Chapter Eleven
Seven Years Ago
“Cut!” Jeffrey’s voice angrily yelled out. I had noticed that the more takes we took, the more anger controlled Jeffrey. Empire Burning may have only been my first film – but I already knew Jeffrey was a unique director. Then, in the time it took to snap your fingers, once we were finished with a certain part, his whole energy would change and he would be back to his calm, optimistic self. “Take thirty minutes,” Jeffrey said, immediately turning to the directors and assistants around him.
I spun around and hurriedly left the set, stomping towards my trailer without a backward glance. Within seconds, Ethan was at my side. We had gotten in the habit over the duration of our studio shoot to walk back to our trailers together since they were side by side. Ethan’s trailer was so much more elaborate than mine. I was lucky just to have a trailer by myself and not have to share with other supporting roles. Being a nobody actress, I shouldn’t have even had a trailer to myself, but being the female lead gave me a slight perk.
“Elle,” Ethan said, drawing my attention to him. “What’s going on with you?” He glanced over at me, flicking his costume sunglasses for his character on top of his head. Once I was able to look past Ethan’s devastating good looks, I actually found that I had been able to open up to Ethan and be myself. In fact, I felt like myself the most whenever I was with him.
“Nothing,” I snapped, still trying to reel in my anger. I glanced back over at him. I didn’t mean to take my anger out on him.
Concern masked his expression, and he gave me one of those looks, like a disapproving parent. “Something is going on,” he said. “It’s affecting your acting. Why else do you think we had to run through the train station multiple times?” He was referring to the scene we had been working on. James and Sandra were running through a train station, trying to avoid a group of street criminals chasing us. It was a pain in the ass having to run in high heels, and my lack of focus was causing me to stumble more often than Jeffrey could handle.
"Because Jeffrey is crazy," I grumbled. By this point, we had arrived at my trailer. I paused before entering, turning to look at Ethan. He stood calmly next to me, staring into my eyes trying to find what had me so riled up. I felt myself softening and jerked my head towards the trailer door, "Come inside. I'll show you."
We entered my trailer. There wasn’t a lot of room, but as we walked into the living area, I saw my mom on the phone disappearing into the back room. She had been having a hard time adjusting to her new role as my manager. She meant well and she really gave it her all, but I could tell she was struggling with the demands already being thrown my way from promotional and social events.
I slid into a chair around the small dining table and grabbed the laptop resting there. Ethan sidled into the chair next to me watching as I opened up the laptop, clicking on my personal social media page and my messages inbox. I opened the top message and slid the laptop in front of Ethan. “Read that,” I commanded, resting the side of my head against my hand, watching him.
He grabbed the laptop and moved it closer to his face. His brows furrowed and he asked, “Who’s Keith?” He glanced over at me, but I shook my head. He turned back to the laptop screen and began to read bits and pieces aloud. “‘Elena, please, I love you. Give me another chance.’” He paused reading the next few messages. "‘We were so good together. You're so amazing. Please I have to see you.'" He paused again. "‘I know I messed up in high school, but please give me another shot. I love you. I never stopped.'" He slid the laptop away from him having read enough, even though there were several more. "Elena, who is this guy?"
"My ex," I said, watching Ethan's face for a reaction. "We dated last year during my senior year of high school. He actually cheated on me a few months into our relationship with one of my friends, but I stayed with him so I wouldn't have to find another date to the prom." I shrugged and looked down at the table, unable to watch the disappointment crossing Ethan's face. "After graduation, we broke up and I hadn't talked to him since."
“When did he start contacting you again?” Ethan asked, a slightly angry tone in his voice.
“Um, around when the first teaser trailer poster came out,” I admitted. It had been only a couple weeks.
Ethan scooted his chair a bit closer to me, lowering his head to look into my eyes, “Elena, he’s just one of those people from our past that will try to crawl their way back into your life. It’s only going to get worse with the more fame that you get. Now that we’re almost finished with filming, it’s going to get worse fast.”
“I know that,” I mumbled.
“Why haven’t you blocked him yet?” Ethan asked, cocking his head to the side slightly.
“What if he does something?” I asked. “What if he, like, goes to the press or something and tells them our complete story.”
“You have to protect yourself, Elena,” Ethan said, nodding. “But you can’t do that by letting him control you like this.”
“I haven’t replied to him,” I mumbled, trying to redeem myself.
“That’s good, but you really should block him out of your life,” Ethan continued. “This is going to keep happening, and if you let people start walking all over you now, and bullying you, then it will always be that way.” He shook his head and leaned back in his seat. “Trust me, I know what I’m talking about it. I’ve had my run before with psycho exes.” A look crossed his face and he averted his eyes. He had to have meant Cate, his ex. I hadn’t heard him talk about her in months, but I knew it was well over. Still, I didn’t want to press. Ethan knew he could talk about it whenever he wanted.
“I’ll block him,” I said. I grabbed the laptop and found my way to block him from contacting me again. When I finished, I closed my laptop, crossing my arms to rest on top of it.
A beat passed in silence, just the faint sounds of my mother talking in the back of the trailer, though we were unable to hear what she said. Ethan tugged at the collar of his white button-up shirt he was wearing for our scene. “So how’s your mom getting along?”
I looked over at him, leaning back in my chair as well. “It’s been hard,” I admitted quietly, not wanting her to come out and hear me talking about her. “She’s trying really hard, but I just don’t think she has the right tools for the job, you know?”
“I know,” Ethan nodded solemnly. “Has Alyssa been much help?”
“Yeah, you know,” I waved my hand dismissively. “She’s got a publicist interested in me, so we’ll see where that goes. She’s trying to find the publicist first before the manager. And I’m still looking for an assistant.” I shook my head. “Empire has almost wrapped and I still don’t have a full staff.”
“It takes time,” Ethan said. “You’re doing the right thing by not rushing into it. Trust me, it’s better to find the right people now than having to replace the wrong people later.”
“Right,” I said. “I just want someone I trust, you know.”
Ethan nodded understanding, “Would you like my help? I’m sure Eric could find some good manager or assistant options for you.”
I shook my head, about to reply when the walkie on the counter by the door crackled with Mark’s voice, “Ethan and Elena, need you on set in five. Need you on set in five.” Ethan stood up, grabbing the walkie and replied for both of us that we were on our way, before replacing it on the charger where it stayed.
Leaving the trailer, Ethan draped an arm across my shoulder in a comforting way. “You’re getting it, Elena,” he said leading the way back to set. “Just relax. Focus on the take, now.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said. “Thanks, Ethan.” I looked up at him from under the weight of his arm. He smiled down at me, a genuine smile causing the corners of his eyes to crinkle.
“Hey, do you want to meet up for movies and Mexican tonight?” Ethan asked as we arrived back on set, watching our stand-ins finish up for the lighting tests. “It’s been a while.”
“Definitely,” I said, already craving the Mexican dishes that Ethan’s personal chef Carina could whip up. I’d been over at Ethan’s house a few times in the past few months now, just relaxing and getting away from the pressure of the set and getting to know each other. It still amazed me that someone could be so famous and still so down-to-earth and considerate. I loved spending time with Ethan and I already knew I would never get tired of him.