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“Hugh.” Sierra leapt from the couch in Hugh’s office when he made it back to the studio.
“Sierra, what the—”
“Where the hell have you been?” She sobbed, balling a tissue into her hand. “I’ve been waiting an hour for you.”
“I had an errand to run—”
“How come you didn’t answer your phone? Oh, Hugh it’s horrible.” She stomped around the office. “My life is ruined.”
“What the hell happened?” He shut the door.
She stood by his desk, waving the tissue. “What’s wrong is that my boyfriend isn’t ever there when I need him.” She snorted. “You wouldn’t answer your phone then when I called again it was off.”
“I’m sorry.” He approached the desk, hands in pockets. “I had to take care of something, and I lost track of time.”
“I’m sick of this, Hugh.” She stuck her lips out. “You’re never around. I feel like a burden.”
“You’re not a burden, Sierra.” He sat in the wobbly chair. “What happened? Are you all right?”
“Do I look all right?” She sniffed. “Madeline dumped me. The old cow. After all the money and opportunities, her and that stupid agency got from me. Now what the hell do I do?”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I’m trying to make up for my mistakes but no one will let me. Then on top of that Daddy didn’t even invite me to his party.”
“I bet the invitation got lost in the mail.”
“He didn’t invite me.” She raised the tissue. “He hates me, Hugh.”
“Your dad does not hate you.”
“What do you call the way he treats me then?” She stood at the window and laid her head on the glass. “Acting was all I had and now that’s gone.”
“You’re a beautiful, intelligent woman. One hell of a woman, Sierra. Acting was just one dimension. You gotta find something else you’re interested in.”
“There is nothing else. If I can’t act I’d rather be dead.”
“Please, don’t say that.” He held his hands out. “You’ll get through this.”
“That’s easy for you to say.” She walked to the front of the desk. “You have opportunities. Your world isn’t the one falling apart.”
“If they don’t want you, then fuck Hollywood. You’re better than those assholes.”
“I want a drink.” She touched her hip. “The bottle still likes me even if no one else don’t.”
“Come here.” He stood, guiding her into a hug. “You’ve worked too hard to fight that demon. Don’t let this take away your strength, Sierra.”
“I’m so tired of this industry, Hugh.”
“I know.” He moved her hair out her face. “You have so much to live for and so much to give.” He gave her an innocent peck on the lips. “Things will get better. I promise you.”
“Can you believe Dad didn’t invite me to his birthday party?”
“I’m inviting you.”
“He doesn’t want me there.”
“Yes he does.” He cradled her face in his palms. “He’s just stubborn like you and doesn’t want to admit it. You’re going and you’re gonna be the most beautiful woman there.”
Second to Gabrielle.
“I’ll do better,” he said. “Be there for you when you need me. The last thing I want you to feel is alone.”
“I need you, Hugh.” She tugged on his waist.
“How about you let your boyfriend make it up to you by buying you lunch? I was about to get something.”
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
“Come on.” He put his arm around her waist, escorting her to the door. “I know what will cheer you up. I’ll get you some curly fries.”
She giggled. “With extra ketchup?”
“With extra ketchup.”
Jamal swaggered inside. “Hey, Sierra. I didn’t know you were here.”
She displayed a faint smile. “Jamal.”
“Hugh, did you want us to send Gabrielle Montane the script or were you gonna deliver it?”
Hugh exhaled, glaring at Jamal.
“Script?” Sierra looked back and forth at them. “Why would you send Gabrielle Montane a script?”
“So she can become familiar with it,” Jamal said. “She can’t star in Fatal Honor if she can’t study the script.”
Hugh’s heart dropped.
“Wait, a minute.” Sierra closed her eyes, shaking her head. “Gabrielle Montane is starring in Fatal Honor? Is this a joke?”
“Eh-oh,” Jamal said. “You didn’t know.”
“Jamal.” Hugh gripped Jamal’s wide shoulder. “I’m gonna get you a muzzle.”
“Gabrielle Montane is starring in your film?” Sierra shouted. “That’s just fuckin’ great.”
Jamal hurried out the office with Hugh wishing he’d taken him with him.
“How could you disrespect me by putting Gabrielle in the movie?” She got her purse from the couch and stomped to the door. “You can shove those curly fries up your ass.”
“Shit. Sierra?”
She sashayed out the office.
“Let me explain.” He ran after her. “You got the wrong idea.”
“You cast a woman who you’ve had a crush on for years in your movie and she hasn’t acted a day in her life.” She stopped, snapping her head toward him. “What don’t I get about that, Hugh?”
“But, it’s the best thing for the movie.”
“Save it.” She flashed him her palm and kept walking.
Hugh turned around, bumping into a gofer.
“Mr. Macintosh, Sir,” the pimple-faced young man greeted him. “Is there something you need?”
“Yeah.” He watched Sierra exit the entrance doors. “I need a manual on how to deal with women.”
The gofer grinned. “Don’t we all?”
****
A Week Later
In his black, Ralph Lauren sharkskin suit, Hugh glided across Ian’s crowded ballroom as the party guests got their groove on to the smooth sounds of the black saxophonist.
Gabrielle grinned from ear-to-ear as Felix twirled her. His hands roaming body parts Hugh longed to touch.
He ditched his plan to interrupt, went to the bar in the back of the room, and ordered a scotch.
“Hey.” Warner slapped Hugh’s back, causing Hugh to dribble liquor on his suit. “Sorry about that.”
The bartender handed Hugh a tissue.
Hugh dabbed the spot. “Don’t worry about it.”
Warner ordered a glass of champagne and took a suave sip. “I would ask if you’re okay.” He checked out a busty blonde-haired woman who swiveled her hips to the music. “But, your face tells the whole story.”
“Is it that obvious?”
Felix twirled Gabrielle around, the ends of her dress rising.
“You haven’t been able to take your eyes off Gabby all night,” Warner said. “I can’t blame you. She’s the most beautiful woman in here.”
Gabrielle’s blue fringe dress rose to her thighs as she gyrated her magnificent body. Her long, wavy ponytail swung left and right.
“She’s killing me,” Hugh spoke with his mouth on the rim of the glass. “How could you let her come with Felix?”
“I had nothing to do with it.” Warner lowered his glass. “Gabby does what she wants.”
“Yeah, but Felix?” Hugh scrunched his face. “Of all people she shows up here with my archenemy? The man’s built a career out of tearing down every movie I’ve ever made. I think he’s jealous of me or something.”
Warner snickered. “You can’t take criticism.”
“I don’t mind professional criticism, but that man has it in for me. I can’t believe Ian invited him here.”
“Felix is one of the biggest film journalists in the world.” Warner smiled at a passing brunette woman. “It’s a good thing to let Felix get some early insight into Fatal Honor. He loves Ian’s work so he’ll like this one too.”
“Not with me directing it.” Hugh put his hand in his pocket. “I could direct Jesus’ rebirth and Felix would hate it.”
Warner laughed. “Cheer up. It’s supposed to be a party.”
“I fucked up with Gabby.” Hugh started to sip from his glass but hesitated. “I gotta make it up to her, but she won’t even talk to me.”
“Where’s your girlfriend?”
Hugh caught Warner’s sarcastic tone. “Why did you say it like that?”
“What?” He sipped, eyebrow raised. “I just asked where Sierra is.”
“I don’t know.” Hugh shrugged off the question without an ounce of care. “Somewhere around here.”
Gabrielle whispered in Felix’s ear then they parted ways.
Hugh set his glass on the table. “See you, Warner.”
“Um...”
Hugh took off after Gabrielle.