Page 62 of Collateral Damage
Oh, she’s serious. “Drama is conflict, and conflict is drama.”
She pats me on the shoulder even though she’s a good six inches shorter than me. “Good. That’s what’s going to pay my bills.”
Coop and I exchange a look. What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?
Ricki claps her hands. “Alright. The talent each have different call times. They’re entering the penthouse in the order Perry thinks will create the best content. We’ll have plenty of reactions for episode one the editors can play around with. The cast are all superstars, so try not to be starstruck.”
This time Cooper doesn’t try to hide his chuckle. “Not sure I can do that. Have you heard Audra Mason’s newest album? Pretty cool.”
I don’t know everything about Cooper, but I know for a fact there’s no way he’s listened to Audra Mason’s newest album.
Ricki’s eyes widen. “You can’t fawn over these people. They need to respect you.”
“He’s kidding,” I say, and she shakes her head like she gets the joke but doesn’t find it funny. “What about the three cast-mates who have already met?” I challenge. “How are you going to play it off like they’re meeting for the first time?”
Ricki immediately hushes me and looks around. “Don’t speak of that, okay? Just let the magic happen.”
Besides Perry, there are several camera operators, two sound technicians, a woman I think might be Ricki’s assistant, a lighting technician, and a couple of people for hair, makeup, and wardrobe. That’s for production, and Perry says it’s a small crew. Post-production will have editors, marketers, and more.
All with iron-clad NDAs, of course.
But Cooper and I still have to thrive in our day jobs. I’ll be producing Benton, as well as the international pop-star Audra and the supermodel Gloria. Cooper is assigned to the politicians Sloane and Dane Maguire, as well as the movie star hunk Justin Crawford.
“Don’t sleep with anyone,” Perry emphasized when we were assigned. “Ever. Ever. Ever. Got that?”
We both agreed, though I couldn’t help but wonder if Cooper would end up sleeping with one of the women, anyway. Coop’s kind of hard to resist. The man has swagger, and he may not think so, but his prosthetic leg gives him even more appeal. I’ve seen the way women look at him; it’s impossible not to notice, and the level of attention the man gets has only increased since his accident. What can I say? Women love a tortured soul.
Ricki struts off to her assistant, and Cooper turns on me. “How well do you think your boy will do pretending to meet Sloane and Dane for the first time?”
I kind of hate we’re starting the show off with a lie, but I guess that’s show-biz. “Benton is good. What about the siblings? I mean, they’re in politics, so I’m sure that makes them excellent liars already.”
He snorts. “Nothing like starting a reality show off with some good old-fashioned acting.”
I smile. It feels like we’re edging toward being friends again.
“We’re starting with the siblings,” Perry announces at the front of the room, gaining everyone’s attention. “We already filmed intro packages and interviews, but we need interaction of when they first meet. This is key material for our pilot, and as you know, that first episode is everything. There’s a screening room set up downstairs, so anyone who doesn’t absolutely have to be on set needs to head there now.”
“Guess that’s us,” Cooper says.
I elbow him playfully. “Let’s go.”
We take the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator. The apartment is smaller than the penthouse, but it’s incredibly beautiful, with killer views.
“The only quiet place in here is my bedroom, but that’s because I put a lock on it from the outside.”
I raise my eyebrows at him. “So you’re saying I can’t go in there?”
His dark eyes hold mine for a moment too long, and my stomach flips. “You can go in there anytime you’d like, Valentine. All you have to do is ask.”
The words are friendly on the surface but dripping in sexual innuendo.
It’s the kind of thing the old Cooper used to say all the time, and I know it’s a joke, but it still makes my cheeks warm. I need to cut it out. While Cooper might be okay with me using his bedroom if I need to step away, he’s not inviting me to join him in there for anything else.
Does it matter we once shared a toe-curling kiss? Nope. That was two young people making a mistake, and we aren’t those people anymore.
The rest of the unnecessary crew follow behind us, and that’s all I expect, but what I don’t expect is his father and my mother to come in shortly after, bickering already.
“Oh fuck,” Cooper mutters, bee-lining toward our parents. I’m right on his heels. Oh fuck is right. If there’s anyone who can throw a wrench into what needs to be a perfect day, it’s these two.Drama is conflict, and conflict is drama, that’s for damn sure.
