Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
I shake my head because we’ve gone over this. “Nope. It’s real. Always has been, and if she’s allergic to gluten, then you shouldn’t make fun of her. We were talking about Joseph Helms, not whether or not his wife deserves to be cheated on. Which is also not what we’re talking about. Cheating implies the other party is interested. Sexual harassment is the better word.”
Jess sighs as though I’ve deeply disappointed her. “It’s a word that’s going to cost me a lot of money if I make the wrong bet. Look, Ani, you’ve heard the rumors.”
“No, I haven’t,” I reply. “All I’ve heard is what a great guy he is to work with when he’s sober, and not so fun when he’s not. I’ve heard he’s relatively happily married. I know he employs a lot of women on his production teams. I know he’s had a problem with alcohol in the past.”
Jess waves that off. “Everyone in this town does. Joe has done his time in rehab. He’s brilliant, you know. He’s slumming on this show.”
“Because he had a meltdown on his last film, and no one wants to work with him,” I point out. I do know his work, and he’s one of the reasons for those Oscar horns. I think it’s the one on the right. Needless to say, Jess is invested in Joseph’s career. Much of Pinnacle’s respect in the industry comes from those films directed by Joseph Helms.
The money, however, comes from a whole lot of television, including the over-the-top dating shows that bring in ratings and bank.
I’ve been working in the film side of the business for the last two years, specializing in movies made right here in NYC. I’ve done some TV and worked on the lower ends of film production. I have my first script ready and my dream staff as a list on my phone. I’m supposed to be ready to produce my first film, the start of my real career.
Then I hit this roadblock.
“Joseph isn’t the only one taking a step down,” I point out. “This is low-level production assistant work. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I’ve put my time in here.”
“I know and I understand your frustration, dear, but you are the only person I trust with this assignment.”
“Hailey’s show wrapped yesterday. I know she’s looking for something new,” I offer. Not only because I want out of this assignment, but because if anyone deserves to be shoved onto the hellscape of taping a bunch of women dating one European royal in the hopes of finding…I don’t want to say love. I think I might be contractually obligated to use the word love. But I think it’s mostly screen time and maybe a crown. Anyway, if anyone deserves that, it’s Hailey.
Jess’s lips form a straight line. “Hailey would bully the poor women into silence if she thought it would take her another rung up the ladder, and she’s got movie dreams. I can’t trust her to not side with Joe. The same with the men in your position. I understand that you do not deserve this, Anika. You’re smart and capable, and unfortunately you have a deep sense of morality that is not often found at this level of the entertainment industry. I did not fight tooth and nail for this seat so some old man can harass the young women beneath me. I would simply turn him away, but as I said, he’s a friend of the family, and his name has meant something to this company.”
She’s right. Damn it. She’s always right. She’s been my mentor, and she didn’t have to be. She’s the head of one of the world’s premier entertainment companies. And she doesn’t have to take time to meet the new crop of interns every year, to make sure there are always as many women as men, to take a few she sees promise in under her wing so they don’t get lost in the everyday shuffle.
The truth of the matter is I owe her.
“What are you hoping for, Jess?” Not that what she wants will change the nature of my investigation. I’ll be honest about what I discover.
She seems to think about the question for a moment. “I suppose I hope it’s all rumors. I’ve never seen this kind of behavior out of him, but I had power when I met him. Men’s behavior can change when the power dynamic is in their favor. I know I can be a bit much, and I don’t apologize for that. I had to be to make it where I am. But I’m not one of those women who thinks my daughters and granddaughters should suck it up because I had to. What am I hoping for? A different world for this generation. One where they don’t have to worry their boss will harass them. It’s a whisper right now, and that could be jealousy. No one has stepped up with an accusation, but I want to be prepared. I know you think this show is dumb.”