FOUR

As I awaited Char to pick my call, I couldn't shake the feeling of defeat that gnawed at me from within. My confidence, once unwavering, now faltered in the face of his harsh words. But as I stood beneath the glare of the California sun, I made a silent vow to myself: I would not let this setback break me.

"Hey Char," I greeted her, my voice infused with a newfound resolve. "How's it going?"

"Wendy, oh my gosh, I've been trying to reach you all morning," Char exclaimed, her voice filled with concern. "Are you okay? What happened at the meeting?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal to her. Char was my rock, my closest confidante, but I didn't want to burden her with my troubles. However, as I listened to her soothing voice, I realized that I couldn't keep my struggles bottled up inside any longer.

"It didn't go exactly as planned," I admitted, my voice tinged with frustration. "The director tore apart my screenplay, criticized every aspect of it. He even tried to strong-arm me into casting a big-name actress as the lead, but I refused."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and I braced myself for Char's response. But instead of the pity or sympathy I had expected, her voice came through strong and unwavering.

"Wendy, listen to me," Char said firmly. "You are a talented writer, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You poured your heart and soul into that screenplay, and no one can take that away from you. As for the director, well, he's just one person with his own agenda. You can't let him dictate your worth or determine your success."

Her words washed over me like a balm, soothing the raw wounds left by the director's criticisms. In Char's unwavering support, I found the strength to pick myself up and dust myself off once more. She was right. I couldn't let one man's opinion define me or derail my dreams.

"Thank you, Char," I said softly, my voice thick with emotion. "I needed to hear that."

"Anytime, Wendy," Char replied, her voice warm and reassuring. "Remember, I'm always here for you, no matter what. Now, take a deep breath, shake off the negativity, and keep moving forward. You've got this."

With Char's words echoing in my ears, I ended the call and continued on my way, a renewed sense of purpose burning bright within me. The road ahead would be challenging, filled with obstacles and setbacks, but I was ready to face them head-on.

Armed with her words of encouragement, I set out to tackle the challenges that lay ahead with a newfound resolve. As I made my way home from the studio, the events of the morning still weighed heavily on my mind. The director's criticisms echoed in my ears, but I refused to let them consume me. Instead, I focused on the task at hand: rebuilding my confidence and reclaiming my narrative.

Arriving back at my apartment, I was greeted by the sight of an empty fridge and bare cupboards. With a sigh, I realized that I would need to make a trip to the grocery store if I wanted to have anything to eat for dinner. Pushing aside my weariness, I grabbed my keys and headed out once more.

The grocery store was a welcome distraction from the turmoil swirling inside my mind. As I wandered the aisles, filling my cart with essentials, I allowed myself to get lost in the mundane tasks of everyday life. It was a small reprieve from the chaos of the entertainment industry, a moment of normalcy amidst the chaos.

Lost in thought, I rounded a corner and nearly collided with someone coming the other way. Startled, I looked up to see Wade Spelman standing before me, a sheepish grin on his face.

"Wendy, fancy meeting you here," he said, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the coincidence of running into Wade once again. "Seems like we have a habit of bumping into each other," I replied, a hint of amusement in my voice.

Wade nodded, his grin widening. "I guess fate just keeps bringing us together," he said, his tone light and teasing.

As we chatted, I couldn't help but feel a sense of ease in Wade's presence. Despite our rocky start, there was something about him that put me at ease. Maybe it was his easy charm or his genuine kindness, but whatever it was, I found myself enjoying his company more than I cared to admit.

Before long, our conversation turned to the events of the morning, and I couldn't help but vent my frustrations to Wade. I told him about the director's criticisms and his attempts to strong-arm me into casting a big-name actress as the lead.

Wade listened attentively, his expression growing more serious with each passing moment. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said sympathetically. "But I'm proud of you for standing up for what you believe in. Not many people would have had the courage to do that."

His words took me by surprise, and I found myself blushing at the unexpected praise. "Thank you, Wade," I said softly, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "That means a lot coming from you."

Wade returned my smile, his gaze warm and sincere. "Anytime, Wendy. You're a talented writer, and you deserve to have your voice heard."

"Thanks for the ride". I thanked him, knowing I'd have had to return in a taxi or Uber if not for him.

As we parted ways in the parking lot, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for Wade's unexpected support. He may have started off as a stranger, but in that moment, I realized that he had become a friend. Returning home with groceries in hand, I couldn't shake the feeling of warmth that lingered in my chest.

The evening was a rather long one, I was forced to go through my book yet again trying to see from the director's perspective. With my stomach stuffed, I sat back at the veranda, a cup of coffee beside my laptop as I made a few adjustments. Just as I was about retiring for the night, my phone rang, I grabbed the phone thinking it was Char as she was the only one who could call me this late. It was an unknown contact which made me hesitant for a brief second but eventually, I picked up.

"Hello Miss. Banks". The voice sounded familiar but I couldn't place it, calm, deep, and commanding.

"Hello…"

"I apologize for calling so late, I'd like to meet you in my office by morning". The person demanded, I didn't need anyone telling me who it was. Ivan Milton!

"Oh, yes sir… I hope there isn't a problem". I was now starting to get worried but he hung up on me already.

…

My heart raced as I made my way to Mr. Milton's office, I couldn't shake off the nerves, knowing that this meeting could determine the fate of the entire production. As I entered the familiar sleek office, I found Mr. Milton sitting at the head of a polished mahogany table, surrounded by stacks of papers and a laptop. He looked up from his work and greeted me with a warm smile.

"Ah, Ms. Banks, so good of you to join me," Mr. Milton said, motioning for me to take a seat opposite him.

"Thank you for meeting with me, Mr. Milton," I replied, trying to hide my nervousness.

"Now, let's get down to business, shall we?" Mr. Milton said, leaning back in his chair. "I wanted to discuss the casting choices for the upcoming production. I understand there's been some disagreement between you and the director."

I swallowed hard, knowing that this was the moment of truth. I took a deep breath and launched into my reasoning behind my casting choices, explaining my vision for the characters and how I believed my selections would bring the story to life.

Mr. Milton listened intently, nodding along as I spoke. When I finished, he leaned forward, steepling his fingers thoughtfully.

"I see your point, Ms. Banks, and I must say, I admire your passion for the project," he said. "However, I've also spoken with the director, and I understand his perspective as well. He's been in this industry for decades, and his instincts have served him well."

My heart sank. I knew that Mr. Milton was hinting at siding with the director, which would mean compromising on my vision for the production.

"But..." Mr. Milton continued, as I stared at him in disappointment, "I also believe in giving talented individuals like yourself a chance to prove themselves. And after hearing your argument, I must say, you've made a compelling case."

A glimmer of hope sparked in my chest as I listened to Mr. Milton's words.

"Therefore," he said, "I've decided to support your casting choices for this production."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Relief flooded through me, washing away the tension and anxiety that had been building up inside me since the phone call the previous night.

"Thank you, Mr. Milton, thank you so much," I said, feeling a surge of gratitude toward him.

Mr. Milton smiled warmly. "You've earned it, Ms. Banks. Now, let's make this production something truly special."