FUCKING YASMIN. She’s going to ruin things for me with Giovanna. If she freaks out, she’ll run and push me away. I have to make sure that doesn’t happen.
I walk back to my trailer, passing the restaurant, and go inside. I lock the door and lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling. I don’t know how I’m going to get Giovanna out of my system. I can’t stay here forever. Maybe, she’ll let me visit her occasionally. That’s dumb. She’ll never tolerate being a side thing for me.
I rub my forehead. I’m fucking obsessed with her.
I close my eyes to rest a few minutes, knowing I have to go back and film another scene soon. Some romantic nonsense in the park. If I can convince audiences I’m in love with Yasmin this time, I deserve a fucking Oscar. Nothing could be further from reality.
Hearing a commotion outside, I stand and peek out to see a huge crowd forming in front of Yasmin’s trailer. The press are there, as usual, and she’s holding court. I listen carefully, trying to hear what’s going on.
“Yasmin! What’s the best part of the movie so far?” a reporter asks.
“Working with Antonio Russo, of course.” She smiles and poses for numerous shots. “We have some super steamy scenes in this film. The ladies will go even crazier for him.”
More camera flashes as she poses. “Where is he now?” another asks.
“Not sure,” she says. “We’ll be filming a new scene in the park in thirty minutes if you want to catch a glimpse.”
Bitch! She knows I hate paparazzi lingering on set. Once again, it’s all about her. I see Giovanna standing in the back, arms crossed, near the entrance to the store. Yasmin sees her too and does the worst thing possible.
“Oh, there’s the owner of the store,” she says, pointing at Giovanna, whose expression is a level of pissed off I’ve never seen. “She’s been so delightful and has been able to see the whole movie being filmed. I’m sure she has some interesting insight.”
They rush Giovanna as she stands frozen in place. From where I stand, I can hear a thousand questions being thrown at her. “What are they like up close?” “Are you in the movie?” “Is Antonio nice?”
She doesn’t answer them and instead looks horrified. I can’t let her suffer like that. I rush out and push myself through the crowd. I have to play it cool though.
“Hey, hey, hey,” I say, flashing my best movie star smile. “What’s going on here?” Everyone turns away from Giovanna and rushes back to me, just as I hoped. I start answering questions while she disappears inside. I glare at Yasmin, who looks pissed as she goes inside her trailer. I’ll deal with her later.
Thirty minutes pass, and I excuse myself from the mayhem to return to my trailer. Picking up my cell phone, I dial Giovanna’s.
“Hello?”
“It’s me, Giovanna.”
“Thank you,” she says. “I can’t believe that bitch.”
“I did what I could to help.”
“You saved me. That means a lot.”
“I had to. It was only happening because of me. I’ll protect you to the best of my ability.” Giovanna is silent, and I wonder what she’s thinking. “You there?”
“Why is she doing this?”
“Lots of reasons. Jealousy being the main one. She wants us to be a couple regardless of how we actually feel about each other.”
“Why?”
“Media exposure. She wants us to be a Hollywood power couple.”
“Oh.”
“I can’t fake it and right now, I like her even less than I did before this situation.”
“Understandable.”
“You’re okay?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
“Good. That’s all that matters to me.”
“You’re kind of sweet sometimes.”
“I’m inspired.” I decide to try one more time. “Giovanna?”
“Yes?”
“I know you said no, but —”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“I’ll have dinner with you.”
I smile. “Yeah?”
“I know just the spot.”
“Say it and I’m there.”
“My place. Walk down the alley behind the store and come in through the garage. No one will see you.”
“You go it. Time?”
“When are you done with filming?”
“Seven.”
“Anytime after seven then.”
“I can’t even tell you how excited I am to spend time with you again.”
“You don’t have to,” she says. “I already know. See you at seven, Beautiful.”
I laugh. “That’s my line, gorgeous.”
She laughs too. “Bye.”
She hangs up, and I’m left with a grin and tons of anticipation.