They were playing the premiere of The Night Film project in campus. First year of college was almost over. It was a success among the students, they loved it. Brad’s project became an instant hit, many of the students inquired to be part of their next project. The team was growing.
“Can I see you in my office?” Brad asked after the premiere.
She nodded with a smile.
Brad had inherited Maxine’s movie business including the Arch Film Institute. He chose to stay in campus and appointed CEO’s to operate his aunt’s mega movie companies. All her private assets were left for her only brother, Brad’s father, with the exception of her home in Goldstone, which Brad was now living in.
“So what’s your plan for the summer?” Brad was casual.
She laughed. Goldstone was her last summer vacation, “Weren’t we suppose to make a new project for summer?”
He smiled, “So you’re joining us here? I thought you might be going away or something.”
Charlie shook her head, “No … Tommy has a new shooting schedule for the summer … I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere.”
“That’s good news, we’ll have a bigger team this time … Tommy is doing well … I haven’t found a magazine without him in it lately,” he leaned on the desk, arms folded, legs crossed at the ankle.
“Yeah … it’s getting harder to go around without people recognizing him either … I guess it comes with the job.”
He nodded, “That’s true … it takes a grounded person to handle it well … you’re doing good here as well, that’s what I want to talk to you about.” He went around his desk and took a folder from his drawer. “Your scholarship is officially extended, I thought I deliver the good news myself,” he gave her the folder and offered a handshake to congratulate her.
Her eyes sparkled, her face beamed, she jumped at him with a warm hug. “Thank you! You don’t know how happy this makes me feel!!”
He laughed, awkwardly returned her embrace. “You earned it, it’s not a gift, if you keep this up, you’ll get another extension next year.”
She took the folder and read the file in glee. “I will … I promise … I love it here, I love everything about film making, I want to learn how to make documentaries, music videos … everything … I want to try it all.”
“And you will, I’ll help you … who knows, we might make something out of it, congratulations Charlie, you deserve it.”
She hugged him again, “I couldn’t have done it without you … thank you, for all your help … everything.”
They looked at each other for a brief moment, there was a bond that was forged in the hardship of their situation. Brad smiled and gave her a half nod, “It was my pleasure.”
**********
Tommy’s acting career was on the rise. Maxine Roberts played a big part in it, he owed his major steps to Maxine, despite everything that had happened. To be recognized among all the other new comers, to be noticed from nowhere to somewhere in a short time didn’t happen very often in the movie business. He tried to make up for what he was lacking in each project he did. He wanted to make himself better every time, just as he did with Charlie.
He rarely goes to the secret parties anymore, when he did, he would bring Charlie with him. He needed to be seen and maintain a network to be relevant in his career. Something he was still learning to balance and kept separate from his personal life. Vicky was no longer his manager. When the contract with Arch was terminated, Tommy went to another agency, a smaller on that gave him less demanding schedule and low key projects that worked for him. He was drug free, had more time to spend with Charlie and his friends.
He was drinking his beer at one of Jeremy’s gig when a familiar face approached him. A face he hadn’t seen for months, not since Maxine. “Deeta …” he greeted her.
She was in her 1920’s Gatsby style red dress with a netted hat that only Deeta can pull off, a cigarette in one hand. She sat beside him at the bar, got rid of the guy who was sitting there with just one look. “Just the man I’m looking for,” she said.
“You were looking for me?” Tom asked.
“As a matter of fact I am … how are you, Tom? Everything okay? With Charlie?” she took a drag of her cigarette.
He took a moment before answering, a faint smile, “Everything’s wonderful … how are you? I haven’t seen you in awhile … ever since …”
She looked away to the bartender and asked for a Martini, “Since Maxine, I know, I’ve been away … but I’m back now … ready to conquer the world …” she laughed.
She studied him, checked him out from top to bottom. He was covered with designer’s items, a far leap from how he used to dress just over a year before. “You look good Tom, it suits you … I glad it worked out for you,” she said sincerely.
He curved one side of his lips, “Thanks,” he sipped his beer.
Deeta exhaled deeply, “It’s funny how when you see someone … you never ever thought it would be the last time … it just didn’t cross your mind … she was in a really bad mood that night … after the funeral,” she said. “She had taken her pills when I was there … I guess she took some more after I left … and it made me think … what if I stayed? What if she wasn’t such a pain in the ass when she was in her mood swings?” she forced a smile.
Tommy listened.
“She met with someone that morning,” she continued.
Tommy paid attention, wondered if Deeta knew who it was.
“I didn’t know who it was but I know it had something to do with your tape, and the 7 contracts she said she had lost … I never told the cops about that.”
Tommy didn’t respond.
“I knew because I saw her made a copy of that tape that morning.”
Tommy’s eyes widened.
Deeta took something out of her purse, “I took the copy as soon as she left.” She handed him the tape.
He looked at her puzzled.
“If that person she was seeing that morning didn’t have anything to do with you … which I highly doubt … then there’s a copy of this out there … Maxine was a wicked woman, which made her hard to love sometimes … but she was my lover, and I was hers, there were some good moments we shared … but this tape …” she tapped her finger on it. “You deserve a clean start Tom … after what happened to Amber … nobody deserves a life she went through.”
Tom took the tape and put it in his pocket, “Thank you.”
She touched his forearm, “Don’t watch it … burn it … get rid of it … you’ll be better off.”
They looked at each other for a moment, Tommy smiled and nodded.