Amber Stewart took a seat in the middle of a restaurant full of people. She wore a casual outfit, covered with a denim jacket, a black cap on her head to hide who she was. Even so, she stood out among the diners who were mostly Asian immigrants who lived in the area.
The restaurant wall was lined with bathroom tiles, the white neon lights illuminated the place that used to be a garage that turned into a dining area that could fit as many diners as they wanted. They served noodle based dishes, fried, boiled, chicken, pork, seafood. They never ran out of customers. Mrs. Ong, the owner, sat in the back corner counting her money while screaming at her employees telling them what to cook next.
Maxine arrived at the front of Mrs. Ong’s Noodle House in her full suit, she took off her sunglasses and spotted Amber immediately. She walked in reluctantly yet gracefully pulled up a chair across from Amber’s. Heads turned to look at the silver haired woman and her pale skin, then turned back to eat their meal. Nobody knew who was who, nobody cared in Goldstone’s Chinatown. That was why Amber chose the place.
“Interesting choice of venue … what’s so important you had to drag me down this horrid of a place?”
A waiter came over, “Order?” he asked.
Maxine exhaled in annoyance and glared at him, “I’ll have whatever she’s having.”
The waiter wrote it down, waited for further instructions.
Maxine gave him a hand gesture to send him away, then he left. “Is the food even edible around here?” She avoided the table like a plague.
“It’s actually pretty good … it’s always full of diners.”
Maxine tilted an eyebrow, she took out a pack of cigarettes, the only good thing about the place was probably because she was allowed to smoke inside. She lit up her cig, “Well?” she took a drag.
“I have something for you,” Amber leaned on the table.
“I’m listening.”
“That Golden Boy of yours … Tom Raven?”
“What about him?”
“I have a video tape of him … after the wrap-up party the last time … I thought you might be interested,” Amber watched her reaction.
“Why would I be interested in a video of Tom Raven?”
Amber told her what the video was, Maxine listened without showing any emotions. It was nothing new to her, some new comer caught on tape having sex with someone or lured into an orgy, with or without their consent. It came with the job.
“Do you have it with you?”
“No … it’s safe … I’m offering it to you first, do you want it?”
Maxine took another drag, blew the smoke calmly, “How much do you want for it?”
“I want to exchange it with the termination of my contract.”
Maxine tensed, she scoffed, “Why would you want to terminate your contract with me? You think you can make more money without me?”
“I’m done with your bullshit contract, Maxine, we both know you’re making more than I do from all those hours I spent working, … not to mention all those business partners of yours that I had to sleep with … I can live without those disgusting old men and their money … and you!”
She laughed mockingly, “Sure … but can you live without all the luxuries that comes with it? You can’t do any of that without my contract … none of it … sure you’ll get jobs on your own, but not many, everything that has to do with Goldstone movies ends up on my desk … you know that, right?”
“I don’t fucking care! I want out … I want my life back, I want to have a relationship like normal people … not one I have to hide my reality from, I’m done whoring for you.”
“Oh dear … everyone’s a prostitute, don’t be so dramatic, everyone’s selling themselves for something … most just sell themselves too cheap, settled for a lot less than they deserve, taking the hard way for a mediocre life … I’m giving you the easy way out,” Maxine exhaled.
“Do you want the tape or not? You can squeeze that new golden boy of yours to his last drop and let me go … or I’ll take the tape somewhere else.”
“Where could you possibly take the tape to? Nobody knows who he is … not yet, I suppose.”
“I’ll give it back to him … along with this conversation we just had, he’ll know you’re an evil old bitch and cancel his contract before it’s too late.”
Maxine’s face tensed, Tom Raven will make more money for her than three of her other artists combined. She had been laying all the base for him to strive in the industry, she’ll lose a lot of money if she loses Tom Raven.
“Fine … it’s your lost, Amber, I would reconsider if I were you, how long do you think you’ll last in this industry? Women has a shorter life span on the big screen … once those wrinkles starts to show, your boobs starts to sag … you’ll be just another has been nobody cares about … and in your case …” she tilted her head to take a better look at Amber’s face, “It won’t be too long … once you hit that 30 age mark … you’re done … you sure you don’t want to exercise the next couple of years for your rainy day savings?” she curved one side of her lips.
Amber bit her lower lip, she had doubted herself far too long for the very reason that Maxine just explained. But she was sure this time. Tom’s tape was her only chance to get out of her own messed up life. She didn’t want to do the same thing Maxine did to her, but it was her only way out.
“Brad was right … I should never listen to you,” her lips trembled, her eyes felt the burn from the tears she held back.
“Leave my nephew out of it … this was your choice, live with it.”
“I know that! Don’t you think I know that? Every time I let those wrinkled old geezers sweat drip on me, made their way inside me with their grin on my face?” her body shook in disgust. “I’m not doing that again, I’d rather die than do that again … I swear …” her breaths shortened.
“Fine …” Maxine put out her cigarette. “I want the tape … and our conversation today … I’ll give you the contract … we’ll do the exchange somewhere else, I’ll choose the place next time.” She stood up and ready to leave. “I’ll let you know when it’s ready … make sure you bring everything or the deal is off.”
Amber didn’t respond, it was understood. Just as Maxine left the restaurant, their food came. Amber sat alone in the crowd with a tear falling down on her cheek, two plates of fried noodles on the table. Nobody noticed she was crying, nobody even noticed who she was. It was like a glimpse of how her life would be once she’s out of Maxine Roberts company.