CHAPTER 2 - TAKING RISKS

I set down my pen and handed over the contract papers to my lawyer. He was inspecting it, and I simply smiled at the suit-clad men sitting across from me.

I have signed up for yet another film, one that I am actually looking forward to. Despite my lack of dating skills, all of my stories are romantic, and ladies like them. My colleagues joke that I will never find a partner because my standards are unrealistic. That was probably part of the explanation as well. My male characters are too manly but kind, with a hint of toxicity but nothing the woman can't handle. I insist that all of my female leads be strong and independent. I don't want to be a writer who depicts women as stereotypical, helpless maidens in distress.

However, this time I was going to write a crime thriller, and ideas were rapidly flooding my mind. This was a new field for me, and I needed to do a huge amount of research, but I wasn't going to pass up this chance.

"We look forward to working with you, Miss Landon. We will see you next month."

The elder gentleman smiled politely at me, and I returned his gesture. I shook hands with the other people and went right back to my office, desperate for a cup of coffee.

I ended up preparing two cups and spotted Lorraine napping in her chair. She had her right hand on the mouse, and I knew she was overworking again. She always does this whenever we enter into a new contract. Lorraine manages everything on her own, irrespective of the fact that we have a very supportive lawyer. She is extremely meticulous in her job, and even though she only has minimal legal knowledge, she did everything she could to ensure that no one took advantage of us.

I set the cup on her table and knocked on the wood twice. She sprang up from her crouching position, and her fingers clicked on the mouse at random.

"Shit!"

Lorraine stared at the computer with trepidation, then exhaled in relief when she noticed that her haphazard clicking had done no harm to the spreadsheet.

"Planning to give me a heart attack, woman?"

Lorraine scowled at me, but all I saw was weariness in her eyes.

"Go home, Lor. I am not going to take care of you this time."

I remarked as I sat on the chair adjacent to hers. She shrugged her shoulders and took the steaming cup, softly blowing on it.

"Has the contract been finalized?"

I nodded, knowing very well that she wasn't going to take my words seriously. Perhaps I should call Matt. After all, he is the only one to whom she actually listens.

"When are you supposed to hand over the first script?"

"In two and a half months."

With all the research I had to do, I figured the given time period was really not going to be enough. But the production company was adamant, and I had no alternative but to cooperate. Otherwise, this chance would be given to someone else who is a specialist in the thriller genre. Luck will not always be on my side, and I will have to take some risks if I want to stay afloat.

"But there's only so much time. Even if you have a decent plot, getting it down on paper would take time."

Lorraine was simply expressing my own worries, to which I had no solution. She must have noticed my grimace as she kept silent for the following twenty minutes, each of us trying to enjoy our coffee and having different thoughts running through our heads.

"Are you going somewhere?"

"I wasn't planning on it, but I know I will need a change of scenery if I want to speed up my writing process."

It has become my norm to visit unknown destinations and spend days there without contacting anyone. It offers me a sense of independence that I lack when I am around people who know me. And it especially helps me come up with my finest storylines.

"I guess that will do good."

The first time I went missing, Lorraine called the police, believing I had been abducted or otherwise harmed. However, when the police contacted my family, they explained that I disappeared from time to time to compose myself and that there was nothing to be concerned about.

My sister is the only one who has my personal phone number, and she uses it to reach me during an emergency. She is the sole individual who knows my whereabouts, and I prefer it that way.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Lorraine commented, peering at the screen, and I simply nodded. My head was becoming cloudy with all the thoughts, and I was certain that if I didn't get them down immediately, I would go blank soon.

I spent the next four days researching and seldom left my office. Sleep was not a concern, as I had a makeshift bed in the room. While working, I enjoyed gazing out over the beach, and the enormous glass panels provided an endless view of the sky and the countryside. I picked this area specifically and did not hesitate to transfer most of my life's savings for this gem two years ago. If I was going to work in this industry, I might as well do it properly.

The story was beginning to take shape in my imagination, and I was hoping for a thriller with just enough romance to make the viewer's heart skip a beat. After all, romances in the middle of chaos are the most exhilarating ones.

I shut my office door and hid the key beneath Lorraine's keyboard. It's time to go invisible.

..........

"It's amazing. I couldn't put the book away until I got to the end. I am convinced that this one will be a commercial success."

My director looked at me in awe, and I smiled graciously. Working with Nathaniel Brown, the guru of crime novels, has long been a dream of mine. He was a wonderful family guy in his mid-fifties, and his wife often stated in interviews that the only person he would cheat on her with would be his psycho protagonists. And that was true. Nathaniel was considered the maestro of thrillers because of his dedication to his work.

"I feel honored, Mr. Brown."

With a wide smile, I replied, and he shook his head.

"Please call me Nathaniel. Your writing style astounds me. The characters are so brilliantly portrayed that I was worried I wouldn't be able to put it on screen with the same feeling as you have written it. So I thought about it and..."

Nathaniel glanced at Elizabeth, one of the production house partners, and she nodded her head in encouragement.

"And...?"

I inquired, unsure what was going on.

"I was hoping you could be my co-director."

My eyes widened in disbelief. Sure, I have assisted directors on set and knew a thing or two about shooting, but this was different. It is Nathaniel we are talking about. He never works with a partner, and no one can compete with his caliber.

Beside me, Lorraine cursed under her breath before squealing in excitement.

"Please accept my apologies, Nathaniel. I have never directed before, and I don't think I am capable of it."

I was usually up for a challenge, but this sounded much too dangerous. I was more concerned about disappointing Nathaniel than with the movie's failure. I had been respected as a writer, and shifting positions may have a negative impact.

"Come on, I spoke with a few of the directors you've already worked with, and they all agree that you have potential. You are young and full of ideas. If you don't take chances now, when will you? In addition, I would really appreciate your help on this subject. You see, the script is quite intense."

I bit my lower lip, my brain running around in circles with its hands in the air.

At the end of the day, I complied. However, as an assistant rather than a co-director, I didn't care about the title, and being his assistant felt far more appropriate than being his partner. Lorraine was bouncing around in my hotel room, unable to contain her excitement.

"We actually did it. I can't wait to tell Matt. He'd be overjoyed."

I grinned at her childishness and decided to go with the flow. I am twenty-seven years old and have my entire life ahead of me. If I fail now, I will have enough time to bounce back on track.

"I will go call my family."

I said that and exited my room to go to the balcony. I needed some fresh air.

.....

I was extremely busy with casting and location scouting for the following four months. Working with Nathaniel was a fantastic experience, and I felt confident even before the shoot began. The film had most of the top actors, and it had a massive budget. My first payment was already made, and it was the best I had ever received.

Some of the crew members and actors tried to hit on me at first, but they quickly realized what was in stock, and I was pretty much left alone for the rest of the workshop. I wasn't harsh or anything, but I drew my line early, and everyone knew not to cross it.

The film will be shot in various countries, and the cast members will come from different continents. The initial press release was a great hit, and I was scrolling down my Instagram with our movie updates all over it. I sighed in frustration as I watched myself answer multiple questions directed at me by the journalists. I despised the press. Whatever we said, they always found a way to twist it. They called it click bait, but I call it manipulation.

"When will we reach?"

Lorraine lifted her head from my shoulder and glanced at me with sleepy eyes. We were on our way to Thailand, our first shooting destination. The private plane was packed with staff and cast members, most of whom were sound asleep after a long night of partying.

"Three more hours."

I said, checking the time on the screen, and she went back to sleep.

"Bangkok, here we come."

.......