N/A: Updates now will be every Tuesday due to problems with the previous updating schedule.

.

It's already July when we can finally start the shooting, leaving for Glencoe where we've decided to have all the open set scenes. The plan is to spend three months in this location to shoot all those scenes and then the final details and other scenes in the sets we have back in the headquarters of TP. So far we've managed to make all the sponsors and investors stick, we got all the actors we wanted and the director has had meetings with the lead actors to discuss about his view of the film. Jerry, the director, has also had meetings with every team along the way to make sure the production is homogenous and exactly how he envisions the film. All the permits have been signed, the set designed, the rehearsals done and now we can finally start shooting.

I'm finally on the set!

I've been part of almost every decision, even if I haven't directly taken action I have at least been informed of the results during the process. Yet, it's different to be on the set and seeing the massive crew and everyone doing their job. There are so many teams and so many people behind the scenes that it is actually crowded and after this my respect for Father has grown so much. I mean, I respected him before but now there's no words. It's mind-blowing how he can deal with this time after time and make it all seem so smooth and natural. I see all the people going around and I feel light headed.

Teru is introducing me to all the teams I haven't had a chance to supervise directly, like special effects or lighting or sound crew. They always work with us and I'm aware of the quality of their work, but it's still necessary to introduce myself to them as the executive producer of this film instead of Father, whom they are used to working with.

The reaction is always the same when they see me: shock.

I assume they knew Father's health condition isn't the best and that someone is replacing him until he can come back, and that person is his successor, meaning me. But as I've been in the shadows practically all my life due to how undeserving I am, they are really surprised to see a seventeen-year-old girl running the company this time.

I also notice the exact moment the respect they had for the CEO of Tachibana Productions is gone, which is when they realise I'm just a kid in their eyes, playing to be an adult. Even the actors look down on me when I come to greet them. I don't know if they remember seeing me during their auditions, but if they did they never imagined I was the one in charge of the production of this film.

"You are the producer?!" Zoe Miller, who plays Lana for the film, exclaims when I bow to them after introducing myself. It's not the full cast, but the main actors are here getting ready to start shooting.

"Indeed. I'm Ann Tachibana. It's a pleasure to work with you all. Please, let's do our best to make this film a success," I tell her with my best smile but she keeps watching me with wide eyes.

"But... but you're... how old are you?" she asks next and one of the makeup artists working with her snickers, making Zoe realise that what she asked was rude, although I do understand where she is coming from.

"I know I might seem too young to do this, but I grew up in this business so don't be mistaken," I try to sound confident although that's the opposite of how I really feel. "Rest assured; I'll do my best to make everything work as smoothly and perfectly as when Mr Tachibana is in charge."

She just keeps staring at me and the other actors do the same: Jonah, Mare and even Gareth. They just stare at me, making me know they are aware I'm just trying to fill shoes that are too big for me. I know that, but now they know that, too.

I look at Gareth and his stare is the coldest of them all. He doesn't even feel offended that I'm the producer here. In his eyes I'm too insignificant to be an actual concern for him. And that look hurts the most. More than Mare's sympathetic look, or Zoe's still bewildered or Jonah's concerned eyes. Gareth's cold and detached stare feels like my heart is trapped in a tight fist.

My hands start shaking under the pressure and because even if it's not even noon, it's been hard and tiresome already and I just want to run where I can have fresh air and space to put myself together. I feel like I'm about to give up in front of them and I can't allow that. I can't fail like that now. Not on the first day of the shooting.

"Work hard and I'll see you all around," I say and even I can notice how my voice seems to tremble.

I turn on my heels quickly, wanting to vanish right there. I even want Teru to stop following me so when I'm a few steps away from the group of actors, I stop on my tracks.

"Teru-kun- I mean, Teru-sama," I correct myself, using a more respectful honorific now that we are on the set and because I know that using -kun for him is too informal and revealing of how close and emotionally attached I am to Teru. He is an elder and I owe him respect, it doesn't matter that he's seen me grow and he's basically family to me. Probably no one is aware of what honorific are and what these means and when to use them, but I rather be cautious. No one respect me already, I don't want to make things worse by exposing myself and how this isn't a chance I earned. "Please, make sure everything is ready and check if there's some last minute thing I need to take care of. I need some time alone," I tell him, still giving my back to him. I have my hands tightly squeezed into fists and if I'm not left alone soon, then I'll break down in front of him, too. And if I do that, he'll tell Father I can't do this, that I can't handle the pressure and he'll have to take over and I'll have to go back home, as a failure once again.

"Ann-chan," he says, his voice soft and worried and the fact he uses -chan makes me tremble. He only uses that honorific at home, to show me how much he cares about me and how dear I am to him. But right now it makes me feel more like a child because I'm making him worry, because he's concerned.

"I'm fine, really. I just... it's just overwhelming and I need a few minutes to take it all in. But I don't want to neglect anything," I kind of lie. It is indeed overwhelming, so that part is true. I look at him over my shoulder and I smile at him to reassure him I'm fine although I'm pretty sure my eyes are teary already. "Go. I'll join you in no time."

