Darken up

7. Where to? - xxx

   He was furious. He could not believe they would double-cross him like that. The studio execs suggested a new ending due to the mixed results of the test screening. He gazed at his agent and Kate, both avoiding eye contact, looking guilty.

'This is non-negotiable. The original storyline stays or I'll quit, taking the investors with me.'

'Tom, let's talk about this over dinner.' Kate said.

'I already have plans, I'm afraid. Now, if you all excuse me...' he said and walked out of the conference room, letting the door shut loudly behind him.

   He was already in the lift when his agent called. She tried to ask him to return to the meeting, but he flatly declined and told her to fix this and contact him only if it's done. He called Genie, but it went to voicemail. He left her a message, told her what happened and that he could not wait to get his hands on her this weekend. He felt his phone buzz and it was a message from an unfamiliar number.

'Hey, just heard about the Thor script being approved. A couple of us are heading down to The Yard  to celebrate 9ish. #privatehire If you want to join, Flóra'

Even though they swapped numbers months ago, this was the first ever message between them. He hasn't seen her for weeks due to being preoccupied with his other projects, enough to keep him busy and not to wonder about what she was doing. Not that he would ever admit to that. After all Flóra was seeing somebody else and the chemistry between her and Ove was visible from miles. How would he ever compete with that and why would he? Completely pointless, futile. Yet his mind kept returning to that kiss in the lift, asking: why would she do something like that if she was truly content? He left her message unread.

   The afternoon found him in a better mood. Genie called and managed to cheer him up. She agreed with his decision to walk out of that meeting.

'Enough is enough! Not sure what they were thinking? If you are one of the executive producers, they can't just change the ending without your approval. I mean, this is the whole point of being one of the producers.' she mused. 'Filmmaking is not an exact science, no matter how hard they try to make it look like one. What about all those movies with great actors that still flopped at the box office? Besides, this is an indie film!'

Genie also encouraged him to go and meet with the creative bunch of the new Marvel picture at the Yard, saying 'it is always good to mingle with the writers and the creative minds'. Tom found out that some of the old crew members would be there too, so he replied Flóra with a 'See you there.' wondering if she was at home.

   Flóra was wondering the same thing when she read his reply. She has just come out of the shower, trying to decide what to wear when her phone buzzed. Some of the camera crew were coming as well, along with a few supporting cast, but she didn't think Tom would say yes. She smiled at the thought of how the other writers would react to see one of the lead actors there. She decided to wear a sky blue maxi dress with blue wedge sandals that were comfy enough to dance in. She looked at her necklaces and her gaze stopped at a small silver choker with a weird Norse symbol. Ove gave it to her, it was meant to protect her from harm. She frowned and put it away in a small box.

   He disappeared after the costume ball, leaving a handwritten note, informing Flóra that 'Business calls. Take care' which hurt her deeply. She thought they would continue their unlikely discussion about the nature of their relationship the next day, but clearly Ove had more important matters on his mind. She read the note over and over until the tears of disappointment and resentment arrived. She couldn't believe he would do this to her again, not after the night they had. Once she stopped crying away her heartache, she dozed off in one of the guest rooms. She could not stay in their bed when he was away. She had a dreamless, long sleep. When she woke up, the Sunday sun tried to get through the thick green blinds. She never felt lonelier in her life, but she had been here before, this time however she knew, she hoped, he was carrying the same burden she did - that longing deep within she had to keep in check through hard work and discipline, otherwise it was too all-consuming. She buried herself into her work that she enjoyed enough to keep the rueful thoughts at bay.