Page 16 of Shooting for his Heart
“Fine with me, but you already know that if he starts his shit, I’m out.”
It was silly that I was nervous as Gia and I took the short trip to Marshawn’s designated sitting area. I’d seen his big chair and a couple of others flanking it but never imagined that I would be sitting in one of them next to him. Hell, I never desired to. I liked to stay out of his way. Every time I was in his line of vision, he had some slick shit to say. It wasn’t in my nature to bite my tongue, and I was trying my best not to get fired again. This time, it might actually stick.
It appeared as if we were right on time as we approached his section. Marshawn turned to face us with an electric smile that happened to be trumped only by the vicious snarl spreading across Clarissa’s face as she walked up from the opposite direction. Either sensing the devil incarnate approaching or following my eyes, Marshawn turned to face her. She wasn’t close enough to get there before us, so Gia smiled deviously as she eased into the seat to Marshawn’s left side. There were only two chairs. I didn’t want to make things awkward by dragging the chair across to sit by Gia, so I plopped down on Marshawn’s right side.
“Not the help coming down from the slums trying to join our rankings,” Clarissa said with her custom witchy cackle.
“Whatever.” Gia rolled her eyes.
“Don’t come over here with that shit.” Marshawn held up a hand as he warned Clarissa.
“I’m back, Marty. You can dismiss them.” Clarissa waved her hand at us while looking at him.
“Actually… I need the designers to watch with me for a while,” Marshawn said.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I want them here.”
“Are you really going to treat me this way in front of a seamstress and her apprentice?” she asked.
“I’m not a damn apprentice.” I snapped. More lethal words lingered on my tongue, and I was having a hard time coaxing them back down my throat.
“Good for you,” Clarissa spat.
“You knew that, Clarissa. Don’t be a bitch if you can help it,” Marshawn warned.
“God knows what this little girl does around here. All I’m saying is… they don’t belong here. Send them on their way so I can have a seat. My feet are killing me.”
“Clarissa, I’ve worked with you on at least three different sets. Since when haven’t you stayed hidden in your trailer or in your designated section, demanding absolute privacy? Those were the good old days. Lord knows I didn’t miss hearing you bitch and moan,” Gia muttered.
“I don’t want to hear it. We are about to start shooting. Clarissa, I’m sorry, but they were invited.”
She grimaced. “By who?”
“By me. Who else?” Marshawn informed her.
“Fine, but since y’all have so much time to sit around doing nothing, I assume your work is done. My looks for tomorrow better be flawless, little girl!” Clarissa threatened, pointing her finger inches away from my nose.
“Bitch, if you don’t get your bony-ass finger out of my face, you’re gonna have to find a new way to count to ten!” I advised her, pushing forward to stand.
I was tired of her shit. Marshawn stiff-armed me, using his forearm to push me back into my seat. His smoldering eyes were sympathetic as they connected with mine. The combination ofrage and passion that filled me had my heart slamming against my chest.
“Clarissa, please take your ass back to your section.” Gia shook her head.
“See what I’m saying, Marty? You want these kinds of people hanging around, bringing all this negativity. You and I were having a great time.”
Marshawn’s eyes were still on me as I considered smacking the taste out of this succubus’s mouth. I didn’t want to blow my big break out of anger, but she was highly disrespectful. Clarissa didn’t know me from a hole in the ground, yet she continued to attack me every chance she got. I knew it was probably because I was new around here. However, I might have been new, but I was far from a pushover.
Marshawn tilted his head slightly. He didn’t speak any words, but for some reason, his gaze was comforting. It didn’t matter what Clarissa had to say; I belonged here. Marshawn’s plea to relax was unspoken, but I felt it through his eyes. Once I settled into my seat, he turned his attention back to Clarissa.
“Clarissa, go! You know you were antagonizing the girl. If I were her, I would have shoved that finger up your ass, so don’t look for any pity from me.”
Clarissa wagged that same finger at Marshawn and began to chuckle bitterly. “Wow, a couple of pretty faces come around, and you start showing your ass.”
“We weren’t having all that great of a time. I asked them to come over here so you couldn’t come back. I tried to be nice, but since you want to be a bitch, take yourself back there to your trailer or wherever you’ve been up until now,” Marshawn told her.
“I don’t have to go anywhere. I can have you fired, you know?” Clarissa asked, turning to me.
