Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
EMILY
Mihira and I huddled by the heaters, sipping our wine. All the trestle tables and goods that had been set out at the Christmas market on the weekend had been packed away, leaving a large space for the cast and crew to mingle.
I glanced around the barn. There was no sign of Dana yet. I hadn’t seen her since we’d spent all evening at the market on Sunday and then traipsed out in the dark to check the trap. It felt a lot longer than three days. I’ll have to get used to it, since I’m leaving tomorrow.
The Red Tractor Farm’s café staff were walking around with platters of food. A tray of mini sliders floated toward us, bringing with it a scent of savory goodness. I popped one in my mouth and the flavorful pulled pork exploded in my mouth. Delicious.
Mihira peered out of the barn window into the late-afternoon sunlight. “No sign of snow at the moment. My weather app says it’s going to start falling around midnight. I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely planning to be tucked into bed by then.”
I chuckled. “Yes, I’m exhausted. I’m planning to take the 8 a.m. train back to the city tomorrow morning, so no late night for me.” I scanned the crowd again. Still no Dana.
There’d been some grumblings in the cast and crew about the fact that the wrap party was on the evening before Thanksgiving.
In response, management had changed the start time to 4 p.m. so people could drop in before they drove, flew or took a train home for the holiday.
I was lucky home was only two hours away by train.
“I’m planning to take the 8 a.m. train too.” Mihira dabbed her mouth with a napkin.
“Oh, great! I can’t wait to get home. I’m planning to eat my body weight in turkey, lasagna and pecan pie.”
“I am holding out for my bed. The mattress at the bed and breakfast was horrendous. But despite that, I’ll miss this.” Mihira waved her hand around. “I can’t believe filming is already all over.”
“Same.” I took another sip of wine and placed the empty glass on the windowsill.
The past few weeks had flown by. And despite the questionable script and some of my costars’ acting, and Phillip’s threats hanging over my head, I’d had the most fun I’d had in years.
God, I love acting. Who knew when I’d get to do it again?
I had nothing booked—not even the corporate voice-overs I detested.
I should call Brittany again and see if she had any leads.
“At least we don’t have to wait long for it to air,” Mihira said.
Due to the rushed production process, The Christmas Tree Farm would air in just over two weeks. Fingers crossed that would bring some new opportunities.
A hand tapped my shoulder. Dana. My chest filled with warmth. I turned, smiling—
Oh.
I forced the smile to remain on my face.
“Austin, hi,” I said.
Austin handed me a glass of champagne. “Cheers! Sorry, Mihira. Is it okay if I steal Emily away? There’s something I wanted to discuss with her.”
“Um.” Mihira looked at me. “Sure.”
Before I’d had a chance to fully register what was happening, Austin’s hand was on the small of my back and he was leading me away to the far corner of the barn.
He stopped, standing slightly too close to me. I stepped back. My heart rate picked up.
“What is it, Austin?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm. We’re in public. You’re safe.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with you, Emily,” he said, his voice low.
“Um, yes. It’s been great.” My eyes darted around the barn. Shouldn’t Charles be giving a speech about now? And where was Dana?
“I hold a lot of sway with HolLove, you know. They love me. I’m booked for five movies next year.”
“Oh, that’s great!” I said with as much enthusiasm as I could muster. Where was he going with this?
Austin stepped forward again. I inched back, my heels hitting the wall behind me.
“They haven’t cast all the leading ladies yet. I could put in a good word for you, pull some strings, so we could work together again.” Austin reached out, brushing hair behind my ear, and it took all my effort not to flinch. “I think we’d make a great team, both on and off the screen.”
My heart pounded in my chest. “Thanks for thinking of me, but I don’t date colleagues.”
He was standing so close, I could smell the beer on his breath. Why won’t he step back?
Austin chuckled. “We don’t need to date. It could just be a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
My lungs emptied of air. He was just like Phillip.
Austin ran his fingers over my cheek. I flinched, raising my hand and batting him away.
“No.” My voice sounded strangled, but at least I managed to get the word out.
Sure, I needed work. But not at this cost.
I should tell him what he was doing was not okay. That he needed to step away. But instead, I felt frozen on the spot.
“Is everything okay?”
My eyes shot over Austin’s shoulder to where Dana was standing, right behind him, her brown eyes focused on mine.
Oh, thank god.
Austin took a step back and turned, scowling at Dana.
“Dana! Do you want to grab a bite to eat?” My voice shook, but I stepped away from the wall and moved past Austin.
Dana looked at me and then Austin and back to me again. “Yes, I’m starving.”
I hooked my arm through Dana’s and walked quickly toward the canapés, breathing heavily.
“Are you okay?” Dana asked, shooting me a worried look.
“You were right,” I said, unlinking our arms and rubbing my forehead with both palms. “Austin is a sleaze.”
I’d thought I was just being overly sensitive. I should have trusted my gut.
Dana’s eyes narrowed. “What did he do?”
“He…” Nausea rose in my stomach. “He got way too close to me, and basically said that if I hooked up with him, he’d get me a job on more HolLove movies with him.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Dana clenched her fists. “What an absolute dick. Honestly we should report him for sexual harassment. He wouldn’t take no from you yesterday and now this? That guy is disgusting.”
Dana was right. I should report Austin for sexual harassment.
Just like I should have reported Phillip straight after I left the hotel that night.
But I didn’t have the courage then and I didn’t have it now.
