Page 17 of The Producer: Aaron

I watch her limp out with boots in her hand and close the door behind her as if we were not worthy of her time. We are all three stunned by the impudence of this young woman, dumbfounded by her frank way of speaking that borders on insolence. It is Tracy who breaks the silence with a wild laugh.

“I swear it’s the most epic scene I’ve ever witnessed,” she says in fits and starts. “Please don’t fire her. It’s too good to see how you can’t hold your own with her.” I cast a bored look at her, but I actually struggle to hide a smile.

Dakota reminds me a lot of me, cocky and brazen at her age.

“She’s aware you’re her boss, isn’t she?” Sharon asks with a smile on her face, and I can’t help but imitate her expression.

“More than aware, I would say. She just doesn’t care.” I laugh, throwing my head back.

“Coming back to us. There could be a solution that could silence the rumors of your relationship, and that could make you look like the hero,” says Sharon warily, and her hesitation makes me straighten in my chair. She knows I don’t like when they paint me as someone I’m not. Cold, calculating, I can accept. Hero makes me turn up my nose.

“We can say that there is a person obsessed with Dakota and that, as a temporary solution, the production has decided it’s better if she remains in your house. We can say there are security guards and cameras that can keep her safe. In six months, we will say that the emergency has settled down and that she can return to live as a free woman,” she explains.

“This is all you’ve come up with in fifteen days?” I ask dumbfounded.

Sharon doesn’t bat an eye at my remark. “This is a big scandal. The only way to divert attention from it is by creating a bigger one. Making bland excuses will only make us look like we are trying to cover some sordid affair.”

I think about it a bit, and I’m not convinced. This story has taken on epic proportions when we could simply go back to the accommodations we had before, making Dakota understand that the next time she messes up, she is fired.

“Doesn’t that sound a bit exaggerated? Is it so unthinkable to find her another place to live and try to let the rumors die? I’m not comfortable with all these lies we are spreading around,” I try to convince her. After all, having had the opportunity to live under the same roof, Dakota doesn’t seem to be a vapid girl throwing a tantrum.

“And how do you explain the past fifteen days? She will look like your lover, and while you will look like the alpha male who nailed a young and sexy girl, she will pass for the one who has opened her legs to make her way into this show. She will be branded for life while you come out with a few pats on the back.” Tracy’s voice is firm in a reproach that I deserve.

What she says is true. No one will give Dakota credit in this industry, no matter how good she is at her job. The gossip will continue to follow her at every future project, even if we spendhours on official press releases. If there is no valid explanation for this story, our denials will remain only beautiful words that no one really believes.

“You know you put me in an uncomfortable situation with this idea, don’t you? From the beginning, making her come to live with me.” Mine is not a reproach, just a simple observation.

Sharon nods and looks down. “I know, but we are prepared for this and we can make her look like the victim. We will make it appear more convincing by placing a couple of security guys in front of the gate at your place. They will keep away the paparazzi, too.”

I appreciate her honesty as I stand and button my jacket again.

“I’m going to talk to Dakota. I’ll leave it to you to manage the press. Or do you need my face on video?”

Sharon beckons me to go.

“We will make a press release. It should be enough to divert attention. If your intervention is necessary, we will let you know.”

When I arrive on set, Dakota is engaged in the shooting of a chase that has her jumping from a fake building to slip into a window a few feet away. It is a stunt that is not particularly risky but still requires precision, exercise, and preparation beyond simple acting. She performs it perfectly, running on those heels that hurt her as if she didn’t even have them on. Knowing how her feet are bleeding, my esteem for her, and her professionalism, grows.

When the director stops the action and realizes I’m nearby, he shows off one of those fake smiles he reserves for me every time I see him. I have never seen a person try with so much determination to please me. If I told him now to kneel in front ofme and wag his tail, I am sure he would.

“Aaron, what a pleasure to see you!” He puts his hand on my arm, and this already bothers me.

My stern look doesn’t seem to annoy him at all.

“Things are going wonderfully. Do you want to stop for a few minutes to watch what we are doing? We’re about to shoot some juicy scenes.” He waggles his eyebrows conspiratorially.

I have no idea what he means byjuicy, but I don’t want to stay here to discover it.

“Thank you for the invitation, but I just came by to talk to Dakota.”

I spot people around us starting to notice my presence. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to come in person to talk to her, fueling the gossip.

“Of course, of course. Dakota, honey, come here. Mr. Steel wants to talk to you,” he shouts to make himself heard. By now, not only is Dakota informed of my presence, but so are the people busy arranging the lights on the other side of the set.

When she reaches me, I notice that she is embarrassed by the curious glances the technicians and dozens of other people who work here throw at her.

“Did you really have to come to the set?” she grumbles in a low voice while looking at her toes.

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