“Audio only,” she answers. “So, you’re saying it was an accident?”
“Of course it was. Why would I…?” I stop for a second and suddenly it all becomes clear. And I don’t like it one bit. “Wait…you actually believe I secretly recorded you, then said nothing about it?”
“No, well, maybe… I don’t know. I’m just so upset and confused.” Her voice goes up two octaves. “The first chance you got, you took off and now it seems like you’re not going to come back even though I need you here. Also, you were the one running the cameras so I thought…” Her voice trails off, leaving me to fill in the blanks.
“—You thought I would secretly record you, not bother to mention it, then conveniently leave the country so I wouldn’t have to be around for the fallout?”
“When you put it that way, it sounds silly,” she says.
“Doesn’t it?” I ask with a biting tone I wish wasn’t there.
“It’s just that Arthur said—”
“Said what? That I did it on purpose to humiliate you?”
“Yes,” she says, sounding slightly sheepish now, which she should if you ask me.
I glance over my shoulder to see if anyone can hear me, only to realize that the assistant director is standing directly behind me, holding out a Gatorade. She gives me a sympathetic wince, hands me the drink, and mouths “sorry” before walking away.
Giorgio, clearly not interested in my personal drama, yells into the megaphone, “We’re losing the light, Will.”
Ignoring him, I say, “Listen, I’mreallysorry that this happened, and I promise you I haveno cluehow any of that would’ve been recorded. And I hate that you’re having a rough go of things right now. Honestly, Ihateit.” I take a breath and try to calm down, but her accusations have rocked me to my core. “But, for you to think I would do something like that on purpose? And then take off so I wouldn’t have to face you when you found out? Do you even know me at all?” Nope, can’t manage to sound calm. “We’rebuilding a lifetogether. At least I thought we were, but if you actually believe I could do something like this—”
“I don’t,” she says, her voice breaking. “I just had to ask.”
“No. You really didn’t.”
“Will, you don’t understand,” she says. “When you’re in my position, it’s extremely difficult to know who you can trust.”
“Come on.” I let out a frustrated chuckle. “You should know I’m in that category by now, shouldn’t you?”
Her tone comes out stronger now. “It’s just that Arthur thought it was highly suspicious that as soon as you got me back here, you left me to deal with everything—”
Arthur again. For fuck’s sake. “Oh, well, ifPhone-a-Friend Arthurthinks I’m using you, he must be right, since he’s so smart. I guess that makes me what? A giant prick?”
“No, Will,” Arabella answers. “But you’ve got admit, with that awful recording and you disappearing, it just…” she stops herself, probably before she insults me again.
“Just what, Belle?” I spit out. “It’s just that I get an amazing career opportunity, and the minute I’m gone, you start doubting me?” I stand up and start pacing the sand. “I can’t believe you actually think I would betray you like that.”
“I’m sorry. I never should’ve said anything,” she whispers.
I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn to see Giorgio standing in front of me. “Mi scusi, but you’re really going to have to wrap this up. Those clouds moving in are going to ruin the shot if we don’t get it right away.”
I nod at him and hold up one finger. “Listen, I have to—”
“—I heard it. Just go.” She sounds defeated, but I’m too upset to worry about her feelings at the moment.
Letting out a loud sigh, I say, “I’ll be back there as soon as I can. In the meantime, if you wouldn’t mindnotdiscussing our relationship with your brother, I’d really appreciate it.”
With that, I hang up the phone and shove it in the pocket of my shorts. I open the Gatorade and suck down the entire bottle in one go, then stride back to the ropes to hook up, humiliation and frustration building in me as sand fills my climbing shoes.
Kenneth and Lara walk over to me. He scratches his chin and says, “Rough go with these princesses, eh? Maybe you should try supermodels instead. They’re not nearly as high-maintenance.”
I give him a questioning look, then he says, “Your mic was on.”
Brilliant.
“Are you okay?” Lara asks. “You need a minute?”
