Powerful (The Driven World) - Kathleen Kelly Page 0,51
broken up before that picture was shot.”
Andy purses his lips and nods. “Is it going to affect filming?”
“No, Andy, we’re both professionals. It could make the post-production interviews interesting.”
“Well, they say any publicity is good publicity. I’ll get you two to sit down with the promotions people, so we are all on the same page. We can’t have a scandal hurting the box office sales.”
Colton smiles at his dad, then focuses on me. “You ready to take a lap around the track?”
“Yeah, can’t wait.”
Colton points toward a trailer. “Let’s get you changed. Can’t have you hurt before production even starts.”
“Is there anything I should know?”
Colton shakes his head. “We’re taking this slow.”
“Colton, I’ve done the driving course. I’m ready.”
He chuckles. “This is a bit different. Don’t make me black flag you on your first run.” Colton opens the door to the trailer. “Besides, Dad only wants promotional shots for the film. The real driving will happen later. And I think he wanted to spoil Mom with a trip away.”
“Women, the things we do.”
Colton quirks an eyebrow at me. “Anything you want to talk about?”
I shake my head and climb up the stairs into the trailer. Colton waits outside while I change into the white driver’s suit. It’s embellished with patches from the fictional team sponsors or, in our case, the companies who paid to have their logos in the movie. I step out of the trailer and see Colton and Andy looking through a camera lens. As I approach, both men stop what they are doing.
“We think this spot here is the best place to get a shot of you coming down the track and then around the bend.”
“Okay, what do you need me to do?”
One of Andy’s assistants comes rushing over. “First, we need to get you into makeup. Andy, we need some photos of Sophia and Kris before you start filming.”
Andy looks at the assistant with disdain. “The sooner we get the filming out of the way, the sooner I get back to Dottie.”
Dottie is Andy’s wife, and it’s nice to see after all their years of marriage that they still love each other. I hope that one day I can look back on my life with Athena and still feel the same way.
The assistant nods. “Fine.” Then she points at Colton. “Make sure that face of his stays exactly the way it is now.” Her gaze flicks to me. “Perfect.”
Andy makes a harrumphing noise and moves away.
Colton bursts out laughing. “Come on, Mr. Perfect, let’s get you in a car and warm up before we start filming.”
***
The next two hours are spent with me driving around the track while the camera crew gets shots of me—some with a helmet on, some without. I do get to give it some gas and go around the track at what I thought was a pretty good pace until Colton takes the wheel with me in the passenger seat. The man is one with the machine. It’s impressive to watch and feel the power of the car handled by one of the best.
Colton and I are leaning on the hood of the car when Andy walks toward us, his face flushed, his lips in a hard line. I’ve never seen him so angry.
“We’re done for today.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
Andy shakes his head. For an older man, he’s in good shape and almost the same height as me. I glance at Colton, who shrugs.
“If I let him go too fast around the track, say so.”
Andy looks at his son, his lips turn down, and he fixes me with a look. “It’s not that. We got some good footage, and I’ll need some stills of you, but Sophia will not be joining us for the rest of the production.”
“Whoa! Andy, I told you I can work with her. It’s not a problem. Please don’t let our personal differences sway you.”
He shakes his head. “Your relationship with Sophia Thorne has nothing to do with me.”
Confused, I look from Andy to Colton and see something pass between them.
“Care to fill me in?” I ask as I push off from the car, feeling slightly angry.
“I have never, in my entire career, pressured an actor into working for me in an unethical way, and I will not be accused of it now. I’m not a predator.”
My anger fades as Andy’s words sink in.
“What the fuck?” asks Colton.
“That woman tried to force herself on me, and when I wouldn’t comply, she then said she’d slander me with