Wednesday, March 27th, 2019

Graeme's POV

It totally sucks that Janiyah is back in Houston. And, she couldn't make it the past two weekends. I hope our wedding certificate comes in time before May. I don't want to wait another day.

Christy had another interview this morning. She is coming to the set afterward. That's where Damion and I are headed now.

It is extremely hard to pretend being nice to Jackson. But, if that is what it takes to permanently get rid of him from Hollywood, I have to suck it up.

We pulled up to the security gate, and the guard let us in. As soon as we parked, Damion and I noticed that Jennifer came with him. Looks like today is going to be very interesting.

She saw us getting out of my SUV.

Damion headed to his trailer. And, I headed to mine.

After changing into the outfit for the morning rehearsals, someone knocked on the door. Then, I saw a note slipped under my door. I went to open the door, but no one was there. So, I closed the door, picked up the note, and read it.

"Jackson was able to get me on the set today. I am going to look in his trailer to see if I can find any clues. Oh, the date for the gala is June 15th. And, I was able to secure six tickets for you and those who come with you. You and I must pretend that we don't care for each other, so Jackson doesn't get suspicious. I'll let you know what I find."

After reading the note, I made my way to the set.

Christy's POV

Okay, from each interview that I have had, Jackson is threatening the directors with fabricated lies about sexual assault. Jackson is darn disgusting.

Now, I need to figure out why he is making these threats. He needs that money for something. Time to make my appearance on the set as Jayde Cole.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After giving my name to the security guard at the gate, I made my way to the parking space Graeme reserved for me. Then, I parked the SUV Niko rented for me.

"Hi, my name is Jayde Cole. I am a friend of Graeme Harrison's cousin from San Diego." The guard checked his list.

"Ms. Cole, you may go in." I entered the actual set part, and they are filming a scene right now. I had a note pad and pen to pretend like I am researching the studio. And, from the whole time I stood in one spot, Jackson messed up the scene twice, already. His acting sucks. Graeme, Damion, and the other actors and actresses looked frustrated.

The director yelled, "Cut! Everyone take a 15-minute break!!"

I saw Graeme and waved at him. Graeme and Damion walked my way. Hold up!! What is Jennifer doing here?!

"Let's go for a short walk," Graeme says as we walk away.

"Why is Jennifer here?"

"She says she is here to find any clues to help end this charade of Jackson's. Also, she was able to get six tickets to his Gala. Would you like to go? Let me know if you will need an outfit to wear."

"Yes. I want this mess over and done with. By the way, he is even a lousier actor in person. Thank you for the offer. Niko will take care of it for me."

"Tell me about it. That was the third time this morning he messed up the scene," Damion says irritated.

"Why didn't you get the role, Damion? I've seen you in movies before and you are way better than Jackson."

Damion answered, "Sometimes I ask myself that. My roles have mostly been supportive. One day I will. I just keep working harder and harder for that day to finally come."

"Everyone back on the set!!!" The director yelled.

"We break for about two hours at 1:00 pm, so we'll see you then. You have access to everything on the lot. And, if you need a break, you are welcome to go to my trailer. Just let the guard know. There is a food tent with a variety of snacks and drinks as well."

"Thank you, Graeme." The guys both went back to the set.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I took a walk around the set, and it is massive. The area where the trailers were was guarded. There were at least two guards for each trailer, so I couldn't sneak to Jackson's trailer if I wanted to. Dang. I guess Jennifer is in there. I haven't seen her since the first encounter. I am thirsty, so I went to the food tent.

Graeme was right - they had a station for everything. Looks like they are setting up for lunch. I walked over to the beverage station and grabbed a bottle of water. As I was about to walk out, I saw Jennifer walking in.

"You're Christy, right? And, here looking for a lead, right?"

"Yes, I am."

"I already canvased Jackson's trailer and there wasn't anything. But, during one of their breaks, I did hear that the director wanted to see Jackson during the lunch break. I'm going to try and overhear their conversation."

"How about sneaking in before they even get in his trailer, which looks like an apartment-sized mobile home?"

"There are two guards standing near it. The first thing would be to get them away from it. Then, we would need to find a hiding space."

I'm good at creating distractions, but she doesn't need to know that. We walked over to the director's office. I have an app on my phone that creates noises. Since they do have animals secured in a safe area, I chose a cheetah. Yes, they have cheetahs with animal trainers on the lot.

We heard one of the guards say, "I thought those things were locked up?!!" Then, they took off.

Jennifer and I quickly opened the door and ran inside to find a hiding space. As soon as we did, the director and Jackson entered. I pressed record to hear every word they said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Director - "Look Jackson, this movie has already been delayed long enough with the firing of Carrie. Any more slip-ups and I am going to have to let you go too."

