Skye slid out with Blythe right behind her and then Karri.
As soon as Skye exited the SUV, the other car doors opened.
Skye felt tears threaten as she faced all the people filling the entire area. There were more than thirty of them standing quietly all in matching black skirts or pants suits. The only difference was the color of the shirts they wore.
A woman separated herself from the pack and reached for a hug. “I hope you don’t mind that I invited some more friends.”
Skye felt the first tear run down her cheek. “Gina, Mason! I don’t know what to say.” Skye hugged her friend Gina Toussaint, the A-list actress who was the first to stand up for Skye in her fight against Tony and his horrid film, and then Mason, her frequent co-star and friend.
Skye looked over the group and saw writers, camera assistants, producers, actresses, and actors ranging from the top-earning A-listers all the way down to the D-listers who were struggling to break out. Skye took a moment and went to each person, thanking them for coming today.
Gina waited until Skye was done before turning to the group. “Ladies, let’s show Hollywood we’re tired of being taken advantage of, from degrading directors to unequal pay and representation behind the cameras.”
Mason nodded and picked up from there. “Gentlemen, let’s show them Hollywood’s men support them in their goals.”
Together they all walked into the courthouse. Tandy and Henry led the way and with Karri and Gina on each side of her, and Mason and Blythe behind her, Skye walked onto the battlefield.
Tandy called Karri’s phone as soon as she walked into the courtroom. The phone sat on the defense table open so the group could hear the court proceedings from the holding room they were in. Jim’s attorney, Bernie, argued that the bench trial should be delayed since Olivia Townsend was unavailable. Then they tried to challenge Tandy’s standing in the court. Finally, there was a challenge to Henry’s ability to participate since he didn’t hold a New York license.
The judge ruled in Skye’s favor and the trial went on. Tandy worked hard laying out affirmative defenses on why the contract was invalid on its face and called several expert witnesses. Tandy examined them and Henry questioned another expert before Jim and Lenny were called as defense witnesses. Skye listened with building anger while they lied about her signing the contract, about her excitement to do Tony’s movie, and about how she gave them full authorization to sign her name for them. They tried to tell the judge that lifetime contracts were the standard with unproven actors since the agent and manager were investing so much into their young careers.
Then Tandy was up. Skye listened as her whole life depended on what happened next. Tandy started off slowly as if lulling Jim to sleep. She asked him about other clients, about other roles, about how and when he met Skye. Then she asked Jim how about this so-called authorization and Jim showed the power of attorney Skye had supposedly signed. “Did she tell you she wanted to do the Tony Ketron movie?”
“Of course she did. It’s the role of a lifetime. Lenny heard it and testified that she wanted to do the film.”
“Your honor, my co-counsel has some questions if you don’t mind,” Skye heard Tandy say.
The door to the holding room opened and Skye turned, expecting to see Aiden ready to lead them all into the courtroom, but what she saw brought tears to her eyes.
“So, you ready to shove his balls down his throat?”
“Olivia!” Skye gasped as she rushed forward. Behind her, Aiden was holding onto her wheelchair. “I’m so sorry. This is my fault. How are you feeling? You shouldn’t be here.”
“Everything hurts like a bitch with PMS but I’m here to have some fun. Aiden, let Skye push me in,” Olivia ordered. “All right ladies and gentlemen, let’s do this.”
Aiden gave her a sexy little grin, and Olivia winked back at him with the one eye that wasn’t swollen shut. “Too bad you’re married. All the good men are unavailable.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Gina muttered and the women all laughed. The men didn’t seem as amused but stood up straighter as if they were ready to audition for the role of boyfriend.
Skye took a deep breath and hold of the wheelchair handles. If Olivia could come here today, then she could hold her head high and tell the truth to a roomful of people if