Alice is tugging at my shirt.

“Now, Sophie, now.”

I finish typing the text message to my mother. As usual, she’s agitating me to firm up plans for our proposed lunch next week.

“You’ll miss it,” Alice tugs harder.

With a sigh, I put the mobile down and roll my eyes.

“I don’t even know if I want to see it,” I start and reach for my mug of coffee.

“Of course you do.” Alice corrects me, and I laugh.

“No, I don’t. And I really don’t think I want to work with him either. From what I’ve read on social media, he’s a prima donna of the highest caliber, not to mention rude…”

“Shush,” Alice puts her hand over my mouth.

Luckily, she’s been my best friend since way back; otherwise I might have objected.

The television screen is filled with none other than Todd Alexander: current mega star and bad boy.

“Turn it up, I can’t hear.”

I lift cushions off the couch, push Puff the cat off, and find the remote to the TV. As I turn it up, we can hear Todd’s angry voice. A close up of his face shows his eyes narrowed and his lips tightly draw into a thin line.

“You’re nothing,” yells Todd at a little Italian man who is holding up a tea towel. “Who the fuck do you think you are, wog boy?

“I don’t give a shit about your money. So what if you can afford this place? Why don’t you do us all a favor and crawl back down into that hell hole you crept out of.”

I cringe. It’s worse than I thought it was going to be. Todd’s eyes are now wide open; he is baring his teeth at this poor man who is still holding up his tea towel.

Was Todd going mad? Rabies? Brain tumor, or simply a personality disorder?

My money is on the latter.

Whatever that was, my mind is made up. I don’t need to see the rest.

Just then, Todd lunges forward, and I watch horrified as his right fist makes for the poor man’s face.

Jordan, his PR guy, appears out of nowhere. He grabs Todd and tries to pull him back. It is to no avail.

Terrible Todd seems to be frothing at the mouth. Left jab, right jab and left again.

I’m holding my breath.

Dismayed, I see Todd’s fist collide with the face of the Italian. Blood trickles down from his nose. In slow motion, the hurt figure crumples onto the ground.

“Fucking useless mole,” Todd continues to sneer at the mess of a man on the floor. No one else in the restaurant appears to be moving. Jordan is hot on Todd’s heels.

Todd is still swearing as he leaves the restaurant. Jordan is hot on Todd’s heels.

My hands are shaking. There’s clearly something wrong with our alleged superstar. No one in his right mind behaves the way Todd Alexander just behaved. No one.

He just made a psychopath look like a gentle giant.

The screen of the television goes black and voices are cut off mid-sentence.

“Fuck you” are the last words we hear.

“Can you believe it?” I shake my head and start pacing the length of my living room.

“You―” starts Alice but I cut her off.

“No. No. No. And in case you still aren’t sure what I think: NO.”

I’ve stopped pacing and am looking at Alice, hands on my hips.

She’s sitting on the white leather lounge, legs tucked underneath her, and she smiles at me.

I know that smile. I know her too well. I lift my right hand and point my index finger at her.

“No. Alice, I mean it.” I run my hand through my hair and point at the television. “Did you see and hear him? I mean, who behaves like that?”

I cringe at the thought of having a confrontation of any type with Todd. So what if he’s got the looks and the talent?

“Come on Soph, he’s not all bad. You know Megastar has the deal in the bag. Todd has to sign his part of the contract, and it’s a done deal. And we need this. You can’t back out now.”

I hate it when she calls me Soph. Pouting, I flop onto the couch. Puff hisses at me and abandons his spot.

He goes to Alice who pats him. Promptly, he purrs and gets comfortable on her lap.

Traitor.

“I can’t work with him.” I shake my head. A man of Todd’s caliber would never listen to me. A director has to work with people who get on with other people; Todd isn’t one to get on with his fellow human beings, that much is obvious.

“The whole thing might have been a misunderstanding. You should listen to Todd’s version of the story first.”

I roll my eyes before I look at Alice.

“You’re joking. How could any of what we saw have been a misunderstanding?”

Alice doesn’t reply.

“Alice, please,” I start to beg. There must be a way out of this.

“Listen, Sophie.” Alice suddenly sounds serious. “You can’t back out now. We’re all tied up in this deal. The movie will be made. You will direct it. You’ve got the balls, girl.”

I laugh.

“Don’t forget Jordan’s there as well.” Alice adds.

Briefly, I think about Jordan. Why does he stay with Todd? Does he like facing a personal challenge every day?

Can I really manage Todd? Negative self-doubt creeps through me like thorny weeds.

Of course you can’t, it says over and over. No one can, not even Jordan.

“But he’s always been bad, Alice.” I chew on my bottom lip. “This latest scandal is one of many.”

Surely there must be a way out.

“Do you remember the story your mum used to read to us when were kids?”

I stare at Alice. What is she getting at? I shake my head.

“The little engine that could?”

My lips curl up a little.

“You do remember.” Alice sounds triumphant. “Remember the I can’t turns into I think I can, I think I can, I can.”

With a long sigh, I flop back on my lounge.

“Okay then, if the little engine says so. I guess I’ve got no choice but to give it a go.” I give in and see Alice’s triumphant smile. Her right fist slices the air in a victory punch.

Oh, what have I just gotten myself into?