Gonna Be Fine

Back on the set, Rome was filled with anger. The meeting with Henry had him completely out of sorts, and his acting was suffering because of it. They’d gone over the same scene four times before Wynnie finally called a break and asked to speak with him. It had been a long time since anyone had needed to pull him aside and talk to him about his acting in a negative context, so when she’d sent him to his trailer to take a few minutes and regroup, he wanted to send his fist through the wall. She was an award winning actress, and if it wasn’t for her, he wouldn’t have this role. He couldn’t stand the thought of disappointing her.
“Can I get you anything?” Phil asked, after giving him a few minutes by himself.
Rome shook his head. “No, there’s nothing anyone can bring me right now to make me feel any better.” If he’d had a few minutes, he would’ve called his lawyer before he tried to get back to work, but he hadn’t had time then and knew he didn’t have time now. Just the idea that someone else was working on the problem might’ve made him feel better.
“I take it your lunch meeting didn’t go well?” Phil asked. He was never one to pry, but it was obvious he was concerned about Rome, and for good reason.
“No, not at all,” Rome replied. He was sitting in a chair in front of a mirror, and a glance in that direction told him he even looked angry and out of sorts. He needed to calm down and trust that there was a solution to this problem, but that was easier said than done.
“Well, if you wanna talk… I’m always willing to listen,” Phil said with an easy smile.
Rome might’ve taken him up on the offer if his cell phone hadn’t rang at that moment. He glanced down to see who was calling, and when he saw that it was his mother, a fresh bolt of lightning soared through his body. He snatched up the phone and growled, “Hello, Mom.”
“Rome? Is everything okay?”
“No, Mother, it isn’t. Do you and Father realize exactly who it is that you sold the production company to?” Rome glanced up to see Phil backing out the door, clearly not wanting to eavesdrop. Rome wouldn’t have cared if he’d stayed. It would’ve saved him having to tell the entire story twice, but it was okay that he’d left, too. He probably didn’t need a firsthand witness to the conversation he was about to have with his mother. Anyone who didn’t realize all the woman had put him through, as the willing pawn of his father, might think he was being cruel.
“Well, I’m not exactly sure. I know it was a man from France. Henry something or other, I think. Why do you ask?”
“His name is Henry Caron, Mother. He’s the man that Ella’s father tried to make her marry!”
“What?” Lacy sounded just as shocked as Rome had felt when he finally put two and two together a few hours ago. “But… your father was sure to put into the contract that the sale couldn’t be to anyone associated with Lloyd Sinders!”
“Apparently, someone screwed up then, Mom, because Henry Caron is definitely an associate of Lloyd Sinders, at least on a personal level if not professionally. And now I’m going to have to make ten movies with a man who hates me.” He ran a hand through his hair, grabbing hold of it and tugging as if he might pull a wad of it out.
“Rome, I’m so sorry. I am sure that your father will find a way to fix this.”
“I don’t think it can be fixed. Henry said that he made sure the contract was solid. But by all means, do what you can to see if there’s a way you can get me out of this. I should’ve listened to--” He stopped himself short of saying Ella’s name, thankful that he wasn’t so mad that he almost blurted out something he’d regret. “I should’ve listened to Bart and not come back here so quickly. I should’ve never trusted you and Dad! After what you did to me last time, I should’ve known better.”
“Rome, please, stop shouting,” she said in that child-like voice that told him she was on the verge of tears. “I’m so sorry, honey.”
“I’m sure you are. Just… tell Monty Verona to get his shit together and fix this!” He hung up, not even letting her tell him what it was she’d called about in the first place.
Looking up, he saw Wynnie’s familiar face in the doorway, her lips drawn together in concern as she stared at him through narrowed eyes. “Rome? Are you going to be okay, or should we just call off the rest of the shoot for the afternoon?”
“I’m sorry, Wynnie,” he said, bending over with his elbows on his knees. “It’s just that… once again… my parents are causing chaos in my life.” He shook his head. “I should’ve never trusted them.”
With a sympathetic look on her face, Wynnie crossed the room, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from her. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on, or just be angry for the rest of the night?”
“Neither,” he said, making her chuckle. “I have to make ten movies with my dad’s former production company--which he sold to the man Ella’s father was trying to force to marry before… before….” He didn’t finish the sentence. There was no reason to. She got it. He could tell by the slow nod and the way she dropped her eyes.
Reaching across the space and taking hold of his hand, Wynnie said, “I’m so sorry, Rome. That has got to be unbelievably difficult for you. I’m sure you’re feeling betrayed by your family for the second time, and you’re probably anxious, thinking this person will do whatever he can to make your life difficult for the foreseeable future. But Rome, if there’s anyone in the world who can handle this, it’s you.”
He smirked at her, dropping his head as he attempted to find the right words to tell her that she was crazy. “I don’t think so, Wynnie.”
“I know so, Rome. Think about everything you’ve gone through in the last year. Yet, here you are, making movies again, and doing a kick ass job. Most of the time. That asshole could give you the worst script ever written, and you’d find a way to make it work. Besides, I’m assuming that just because he owns the company, that doesn’t mean he’ll be on set every day. He probably won’t even be in the country for most of the productions. I know it’s not ideal, but you’ll make it work.”
Rome stared at his friend for a few moments, still not sure what to say but feeling much more positive now than he had before she’d come in to speak to him. It was one thing for Ella to tell him everything was going to be okay. She didn’t know--she wasn’t an actress and had never been on a set before. Her words were just to make him feel better. But hearing Wynnie say that he’d be okay was different because she knew the industry; she knew how all of this worked. She knew him. “Do you think?” he asked, a ray of hope finally sparking within him.
“I know,” she said again, with emphasis. “It sucks, Rome. A lot of things have sucked for you lately, and I hate that, because you’re a good guy, unlike a lot of the bastards in this industry.” He snickered. Leave it to Wynnie to tell you how it really was. “But you’re going to be fine. Now, go see Samantha, get that hair and make-up touched up, and let’s get through this last scene of the day so we can all get the hell out of here.” She patted him sharply on the hand, almost a slap, and then headed out.
She’d reached the door when he called after her. “Wynnie?”
Turning to look over her shoulder, she raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
She smiled and gave him a little nod before continuing out the door.
Rome felt remarkably better considering nothing had changed. Wynnie was right, though. He’d been giving Henry Caron his power and letting him wield it against him. The truth of the matter was, Henry had no power over him. He needed to believe in what he’d said when he left the restaurant. Even if Henry’s contract was sound, and Rome did have to make ten movies with him, that didn’t mean it had to be an enjoyable experience for Henry. Rome still had the power to make things hard on the producer without jeopardizing his own career. He just had to be calculating in his every move, and that was something that he should be able to do easily enough. After all, he was an actor.
With a deep breath, Rome headed out to find the hair and make-up personnel, resolved to get through the scene so he could go home to Ella’s arms. In the end, the fact that Henry hadn’t won, that he didn’t have Ella, and Rome still did, should be enough fuel to get him through whatever was to come.