He hesitates a few seconds before nodding his head and heading back from where we came, probably to talk to the director and make sure everything is in order to start.

I heave a tired sigh and I look ahead again, but the pressure in my chest is still choking me and I don't even think I have the strength to take a step away from this spot. I give in under my weight and I bend down, hugging my legs and practically hiding my face between my legs.

I feel like an impostor.

"Hi there," someone says. A male voice and that freezes the sob that is about to escape my lips.

I look to my right, from where the voice came, to find brown big eyes that belong to a man I haven't seen before. He smiles kindly at me, friendly. He's black with shaved dark hair and he also wears dark clothes but nothing in his aura is cold or dark at all. He feels like sunlight, warm and welcoming. And he's the first person to smile at me like that since I took Father's place.

"Rough day?" he asks next and then offers me a small milk carton. "This might help a bit. It's super sweet," he adds and I almost lose it there.

My hand shakes when I hold it up to accept his offering and the moment I do his smile widens.

"Thank you," I say, still with a shaky voice.

"My pleasure. I'm Cece," he introduces himself next, holding up the same hand that offered the milk, this time for a handshake. "I'm one of the makeup artists."

I move the milk to my other hand and shake his. I also look him from head to toe. Even if he is bent down like me, I can notice his built frame and manly aura. Cece is not a name I would associate to a man like him.

"Short for Cristian Cameron, you know? CC. I thought that I needed a more flamboyant name for this job," he explains as if he could see the disbelief in my expression. He also winks, making me know that he's just putting it like that to try to make me smile.

And I do that. A small smile, but one nonetheless.

"Ann," I say and he nods.

"I know, I was there when you introduced yourself to the actors. I can just assume everyone else reacted the same way. Must be tiring. For how long have people been giving you that look?" he asks me next and the fact that he notices it and actually sympathises without making me sound pitiful is so refreshing and most welcome right now.

"Since the beginning," I tell him and he winces, which makes me chuckle a bit.

"Blimey! And you've been putting up with it until now? If I were you I'd be throwing dog shit to their faces every time they give me on of those looks," he muses and the image makes me burst out laughing this time. "You think I'm joking but I'm not. I'm not good at dealing with people's bullshit. I honestly respect you for not flipping them off."

I keep laughing and a part of me kind of wishes I could actually do that. Of course, I'm not allowed. I would just ruin things for Father.

"I think they would quit if I do that and I can't afford that," I tell him once my laughter fades.

"True. Then you'd have to hire new people and who knows? They might be horse shit deserving people," says Cece and I lose it again, I burst out laughing. When I look at him he is smiling happily at me. "That's better. The producer can't look about to cry, can she?"

I feel this wave of gratitude towards him and I really just want to hug him right now.

"Now, as my role model Effie would say, chin up!" he continues and I totally catch his reference to The Hunger Games. He points at me when my expression tells him I caught on that, a sign that makes me feel accepted and included in a small group. "You ought to show them you're the boss here. My grandma used to tell me that when people look down on you, you can either allow them to do so or you can actually prove them wrong. They already think poorly of you so whatever you do will prove them wrong at the end, right? So isn't it advantageous at the end of the day?"

My smile widens when I hear those words. I know no one respects me or believes in me right now, but Cece is right. Whatever I do will surprise them because they don't expect anything from me. I just have to keep working hard.

"Words of wisdom," I compliment and shrugs cockily.

"I'm full of wisdom." He then stands up and holds his hand for me now. I take it and rise to my feet. He's at least thirty centimetres taller than me and I wasn't wrong, he is built. His shoulders are broad and it's clear that he takes care of his body. "Besides, if it gets too ugly, I'm sure we can find deer poop around to throw some at their trailers."

Once again, I laugh out loud and he smiles brightly at me.

"I can be your ally here, Ann."

My heart feels warm again knowing that at least one person-who is not family because Teru is basically that for me-doesn't look down on me and is willing to be nice to me. And I didn't think I needed that so badly until this very moment.

"I'd really appreciate that. Thank you, Cece," I tell him with my own smile.

"No problem, love. Plus, that might earn me some brownie points with the cute boss, right?" he once again winks at me to let me know he's just joking. He clearly isn't hitting on me or anything, he's just trying to cheer me up.

"Totally," I joke alone. "Your job is safe."

"Yay!" he cheers, excessively cheerful and I chuckle again. "Now, let's go back to work. The shooting is about to start. I already saw the board! I also love when they start shooting the first scene ever."

I smile, getting excited again. I've never seen that actually happening and I can't wait now. Cece is right, it's time to go back to work.

__________________________________________________________________

Yay you finally met Cece! I was dying to introduce him. You know I love having strong and fun best friends in my stories. If you were wondering, he is based on Mushu, not the lizard or Teru. Teru is more like the horse, I think. In the film Mulan, I mean. And well, the shooting won't be easy for Ann. The problems are just beginning.

Dedication to previous best comment @21GissDankworth Yes, Ariel is meant to take part of this story so who knows? Maybe she'll run into Mare :O

Bel, xx