“You want to break up our partnership?” All the wind leaves my body.
“No. I don’t want that.” She gasps. “Of course, I don't want that. But you’ve essentially been M.I.A., Ronni. Now this. You have great lawyers. I believe you’ll overcome this bullshit. I’m asking you to take a minute to consider the long game. Ourbusiness. Me.”
Call me bewildered. Tongue-tied. “I. Uh…”
“Case in point. Were you going to tell me you’re selling the Malibu house? I mean, where are you and Connor moving to?” Kris regards me with annoyed curiosity.
Leave it to Ronni Miller, burning bridges left and right.
“I was going to tell you today. The stupid TikTokers next door have made life unbearable. I thought we’d just go stay at Connor’s in Seattle until you and I go to Ireland.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Besides, I thought the rule of thumb is to ignore—the press will move on to someone else.”
Kris stands again and paces. “No, Ronni. Not in this case. You need to hire crisis PR. Immediately. They’ll work with your attorneys to hopefully get this put behind you. Come up with some sort of strategy to get Kircher off your ass. God, I’m sorry I didn’t prepare you better. I hate what’s happening, but the truth is you can’t stay on the film in any official capacity until you get this figured out.”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m a child.” I’m the one who’s furious now. I can see my career slipping through my fingers and I’m wondering what the hell I can do to stop it.
Kris clasps her hands to the side of her head. “I’m sorry, there’s no way for this conversation to be pleasant. I guess I might as well get all the news out there. The Netflix execs called this morning. They’re on my ass too. I can’t say this more plainly— you have a tiny window to fix this. I have a list of crisis PR firms you should talk to. I’ll be right back.” She whisks off to her office, presumably.
With a moment to catch my breath, I stand and look down at the hustle and bustle of Wilshire. I’m trying to remember why I wanted to produce so badly. Why I’ve essentially stopped acting. Why bringing down Kircher was so important to me.
Why? Why? Why?
Through the window, I can see a group of men on the sidewalk laughing and talking. Heading into Spago across the street. It’s where every Hollywood exec lunches when they want to be seen.
The fact is, I’ve done nothing wrong. Yet, I’m getting ostracized. My career’s being threatened all because I had the audacity to shine a spotlight on abhorrent behavior that needed to end. It’s not fair. Then again, life’s never been fair for a female executive in the entertainment industry.
I’m royally pissed off. I realize it’s not at Kris.
The game is fucking rigged.
Kris returns and hands me a printout. “You and Connor should vet these together, babe.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry for getting heated. I understand why you need to do this. Distance yourself.” I flick my eyes up to hers and hold her gaze. “I need a week or two. There’s a couple of legal process things that are going on with Kircher that may or may not impact all of this. I’m so, so sorry I brought this down on us. I really am. I’m also pissed.Weshould not have to pay the price forthatman’s misdeeds.”
Her eyes mist a bit. “You’reabsolutelyright. I never thought it would go this way.”
“But, this is where we are.” I pull her to me. We cling to each other for a long while. “We’re heading back up to Seattle. I’m happy to do whatever you need me to do. Behind the scenes. Incognito.”
“I’ll let you know. No matter what, we’ll get through this.” Kris grips my shoulders. “For the record, I think Netflix is just bluffing. They love you. They love the show.”
“I know,” I lie, but it’s what she needs to hear.
On my way back home, it occurs to me everything in this town is such a fuckingillusion. When I think of my gorgeous giant of a husband, my two adorable babies and the family we have up in Seattle?
That’s what’s real.
I’ll go through all the motions. Hire a stupid PR firm. Defend myself in this dumb lawsuit. Hell, maybe I’ll do some private sessions with Lisa Kinkaid, if that will help me retrain my brain a bit.
What I won’t do?
Compromise the people I love.
Never. Ever. Again.
Ronniand I are gradually getting our groove back.
Both of us carry a wee bit of hurt. Big misunderstandings have a way of doing that in a relationship. The boys’ first birthday party was a success. We’re not far off our second wedding anniversary, and I’m beginning to get the picture of what marriage is. An ebb and flow of tides, which carry unique obstacles for us to navigate. Some are like a playful splash. Others are like riptides, dragging us out to sea.
My wife and I are learning how to work together to steer the ship when things get a little choppy.