Chapter 10 Intimidation
INTIMIDATION
LOURDES
“There is no need to shout at me!” Leah declared, annoyed. “God, we aren’t even together! Why are you like this?”
“Because I did your stupid engagement with the student actors while you went to dinner with the PM.”
“It was a benefit for children’s cancer, Clive!” Leah made fists. “I didn’t ask you to go. Management did. I couldn’t be three places at once. Lourdes went to the other charity thing and she’s not complaining.”
I kept my lips zipped, hoping this would just play out and everyone would calm down once we were off the elevator.
Ever since the show opened, the number of news outlets, magazines, papers and events asking for Leah to appear exploded.
What she couldn’t do, others filled in. We tried to be the merry little bunch of upstarts singing the praises of our show in hopes of holding up an Olivier someday.
Clive loathed sloppy seconds. Normally I would have, too, but I knew all boats rose with Leah and we had much bigger worries than being second or third on the list.
“You’re so self-centered, Leah! You act as though the world revolves around you. It sucks all the oxygen out of the room!”
I stared ahead, pretending to ignore them. Leah burst into tears.
I glared at Clive. “She is the star. You’re only angry because it’s her name second on the marquee.”
“Oh, and you’re so much happier?” Clive asked. “You loathed her more at the start. As I recall, the day we got the script, you said she was an entitled nepobaby.”
I flushed red. Leah looked at me, tears running.
“Leah, I’m… I won’t deny that I said it, okay? But that was before I met you. I’m sorry. I wanted to play Victoria and—”
“I don’t want to talk about it. I want off this fucking elevator! Why is it taking so long?”
“It’s fifty floors up, Leah!” Clive sighed, acting as if she were daft.
I couldn’t stand when he talked down to her. It set me off.
“She doesn’t need you! She’s fine on her own. People adore Leah, even as you ride her coattails. It’s nice to remind yourself of it, Clive. She and I will be famous someday—really fucking famous—and you will always be a middling hack!”
The doors opened. I grabbed Leah’s hand, pulling her with me. With her in heels and me in flats, I was taller and faster, but she tried to catch up. Leah constantly whined I walked too fast.
“Hey, stop, come here,” I pulled up a safe distance from Clive.
She cried. “I just… he makes me feel so small. He’s so awful to me.”
I cupped her face in my hands and wiped tears with my thumbs. “Listen to me, Leah. He’s intimidated by a strong woman and cannot handle you. He’s just plain jealous.”
“I want everyone to get along, but I don’t want him.”
“Take it from me, he’ll never change. He wants you like a prize. Yes, he’s fun, but all the orgasms in the world won’t make up for the fact that he’s just a knob.”
She snickered. I spotted napkins near the bar. I fetched them and dabbed her remaining tears delicately.
“I’m a mess.”
“You’re beautiful as ever. Stop letting him get to you. Brian and I will run perimeter tonight so you can enjoy yourself.”
“I have tried so hard to turn him down, but I don’t….” Leah’s face showed how lost she was.
“Listen to me, Leah. Banish his words from your memory and get a drink.”
She stared at me as if mesmerized.
“Leah, you alright?”
I was surprised as she launched into a kiss for the ages. I nearly fell over, confused, but stayed upright. I wanted to kiss her—to do a lot more than kiss her—but this was wrong. I pulled back.
“Leah, we cannot—”
“You don’t like me?”
“I fancy you like you wouldn’t believe. You’re gorgeous,” I said. “It’s not that. It’s that this is all about getting back at him. Showmances are messy. I’m too old for some sort of fling where you and I have some hot sex and then you wake up bored tomorrow.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Is this why you push me away? Why can’t I ever get to you? Why—”
“Leah, it’s not a good idea.” I hated watching her cry, but remained strong in my resolve.
She spun and ran toward the elevator. I debated to chase her or stay.
Unfortunately, because I did truly care for her, I packed off towards where she’d run.