Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Movie magic wasn't actually magic. It was hard ass work. Thiago saw it first hand as the teams built, tore down, and rebuilt sections of the construction set for the scheduled scenes. He'd met quite a few people who let him know they'd worked with Jerricka on numerous projects. They had nothing but good things to say about her.

One such person was Dominique Truman. He'd known, with Jerricka being in the movie and entertainment industry, she knew of and ran in circles with well-known people. As the owner of a major construction company, the same could be said of him. However, he didn't do as much schmoozing and spotlight activities as his Dulzura.

"Mr. Dominquez, thank you again for coming through for us on such short notice."

They were between takes, and Dominique had walked over to where he was standing off to the side. He was keeping an eye on the crew while the foreman was in another area of the set checking on the other guys.

"You're welcome. I'm happy I was able to help. And, please call me Thiago."

The two chatted amicably until Thiago noticed one of the men with a pained expression. Excusing himself from the actress, he went closer to investigate.

"José, qué ocurre? Estas enfermo?"

Thiago slipped into Spanish to ask the young man if he was sick, because it was the most efficient way to communicate with José. He spoke English, but as most people did, when under stress or in pain, they reverted to their native tongue.

The sweat pouring off José's face wouldn't have been a problem due to the heat of the day, but upon closer inspection, there was a pallor to his skin. It was in direct contrast to the temperature outside.

"No. I'm fine." José's response was immediate, but Thiago wasn't buying it.

Pulling out his phone, he called Beau. The foreman was at his side in less than five minutes. It didn't take much for him to see what Thiago saw. José was done for the day. The guy didn't want to go, but he wasn't given much of an option. Having met him on multiple occasions while visiting job sites, Thiago was familiar with José and his work ethic. But he couldn't allow the man to stay around to potentially harm himself or someone else.

It wasn't until after they'd packed José into a vehicle to be taken to a clinic that Thiago was made aware of why the man was so intent on staying around. Jerricka approached with a purposeful stride and a frown creasing her brow.

"There's someone named José on your crew, right? Have you seen him? I need to get him outfitted."

Giving a regretful shake of his head, Thiago delivered the bad news. "I'm sorry, Dulzura. I had to send him to get checked out. He was ill."

"Shit. Okay. Well, I need to check with Calhoun and casting to see what they want me to do next."

She turned away and immediately whipped back around. "Did you happen to mention it to Calhoun?"

"No. I wasn't aware José was needed for anything beyond the set building I requested him for."

Tugging her back by the wrist, when she took a step away, Thiago pulled her to him.

"I'm putting two and two together, but it would be easier if you would tell me what you need."

"All I know is that one of the extras was supposed to be in an upcoming scene, and the guy flaked. Apparently your guy, José, fit the basic requirements and he agreed to be in the scene.

I was supposed to dress him to fit in with the rest of the extras, but he didn't show up to the trailer. My assistant is working on something else. So, I came to look for him myself."

By the time she finished, the two people she was about to walk off to locate approached—Calhoun and a woman Jerricka introduced as Kathy. The three of them put their heads together. Thiago listened and watched quietly as they discussed options. He assumed Kathy was from casting, since she was flipping through images on an electronic tablet while they studied the people they had available.

"What about him?" Calhoun finally asked. It took Thiago a second to realize he wasn't pointing to an image on the device display. The man was pointing at him.

Even with his new knowledge, Thiago still looked left and right, then over his shoulder.

"I'm not an actor." The list of things he wouldn't do for Jerricka was infinitesimally tiny. But, he had no idea accepting a bit role in a TV series was one of the items he'd have to consider.

"No real acting is required." Kathy's quick interjection was followed by a rundown of the expectations for the non-speaking role.

Thiago was set to say hell no. The thought was encouraged when Jerricka spoke up.

"Kathy, I'm sure he would be perfect for the scene, but I don't have a thing in my trailers that would fit him. Since I didn't bring supplies to whip up a costume, we might have to see who in the pool could work."

She was saying the right things, but something felt off. So, Thiago asked the others to excuse them and pulled her to the side.

"What is it you're not saying, Dulzura?"

"It's nothing, Thiago. We'll make it work. Seriously. You've already done so much for us to try to stay on schedule. These things happen. We'll work it out."

He didn't like the dejected note he heard in her voice. So, he pressed.

"Tell me what you need."

Her face scrunched before she opened and closed her mouth, without actually answering.

"Dulzura, tell me what you need."

At his second prompting, she told him what she had planned. Once she was done, he folded her hand into his and led her to his truck. Lifting one side of the toolbox in the truck bed, he started pulling out work clothes, and boots.

"Which one's fit into your scheme?"

Jerricka looked from Thiago to the items he'd draped onto the back of the vehicle.

"Are you serious?"

"I'm always serious when it comes to you." Thiago pointed to the clothes, prompting her to make a choice.

"If these don't work, I can call my brother. His place is just a few miles down the road. He can bring something he has there."

When Jerricka's brow furrowed again, Thiago filled in the blanks.

"This is my family's land. If you throw a rock in any direction for a few miles and you'll hit a Dominguez."

"Oh. Okay." She turned to focus on the options, then consulted her own electronic tablet.

"Do you have anything else in there?"

Looking over into the chest, Thiago pulled out the remainder of the garments along with the sledgehammer attached to the wall.

Once everything was laid out on the truck bed cover, Jerricka mixed and matched the items. Thiago could only guess her selection was based on whatever she had in her notes. When she was done, she'd selected a pair of bibbed coveralls, boots, a hard hat and a handkerchief.

"Dulzura?" Thiago didn't want to question her choices, but nowhere in her collection of items was one of the shirts he'd pulled out. The one he was wearing wasn't suitable. So, he wouldn't think she wanted him to keep it on.

When she looked up at him, her eyes were a little glazed. He could tell she'd slipped into her creative zone.

"Hm?"

"You didn't pick a shirt."

"Oh. I know. No shirt for this."

"Dulzura...Baby that doesn't make sense. People don't walk around construction sites shirtless."

Tapping his chest, then cupping his cheek, Jerricka simply smiled at him.

"This is a television show. Not real life. Trust me. Shirtless is the way to go for this one."