suite’s bathroom. “It’s going to be hosted online in hopes of getting picked up by a network. Either way, Dad, it’s experience, a step toward my dream.”
“Which is?”
I speak out, “Producing and directing meaningful and thought-provoking TV. Art, Dad. It’s art.”
Momma Joe walks in. “Flight booked. We have two hours to get you to the airport.”
“Two fucking hours?” Dad gasps.
I look at Kiki and whisper, “I know where you get it from.”
“The bad attitude? My controlling nature?” She smirks.
I roll my eyes. “The need to use the F-bomb in every sentence.”
“Reality TV, Bell? That’s thought-provoking?”
“Sure is. Who would have thought people would sit on their asses and watch the Kardashians get richer and richer, all the while wanting to be them and never putting in the work?” Kiki laughs.
“Language, Kiki,” Dad scolds her.
“And I see where you get it from, too,” she states while putting my toiletries in my carry-on case.
“My good looks? My unwavering and fierce focus on goals?” I ask.
“No, your need to correct my language.” She rolls her eyes.
I take the case and smile at her. “I love you. And seriously, Kiki, you’re too pretty to talk like that.”
Carly walks in with a bag. “Bought you some badass gear to blend in.”
I hug her. “You’re the best.”
“It’s going to take an hour and a half to get to the airport with good traffic; we need to go.” She smiles sadly.
“Fuck.” Dad sighs. “Nothing like ripping the Band-Aid off a still bleeding wound.”
I walk out and smile. “I just have to say, I think I have more faith in your parenting than you do.”
He raises his eyebrows.
“I think you did one hell of a job raising a daughter who busted her butt to get where she wants to be. I think you should celebrate the fact that your oldest child got a job that you know she can handle.” I hold out my empty hand. “Take these.”