Even if I mustered up enough bravery to speak to someone about Austin, would anything happen?
All those times he’d touched my butt, my thighs...
he could easily explain away by saying he was just getting into character.
And it was just my words against his. He’d never admit to saying what he did.
I could hear Brittany’s voice in my head.
It’ll be ‘he said, she said’... You’ll be labelled as difficult and too outspoken…
If she thought going on the record against Phillip was a bad idea, she’d almost certainly feel the same about Austin.
I clutched my stomach. Was I going to be sick?
Dana’s gaze softened. “Sorry, I’m sure me getting pissed off at him isn’t very helpful for you. That must’ve been awful. Is there anything I can do?”
“I think I’d just rather not talk about it.”
“Of course,” Dana said. “Why don’t we get you that food? Unless that was just an excuse to escape Austin?”
I’d completely lost my appetite, but I needed to eat. Lunch was a distant memory.
“No, let’s get some food.”
Half an hour later, I was standing with Mihira, Dana and Olivia eating a delicious pork belly bao and sharing notes on the last episode of Heated Rivalry.
Every so often, I would forget what had just happened with Austin for a glorious thirty seconds, before the cloud would settle back over me, growing darker each time. How dare Austin ruin my last night in Sapphire Springs?
“Who’s your favorite character, Emily?” Olivia asked, jerking me out of my thoughts.
“Sorry. Um, probably Kip?”
Austin was at the drinks table now, pressing a glass of white wine into one of the young production assistant’s hands. What was her name? I frowned. That’s right, Ava. She had a very cute cat named Mr. Waffles.
Austin’s hand snaked behind her back, and my frown deepened.
He started to lead Ava down to the other end of the barn.
“What the fuck?”
I turned to see Dana watching Austin too. He seemed to be blow-by-blow recreating exactly what he’d done earlier to me, just on a much younger and more vulnerable member of the crew. Ava couldn’t be older than twenty.
They’d stopped now, Austin slinking closer to her.
I stood frozen. Was this what an out-of-body experience was like? It was like I was watching what had just happened to myself from afar.
Ava inched away from him. Even from the other side of the barn, her body language was clear.
My chest constricted. Shit.
“I’m going over there.” Dana’s nostrils flared, her eyes intense.
I wanted to follow her, to help Ava, but fear locked me in place.
Dana strode toward the back of the barn.
She said something to Ava, who nodded and quickly escaped, and then spoke to Austin. Austin glowered and then stomped off.
“What’s all that about?” Olivia asked, her brow furrowed, following my gaze.
“Austin was sleazing onto our production assistant, and it looks like Dana just gave him a piece of her mind about it.”
Mihira raised her eyebrows. “Shit! Ava? That’s terrible.”
Dana headed back toward us. I wished I had her strength to confront Austin.
“Emily, do you have a minute?” Dana asked as she reached us, her eyes blazing.
“Sure.” Nerves bubbled in my stomach. “Sorry I didn’t come with you before. I panicked a little.”
“Hey, that’s okay. It’s not surprising. You’re probably still recovering from the shock of what just happened. And it’s a lot easier for me to go all Kill Bill on Austin when I don’t know the guy or care about burning any bridges.”
I swallowed. “Maybe. But I should have helped. If you hadn’t been here…” I blinked away tears. Would I have just let the whole thing unfold without intervening if Dana hadn’t been here? I hoped not.
Dana stopped walking and turned to me, her face soft. “Hey. It’s not your fault. There’s no point worrying about what-ifs. I was here and it’s okay.” She pressed her lips together. “But I think we should talk to Charles and see if he can do anything about it.”
I glanced at Charles, who was holding a beer and chatting to one of the camera crew.
I bit my lip. Dana was right. We had to do something. My heart thumped in my ears. Shit.
“I can do it on my own,” Dana said. “Make it clear you’re not involved.”
My heart wasn’t slowing down and my breaths were getting tighter. I managed a small nod. “Would you mind?”
“Of course. I have absolutely nothing to lose.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, blinking back tears. “I know I should come with you, but…”
“Hey, you don’t need to explain. I get it.” Dana glanced over at Charles. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, and then we can enjoy the rest of the evening.”
Staying here, with Austin constantly popping up in my peripheral vision, was not appealing. But I didn’t want to go home and miss my last evening with Dana.
“I don’t suppose the traps need checking? I wouldn’t mind some fresh air.”
Dana rested her hand on my back. “They always need checking. I’ll be back in a few minutes and then we can head out. Okay?”
“Thank you.” I managed a watery smile.
Dana marched across the room to Charles. Austin’s laugh boomed nearby, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
Hot rage rose in my chest. How did men like Austin and Phillip get away with it? Money, fame, success or power seemed to make people overlook a myriad of unpleasant traits. Or were they also paralyzed by fear?
My gaze trailed back to Dana, who was now talking to Charles. I couldn’t read the expression on his face. The hot rage mixed with worry. Would Dana reporting it come back to bite me?
My throat constricted, my chest tight. Why was breathing so hard all of a sudden? Oh god, was I having a panic attack?
I couldn’t wait for Dana—I needed fresh air now. I hurried to the large wooden barn door, trying to keep myself together. A blast of cold air hit me as I pushed the door open.
I glanced around, my eyes landing on the fir trees in the distance. They were probably only fifteen minutes away by foot.
Once I was on the dirt road, I pulled out my phone and messaged Dana.
I’ll meet you at the trap. Need some fresh air.