30. Reese
Chapter 30
Reese
Dante
Break a leg with Amara today.
Reese
Luck seems to be on my side lately. Geraldine’s strategy data just came in.
Our PR parade is working beautifully. Robyn Hood’s getting the coverage it deserves
(Take that, Felix!)
Dante
As it should.
Reese
The rec center misses us. I asked and everything
Dante
I’m sure you did.
Reese
Hypothetically speaking…after your training wraps and you’re back filming, what if I acquired some craft services contraband and hosted an intimate soirée at my cabin? Strictly under the radar, of course
Dante
Miss Sinclair, are you attempting to woo me with stolen snacks?
Reese
Only the finest day-old bread and questionable cheese for you, darling
Dante
Perhaps I could upgrade our feast with some fresh-baked bread…
Reese
And maybe some artisanal cheese to match?
Dante
You drive a hard bargain. Count me in.
Amara Bellamy is ten minutes early to our one-on-one meeting.
I love her already.
We rush through the hellos, and I can’t help it—five minutes in, I’m fangirling. She’s the one person who can make me feel small and starstruck, even though I’m here, too, with my name on the poster. She exudes confidence in her red power suit and matching nails. She’s nothing like other directors I’ve met.
The late afternoon sun filters through the director’s tent, the cool breeze carrying the scent of sandalwood as she moves. The headlines have been perfect lately— Sinclair Goes Rogue —and with the reporters gone back to LA, the set has become quiet, turning back into a sanctuary.
We decided to keep our return to the redwoods under wraps, allowing us time to rebuild the movie in peace.
Amara’s laptop clicks open, her Hobonichi Techo journal already marked with colorful tabs and notes.
“Before we bring in the producers,” she says, her pen hovering over fresh paper, “I want to explore your interest in directing. This movie could be a sort of apprenticeship, if you want it, since you’ve been on set this entire time. On the call, you seemed to have a clear vision of where you want the movie to go. I thought we could help each other.”
My throat tightens with unexpected emotion. Sure, I mentioned my interest in directing on our original call, but with the timeline being so tight, I didn’t want to get my hopes up. But she’s right here, offering to make it real.
“I would be honored,” I say, pinching myself under the table.
“I’ve carefully reviewed Felix’s footage.” She taps on her laptop’s mouse pad three times, bringing it to life. “The good news is we can keep a significant portion of the establishing shots, character introductions, and dialogue scenes. It’s mainly the action sequences and character development scenes that need reshooting to properly capture Robyn’s essence. With our current schedule, we can absolutely complete everything within the original timeline. What do you think about this approach?”
“Oh, thank the heavens!” I throw up my hands. “That sounds perfect.”
Her shoulders slacken, like she was up all night figuring out how to tell me that she hated Felix’s cut.
“I knew I liked you.” She wiggles her manicured fingers together. “Also, I’m so sorry, but I can’t stop staring at your arms. They look insane!”
“Thank you. It’s great to be strong for a change.” I rub a hand over my bicep.
“Robyn will need your strength, especially since I’m bringing on a female trainer for you since Nick left with Felix. Unless you’d rather have Dante train you?”
“I love training with Dante,” I admit, “but having female trainers would be great too. Sometimes guys don’t quite—”
“Understand how women’s bodies work?
“Exactly!” Though Dante, my traitorous mind reminds me, seems to understand my body just fine. I clear my throat and my thoughts. “I’d love a female trainer, and it would be nice to run choreography with the crew and stunt team before we start filming. It’ll give us a week to sync up before the other actors return to set.”
“Wasn’t that happening before?” Amara’s brow furrows.
“Felix had different ideas about authenticity ,” I explain.
“Usually, I run all the choreography at the table read before we start filming. But since we won’t be starting from square one, we’ll do run-throughs in the gym on Sundays—to make sure everything looks good before we continue shooting on Mondays.”
“That’s excellent,” I agree.
I lean back, calculating. “Barely two weeks after our original wrap date with Felix. Can we really do it?”
“Oh, we’re doing it,” she says. “My team’s the best, and since you’re backing this financially, we’re giving you everything we’ve got.”
I’ll miss my weekly Sunday outings with Dante, but this movie is my first priority.
She snaps back into business mode as she opens up a file called “costume sketches.” And goodness, they are beautiful.
My eyes widen. A structured green tunic that allows for movement, tactical pants with real pockets, and boots made for running and fighting. The leather armor suit for combat scenes looks powerful without being exploitative. Finally, clothing designed for action, not the male gaze.
Hours fly by as we plot action sequences, hair and makeup, and character arcs. The sexy, clumsy Robyn of Felix’s vision dissolves, replaced by a fighter who knows her worth. Every training schedule, every choreography note, every minor script revision aligns with this new truth.
“Do you have any scenes you’re concerned about?” she asks when she notices my lingering gaze on the underwater sequence storyboards. “What made you nervous about filming with Felix?”
I hesitate, then exhale. With her, I feel safe enough to be honest. “To be fully transparent, I’m afraid of diving underwater. But I’ve been working on it, and I want to do it myself—no stunt double. But wearing armor makes it more terrifying, especially the thought of struggling to breach the surface. And I don’t want to do it the way Felix suggested, with that unnecessarily revealing costume.”
Her pen is already marking changes. “We’re scrapping that approach entirely. Light clothing, a dagger instead of that ridiculous sword. We’ll take our time, do test runs. This scene should showcase your strength, not your vulnerability.”
Relief crashes over me like a wave, bringing unexpected tears to my eyes. I blink them back, but she notices.
Having a director who listens, who adapts, who respects my boundaries. No more being pushed into uncomfortable situations or told to “just deal with it.” She sees me as a collaborator.
“This is what directing should be,” she says softly, pushing a box of tissues my way without making a fuss. “We find solutions together. And trust me, we’re about to show those testosterone-fueled action films how it’s really done.”
“Thank you, Amara.”
“I’m so glad Dante introduced us,” she sighs. “I’ve known him since Princeton. And I don’t know what’s going on between you two—I don’t need to know. But trust me, the bad-boy thing he puts on? It’s exactly like Robyn’s armor. Dante’s got layers most people never see.” She gives me a pointed look. “Just like someone else I know, who hides behind politeness.”
I open my mouth to protest, then close it with a laugh. Caught.
Her grin turns devilish. “And hey, whenever you need extortion material on Dante, I’m your girl. Wait till you hear about his tweed newsboy cap.”
“His what?”
“Oh yes,” she cackles. “Princeton-era Dante wouldn’t be caught dead without one. Thought he was channeling Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders .”
“Well, now that you mention it”—I laugh —“he does have that same brooding intensity.”
“Remind me later,” she says, “and I’ll show you enough photos to absolutely destroy him.”
“I seriously love working with you,” I beam.
“Good. Because we’re about to change some narratives around here.”
“Hell yes!”
The headlines flash through my mind— Hollywood’s New Power Player Takes Control —no longer gossip, but prophecy. I’m not just starring anymore. I’m executive producing, profit sharing, learning to direct. I’m writing my own story.
Nothing can touch me now.
Nothing can go wrong.
Reese
Diamond Essence shoot got moved to tomorrow. We’re still on for our impromptu training between takes?
Dante
Perfect excuse to escape SF for a bit.
How’s Mari treating you?
Reese
Barely coming up for air, but the script is *chef’s kiss*
She’s everything
Dante
Told you you’d fall for her.
Reese
Speaking of falling…maybe we could find some trouble after the shoot?
Need one last adventure before nine weeks of all work no play.
Dante
I know just the place.