40. May 20th

MAY 20TH

Kai

Kai breezedthrough Big Bird's door, threw her Backpack of Death on the floor, and then intercepted his administrative assistant from closing the door.

"Leave it open, please, Felicity. I would prefer at least one witness to our final conversation."

"Close the damn door. This is a private conversation."

"Leave it open, Felicity, or I walk and call a meeting of the board members."

The producer began to grind his teeth but waved off his assistant with the command of, "Hold my calls."

Not until the man sat behind his desk did Kai sit in one of the uncomfortable chairs in front of Big Bird's desk.

Another fucking power play. Uncomfortable chairs mean uncomfortable people who will be distracted and agree to things quickly to get out of this office. I wonder how many people have gotten screwed out of millions because of these goddamned chairs.

"The final edits are done. All paperwork has been filed. The picture is officially finished."

Big Bird grunted. "Unfortunately, it is unlikely to get to the theaters."

Kai's gaze narrowed. "And just why would that be, Craig?"

"Because the picture is not good quality. It's been a waste of money from the minute you were hired."

Crossing her legs, Kai picked imaginary lint off of her black leggings as she counted to ten in her head. She needed to go all the way to twenty-two before she was able to speak without yelling. "Bullshit. And even if that were the case, the blame would be with you as you hired me."

"I didn't want you. Kowalski convinced the rest of the board that you were the best choice. I tried to explain to him why that wasn't the case." Big Bird leaned back in his expensive, ergonomic chair. "An eight-to-one vote meant I had to hire you."

"Fine. So explain to me why the film is not good quality."

"I screened the film after you left last night. The acting is subpar, particularly that Sookie Carter, plus she's too fat. Your cinematographer can't frame for shit, the stunts are less than riveting, and the script is a disaster. And don't get me started on the military connections. I've made my opinion known on that from day one, so there's no need to address it again."

She pursed her lips, then sucked them back to her teeth. "You are full of shit, Stapleton. Each and every actor cast had the board's approval. Sookie is absolutely perfect, according to every man I've ever seen or talked to. Every frame of film was given to you each day for viewing, so if you had concerns about anything with filming, you would have said immediately. Yes, the script was shit, but we fixed it, and that only happened because Tribe headed off the mess before we left for training. This all goes without saying that you picked the film in the first place, and allegedly, you have golden vision and can see a hit even with your eyes closed."

"Well, apparently, when I was outvoted for the choice of director, I've now achieved my first failure." He picked up a copy of the contract binder and threw it across his desk at her. "And after going through the final audit, I see I was correct to voice my displeasure. Weeks of unnecessary training at an exorbitant price, then your consultant up and left with no notice. At least that's one budget line I won't have to pay out since he violated the contract by leaving before finishing the job he was hired for." He smiled. "His leaving must have broken your heart, Serrano. Got bored, did he? In all honesty, I'm surprised he stuck around as long as he did. Or was it so bad it wasn't even worth the seven-digit fee?"

Kai stared at him with no expression on her face.

His false tirade continued. "Then let's add to it the missing inventory. Overspending by replacing items that are ‘missing' and attempts to cover up said missing inventory. And now, I hold here in my hand"—he lifted a manilla folder about a quarter of an inch thick—"sworn affidavits from several locals in Coxen Hole who identify you as the individual who approached them with an opportunity to sell said missing inventory on the local black market for cash." He threw the folder across the desk at her as well.

"Finally, crew members were compromised by a food poisoning outbreak, and a stuntman could have died due to improperly verified safety procedures. All situations perpetrated by you to slow down production and allow you a cut of the insurance check when the film had to be scrapped." Two more folders filled with papers landed on the pile. "Well, you're going to get your wish on that last one, aren't you? The losses will be heavy, but I think the studio will agree with my recommendation after they've seen the evidence I've compiled. We can't put this piece of shit out there and ruin the reputation of the company."

He steepled his fingers in front of his face. "All of this, of course, can be kept out of the press for now if you leave quietly and forfeit your fees. If you want a reference of any kind or a desire to work in this industry again, I suggest you leave this office right now without another word, clean out your shit, and be off the lot within an hour."

"Bribed or threatened?"

"Excuse me?"

"Were they bribed or threatened? People in Roatán live in pretty much abject poverty. It wouldn't take much to get them to say anything you wanted if it meant they could ensure food and shelter for their families. Also, wouldn't take much to scare them into doing or saying what you wanted for the same reasons. And as far as the crew and the stuntman, unfortunately, there are plenty of weak and vulnerable people in the film industry who can be manipulated just as easily when it comes to staying employed or when given promises for the future. And I'm guessing those opportunities will never come despite those promises."

"No bribes or threats needed when it's the truth."

"So. You're threatening me with these lies?"

"Oh, it's not a threat, Serrano. What I said is exactly what will happen if you don't leave my office as I just described." His smile became predatory. "I almost hope you try to fight me. I will love watching you and your career go down in flames. But I should warn you, if you do fight me, all of this evidence will go to the police, and your career will be over."

This was that final battle Kai had worried about. The one where all the small lost skirmishes led to. She could feel rage bubbling from her feet, up through her body, to her brain. "You are so lucky I don't have a gun on me," she hissed. "I'd shoot you right here where you sit and not blink an eye."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. So violent. Who's threatening who now, Serrano? You always were such a hothead. Never could keep that mouth of yours shut. Always spouting some sort of vitriol. And you were dumb enough to have Felicity leave the door open so everyone could hear your threat."

He was twisting all of their battles to suit his narrative.

So that was the game all along. But why?

"Fuck off, Stapleton. There's probably a long line of people out there waiting behind me to have the opportunity to put a bullet in you. Most of them work directly for you in this goddamned office."

Kai stood directly in front of his desk, hands flat on the surface as she leaned over. "Now you listen to me, you arrogant, misogynist prick. I'm willing to bet every penny of every film I've ever made, as well as my reputation, that all of your so-called evidence against me is really evidence against you. You have been nothing but a burr on my ass from the moment I accepted this job. Everything was always wrong. No decision I made was acceptable. No choice was right. And based on what? You kept spouting budget concerns, but the truth is, it's you who was the real problem. I know you're the one behind the sabotage of the film. The fantastic film we still managed to make, finish on time, and come in under budget. I'm willing to bet the board hasn't even seen the final cut yet. And when they do, I think they'd agree with me."

Suddenly, in her head, she heard Waters. As painful as that sound was, she grasped it like a lifeline.

"You can only take so much punishment before eventually, the damage will become too great to rally. When that day comes, you'll need to lean on those people when those moments come. You have an army you aren't even aware of. They'll heal the wounds you suffer, and they'll do it gladly, without question."

She stood up straight. "You haven't counted on one thing, Stapleton. And that is that I have a tribe. Everyone I work with will know that everything you spill out of your mouth is a lie. Every piece of so-called evidence you have is trumped up. It won't matter how solid it appears because I've spent years building my tribe up around me. They know me. They would do anything for me because they know I've protected them from cocksuckers like you who think because you hold the combination to the money vault, you're untouchable. That you can do whatever you want, say whatever you want, and have whatever you want.

"Each and every one of those people will have my back, no matter how miserable you aim to make me or my life. Somehow, I must have known I would need every one of them one day. Today is that day."

She picked up her backpack, swung it over her shoulder, and made for the door. When she got there, she turned to face him. "Do your worst. I promise you that I will rain down fire on whatever you put out there, and then I will crush you like a bug under my boot. You don't scare me. You've never scared me. And men like you never will."