Page 91 of Collateral Damage
“You. You’re Sybil, right?” she hisses in her thick Italian accent.
What has Benton done now?
“Yes, I’m Sybil. How can I help you?”
“You’re producing Benton, right?”
“That I am.”
Her face rushes with red. “Tell him he can’t break up with me on national television.”
Umm, what?
Behind her, Perry slashes his neck with his hand. If shit is about to hit the fan with Benton and Gloria’s relationship, it needs to happenoncamera and not down here.
My eyes widen. Easy for him to call. Perry’s not the one with a hot-headed Italian supermodel in his face.
“I will talk to him,” I say with a friendly smile. “But Gloria, he really likes you.”
I mean, that’s true to a degree.
Bentondoeslike her.
He also doesn’t want her to be his girlfriend. I thought she knew that, considering she was also flirting with Justin until a few days ago. It sounds like Gloria and Benton have different interpretations of what’s going on between them, and I’m pretty sure if things go down the way I think they’re about to go down, Benton is going to further his playboy reputation, and that might not be good.
I promised I wasn’t going to let him walk out of this show with America angry at him, but maybe he shouldn’t be sleeping with his costar.
Gloria huffs, anger making way for vulnerability. Again, this is something Perry would love to seeoncamera, but I’m not completely heartless. This is a tale as old as time: girl likes boy more than boy likes girl.
I pat her on the back. “What happened?”
Perry steps into the conversation. “Let’s go upstairs and set up a confessional in your room. You can tell us all about it.”
Gloria shoots him a hateful glare. “You would love that, wouldn’t you?”
I mean, thatishis job.
Perry gives her a sympathetic smile. “It’s not what you think. This is about a narrative. If we don’t talk about how you feel and what’s going on with your relationship, then the editors will only be able to cut what’s on film. Thenarrativemight not go the way you want it to go.”
She glares. “Are you threatening me?”
He shakes his head, the picture of professional charm. “Of course not. I want to help you. You’re my girl.” He lowers his voice. “Between you and me, I want you to get the better edit if it comes down to Team Gloria versus Team Benton.”
My mouth pops open.What the hell?
Benton is going to kill me if that happens.
Gloria nods, and the two of them head out the door. I move to follow, but Perry stops me. “Go handle Benton,” he whispers.
Does that mean he wants me to make Benton look like an asshole for ratings, or does that mean he wants Benton to pretend to date Gloria seriously?
As much as I want our show to succeed, I care about my friend.
As Gloria and Perry leave, Perry motions Cooper to join them. I have to admit I hate the damsel in distress doe-eyes Gloria flashes at Cooper. I’m sure he’s attracted to her, same as any hot-blooded straight male.
I head out to find Benton, debating what to say to him, and sending him a quick text to ask where he’s at and if we can talk privately.
Benton: I’m training. Talk later.
