The Showrunner by Kim Moritsugu

Author:Kim Moritsugu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dundurn
Published: 2018-05-08T16:00:00+00:00

23

After the episode had screened, the cast had signed autographs and posed for a hundred photos each, and the delirious fans had left, still squeeing, Jenna helped an under-the-influence Ann and her equally drunk husband into their town car and waved them off. The viewing party was finally over.

Jenna had told Andrew to go home earlier — no reason for him to suffer through the whole event — so she was alone for the drive back to his house. Alone to think about how the evening had gone, to wonder how much she had contributed to its success — a little more than a little, she thought — and to decide not to tell Andrew what Rob had said, about how his attempt at getting her a part on The Benjamins had failed.

Rob had stood too close, and reeked of alcohol — how unfair was that, that while she’d worked hard and stayed sober, everyone else had drunk their faces off at the open bar? — when he’d cornered her during a text message exchange she was having with Ann, who would not leave her alone about getting the screening started, when that task wasn’t even on Jenna’s Keeper of the List job description.

Rob said, “Look, I tried, I really did. Because someone as talented and beautiful as you are deserves a chance to shine.” He laid his hand on her bare shoulder and ran his index finger down her arm in a creepy way that made Jenna squirm and shake him off, though she tried to do it without shuddering.

Rob said, “Ann flat-out wouldn’t go for it. Stacey might have, but not Ann, and she calls the shots.”

“Thanks for trying, Rob, but you shouldn’t worry about me. I’m not even sure I want to act anymore.”

“How can you say that?” He sounded genuinely upset, like she was wasting something special, rather than being no different from a hundred other actresses. “Your time will come, I know it. One day you’ll get the attention you deserve.”

“You’re sweet to say so,” Jenna said. “And thanks for sticking your neck out for me. But I have to go.” She held up her phone. “I can’t keep Ann waiting if I want to keep the job I’ve got.”

She’d acted like it was no tragedy if her acting days were done, like she was relieved she no longer had to endure casting calls and auditions. Like she didn’t want to be treated as a brainless pretty face and clotheshorse anymore.

She stopped off at an In-N-Out on her way home, gorged on a double cheeseburger, threw it up in the restroom, and drove home.

When she walked in, Andrew was watching a basketball game on his giant TV. “How’d the rest of the party go?”

“Fine.” She kicked off her shoes, poured a big glass of wine, drank half of it, refilled the glass, and sat down next to Andrew on the sectional.

He squeezed her shoulder. “You looked cute in your headset, carrying a clipboard.”

“Cute?”

“And competent. That’s my girl down there, I wanted to tell people.

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