Chapter 2
I called the company and told them to scout a new director to take over the new drama ASAP.
Once I'd taken care of everything, I wasn't in the mood to have fun anymore.
After a quick goodbye to my parents, I cut my trip short and flew straight back home.
As soon as I walked onto the set, the place was buzzing with noise, and I couldn't help but frown.
I'd told everyone to halt production and wait for the new director. The place should've been deserted.
But looking around, I realized it was clear someone had ignored what I said.
As soon as I walked in, I spotted Wyatt right away.
He was half-squatting in front of Chloe, meticulously fixing the collar of her costume, his face soft and totally absorbed.
Ever since he got famous, he had never let that side of himself show at work.
But that was exactly the look that made me fall for him back then.
Someone spotted me and called out, "Ms. Gallagher?"
The whole place went dead silent in an instant.
Wyatt looked up, and the softness on his face vanished the moment he saw me.
Chloe reacted instantly. Her smile faltered for just a second, then she flashed me a warm grin and greeted me.
"Hi, Ms. Gallagher, I heard you went on a trip with your parents. Why are you back so soon?" she greeted.
I didn't even spare Chloe a glance; my eyes slid right past her and locked onto Wyatt.
"Clear out anyone who doesn't belong here. I don't want any random people wandering in and messing up the shoot," I said.
The crew looked at each other, unsure what move to make next.
Both the boss and her husband were way out of their league when it came to picking a fight.
Chloe's face turned white as a sheet. She stood there awkwardly, shifting from foot to foot, giving Wyatt a pleading look for help.
Wyatt stepped up, just like she hoped.
He quickly got to his feet, moving in front of Chloe, clearly annoyed.
"Rose, we're on set here. Try to keep it professional," Wyatt said. "She's an actress with this crew, not just some nobody off the street."
"This is my set. Since when did we pick up a stray like her?" I shot back.
"Ms. Gallagher, I'm—" Chloe started.
I cut her off with a dismissive wave of my hand. "Who told you to speak? Get lost," I snapped.
Wyatt was completely enraged by my attitude, his voice rising sharply.
"Enough, I personally chose Chloe for this role. Her ability is beyond question," he snapped.
Wyatt had always been ruthless when it came to picking actors for the crew.
Even when the money people tried to shove their picks into the cast, he'd stand his ground and never back down.
But now, for some total nobody, he was throwing all his standards out the window, willing to publicly go against me, no matter who was watching.
"I don't care if she's got any skills or not," I shot back. "This show's got over 30 million poured into it.
"Sure, it's not some top-tier production, but even the female supporting role is something all the A-listers are fighting tooth and nail for. Every actor here had to survive rounds of auditions."
I sneered, "You're really ditching all your standards for a nobody like her? By the way, did you forget? I fired you yesterday, Mr. Fletcher. What makes you think you can stand here and act like you're in charge now?"
I'd never put him on the spot in front of the whole crew, no matter how bad our fights got.
That was why he always felt untouchable on set.
Wyatt's face turned bright red, speechless with anger at my words.
"Yeah, you fired me. But I put this whole crew together. There are things here only I know about," he shot back. "Until the new director steps in, it's my job to make sure everything runs smoothly."
The crew was so tense that one could hear a pin drop.
I let out a sharp laugh, glaring down at him, shredding his dignity in front of everyone.
"Wyatt, this is my script, my money, and my set. You have no right to call the shots here," I snapped. "Have I been too good to you all these years? Is that why you think you can just ride on my coattails and do whatever you please?
"Now, get out and take her with you."
Wyatt took a half-step back, my presence so overwhelming that for the first time, I saw real panic flicker in his eyes.
"Rose, come on, don't do this. I'm only trying to do what's best for the show," Wyatt blurted out, his voice cracking.
"Get out. Don't make me call security to drag you both out," I snapped.
Wyatt glared at me, his eyes slightly reddened with emotion.
In the end, he pulled Chloe along, who was still frozen in place, and the two of them made an awkward, embarrassed exit from the set.