Jackson - "That's not the way I see it. You see, Graeme Harrison is the one who is slipping up, and that is how the media will see it."

Director - "What are you talking about?! We have taken unnecessary cut after unnecessary cut because of you, Jackson."

Jackson - "Hmm, how about we find a new director and male lead for the movie? Director assaults actors and actresses on the set. The media would not like that."

Director - "You know dang well that is a lie!"

Jackson - "But, the media doesn't know that. See, Mr. Director, as the male lead, this movie will make millions for me. If you don't want the media to know about what you do while on the set, I suggest you get rid of Graeme Harrison and make me the male lead."

Director - "You're one, sick individual, Jackson! This movie is my baby! It's no wonder directors don't like working with you. I should have listened."

Jackson - "I would say I am more of an opportunist. And, you absolutely should have listened. You have one week, or else I will go to the media. Oh, and I want my contract to reflect the change to being a lead role."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jackson then walked out of the trailer. The director then left the trailer also. Now, here comes the tricky part - getting out of here.

Jennifer and I peeked out the window and saw the security guards again. Since I was able to sucker them the first time, I'll do it again. After opening the app, I opened a window. This time I chose a tiger, although there are none on the lot. Those idiots fell for it again. Jennifer and I dashed out of the room quickly. We then went our separate ways.

Graeme is not going to like what I found out. I'll wait until this evening. I'm guessing they are in the food tent, so that is where I walked.

It was packed, but I did find them sitting down. Jackson was at another table, not too far from Graeme with a huge, fake smile. I just want to wipe that dang smile off his face.

"Graeme, I'm going back to my hotel. Thanks for helping me out today. I'll be back tomorrow."

"You're welcome, Jayde." While at the table, I texted Graeme about something that I found out. He texted me back to come to his house later. I then left the studio.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I played Graeme and Damion the recording. He was none too pleased. "Excuse me for a minute."

Graeme walked away from the living room and went outside. "You might want to cover your ears, Christy," Damion says as we both cover our ears. Even with our hands over our ears, we heard Graeme curse in English and another language I am not familiar with.

After a few minutes, Graeme came back. "Other than him blackmailing the directors, we don't have enough evidence. We need to find out why he needs the money."

"Unbelievable. My dang career could be in jeopardy because of this piece of _____."

We heard a knock on Graeme's front door. "I'll go get it."

Behind Graeme was Jennifer.

"When we pulled up to his house, out of a limo stepped two, very huge men. Behind him was another very, huge man who had on black sunglasses at night. He must have been a loan shark or something. The third man asked Jackson where is the money he owes for his gambling debts. Jackson has an extremely large gambling debt he needs to pay. That is why he is stealing from charities and stealing movie roles from actors."

"Jackson told them he will receive a large amount of money the same day of the charity event."

"Is he that bold to steal money the same day of a charity event?!"

"Sadly, he is. I already told my superior. He said we can't touch him until the day of the charity. Unfortunately, we have to endure Jackson Pierce's reign of terror until then. I'm sorry."

Graeme's POV

"Just freaking great! Do you know how hard that is going to be?! Plus, add to the fact I lost another male lead role!"

"Graeme, you are one of the best actors in the business. You will need to put on an Oscar-winning performance until then. And, focus on your wedding in May to Janiyah. I'll keep you all posted on anything further."

Jennifer then left.

"I can't believe I have to wait until dang June for this mess to end. I'm too mad to eat anything. Christy, you are welcome to stay the night. There is plenty of space. I'll show you to one of the guest rooms."

"Thank you, Graeme."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Narrator's POV

As expected, the next day Lou told Graeme about the change of roles. Graeme was not happy, but he had to keep telling himself that this mess will end in June.

Graeme told Janiyah about the change as well. She was equally upset.

One thing exciting is that they received a confirmation number that their marriage certificate is ready to be picked up.

So, Janiyah flew to California so they could plan their wedding. They knew it was only going to be planned within a month, but they didn't care.

They are planning to fly early to the Virgin Islands to make sure everything will be set up like they want it to be.

Also, the location was changed to an even better place for their special day. And, there would be plenty of seating for their family and friends who were invited.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday, May 15th, 2019

Graeme's POV

Wedding time is here. It's amazing with the little time we had, everyone and everything came together. On Saturday, I will be a happily, married man.

I didn't bother with writing down any vows because I already know what I want to say. I have been waiting for this day since Janiyah asked me.

And, when we come back after the wedding, we already have our new home ready for us. I can't wait for what is in store for us - marriage, children, etc. Our future is bright.

****************************************