Guillaume, Her French Husband

“We have enough cover shots from rehearsal to use. If she doesn’t show up in the next…” he looked at his watch and raised an eyebrow over the other. “…three more minutes, go ahead and use the double.”

“Seriously?” Mark asked and Guillaume nodded.

“We have indulged Zoe Matheson a little too much. Don’t you think?” he asked as he made his way to his chair.

“I guess so,” Mark said nodding.

“Good. Then could I please have a fresh cup of coffee as we get ready to shoot this scene?” Guillaume called out as he took one last bite of his sausage before reaching for the other one. He could see and sense the tension on set but he didn’t really care about what had happened. He knew exactly what was happening on set and what was going to happen too. It was just a matter of time before Zoe walked in and he knew that better than anyone else.

*****

Guillaume Laurent had never really been the kind of hard ball director most directors were. But Zoe Matheson had forced him to be one of those. She was demanding and a little too much to handle. And if it was not for the fact that she guaranteed the film a box office success, there was no way he would have given her a position in his production. So far, he was regretting having given her a chance in the first place. Heck, he was regretting taking a project that he was not comfortable in. But this was definitely the last time he was going to work on something he felt so little about. He breathed a long sigh of relief when he finally yelled ‘It’s a wrap!’ He never really thought he was going to be able to do that. Not with all the drama that had been happening on the set.

He got off his chair and put on his sunglasses before he walked out of the set. He could not wait to take a load off and just relax. Nothing else mattered. All he wanted to do was decompress before he got started with his next project. A project he believed in.

“Leaving already boss?” Mark asked and Guillaume took a last sip of his now cold coffee as he made his way out.

“Hey, I did my job. I made sure everyone did their job and that we stayed within the budget.”

He handed Mark the Styrofoam coffee cup and smiled at him.

“Hurry up with the post production. I really do want you on what I will be working on next and you are a hell of a producer,” he said as he looked into Mark’s eyes.

“Wait…I thought you were just kidding when you said that.”

The excitement in Mark’s voice was so obvious. And the way his eyes lit up was adorable.

“I get to work on something with Guillaume Laurent and not on a technicality,” he said in a low voice though loud enough for Guillaume to hear.

“I’ll be in touch Malone,” he called out as he walked out of the set.

He didn’t know why but he had a smile on his lips as he made his way towards his car. Getting off a set had never felt so good. Especially now that he was totally and completely ridding himself of Zoe Matheson. Perhaps that was why he was so excited to finally be done with the project. But he had hardly opened the door when he heard a familiar voice calling out to him. And not familiar in a good way. He turned around and looked at Zoe who was running towards him.

“Zoe,” he said in an exhausted whisper. “What do you want? Shouldn’t you be partying with the rest of the cast or something?”

“Not really especially since I am not in a very partying mood,” she said and he shrugged.

“Care to explain?” he asked as he leaned against his car.

“Well, how could I just go ahead and party just after you broke up with me?” she asked and he ran his fingers through his thick dark hair.

“I cannot break up something that never was, Zoe and what we had between us was never anything but a physical relationship. It was just s*x, Zoe,” he said in the softest voice he could master.

“Just s*x,” she echoed and he nodded.

“I made it clear from the very first time that there was nothing more than a physical connection. If it was anything different, I would have told you.”

“So, is that why you never told me about your upcoming audition?” she asked and he raised an eyebrow over the other.

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

“My assistant heard you telling Mark Malone that you want him in on your next project and I won’t lie Laurent, it kind of hurts that you didn’t even consider me,” she said and he exhaled loudly.

He had so many ways to answer her but none without insulting her. She was too much drama, not the right fit and no day went by without her having some outrageous order. She was actually just a few days away from asking for a bag of diamonds.

“You are just not what I am looking for, Zoe,” he said in a soft voice. “That’s all,” he added before he climbed into the driver’s seat.

“But Guillaume…I think I love you,” she said as he started the engine.

“Well, to be honest Zoe, I know for a fact you don’t because two days ago you and your ex spent an obscene amount of alone time in your trailer.”

He began backing out of the parking spot.

“You wouldn’t have done that if you indeed thought that you loved me.”

He drove away as fast as he could leaving her looking at him. He could still see her in his rearview mirror and he had never felt freer than he did at that moment.