Page 3 of Professional Consult
“Additional insult? What the fuck is going on? He’s not my boss and if you think he’s fit to be my acting coach, you’ve lost your damn mind. He’s a hotshot, six years in, who could crash and burn at any moment.”
“Hey, this isn’t about me trying to be your coach,” Clint cuts in defensively.
“Then why the hell are you even here?”
His gaze shifts from me to Milton.
“Have you guys had private conversations about me?” I blurt out, suddenly aware that I’ve been an ongoing topic of discussion and not at all liking it. “Have you been asking Clint Bastwick for advice on how to handle the situation?”
“No!” Clint cuts in again with that overly apologetic voice of his that makes me feel like I’m overreacting. “It’s just that I have a brother.”
“Yeah, and?” I cross my arms over my chest and tap my foot impatiently.
“He’s, um, a police chief in a small town in Colorado.”
“So?”
“What Clint means to say is that we think it would be a good idea to send you out there for a week or two.”
My brow lifts at the audacity. “Sendmeout to Colorado?”
“Clint says he’s agreed to work as a professional consultant and give you some training. He’ll take you out on a few assignments, so you can—”
“W-w-wait! Are you actually suggesting I ride around in a cop car and put myself in danger? I’m not trained to deal with angry and violent criminals. I’m an actress!”
“It’s a tiny, quiet town called Pond Spring and the most action you’re likely to see is a local drunk by the name of Craig.” Clint’s voice is chipper, like he’s a damn travel agent arranging my vacation. “I’ll have your accommodations taken care of, and you won’t have to worry about anything other than studying for your role.”
I didn’t think I could hate Clint even more than I had.
I was wrong.
“This is ridiculous. I’m not going to Colorado to take part in your…in your—”
“You’re going to Colorado, or you’re going to find yourself playing second fiddle.”
My eyes widen in disbelief. “You can’t!”
“While I can’t touch your plush salary, I can absolutely dictate your screen time.”
My jaw drops.
“You wouldn’t…” My voice trails off because I know very well that he would.
“Tomorrow morning you’ll be flown in by way of private jet to Pond Spring where you will stay for two weeks,” Milton says. “Are we clear?”
I guess that settles it. There’s no way out of this.
My eyes spear Clint. “Why haven’t I heard that you have a brother? Come to think of it, you don’t give much of yourself away during interviews at all.”
“I’m from a small town, and I try to protect my family.”
“Is he going to be mad at me coming down, invading his space?”
“Not at all. You’ll find my brother most welcoming. He’ll probably make you cookies.”
I have no recourse unless I want to be demoted to side character for the next three years before they unceremoniously kill me off. It’ll be an embarrassingly low point in my career, and without being as visible, my worth will go down, and I’ll come out of the show far worse than I went into it.
“Fine.” I pivot in my police officer boots to leave, nearly tripping when the tread doesn’t glide as smoothly as my normal shoes.
