“There is nothing in the contract that permits you to get out in the manner you are requesting. The studio’s failure to follow through with the project is protected under the force majeure clause. A pandemic is an unforeseeable event that the studio hadzero control over; therefore, the studio is excused from performance.” Brad’s attorney pushes his glasses back up his nose as he makes his argument.
“The contract would excuse a temporary pause in the situation you describe. Here, the studio is refusing to move forward with the project at all. Thus, a breach of contract permitting Ms. Crenshaw to terminate the relationship.” My attorney had prepared for this argument. These guys are nothing if not predictable. Wanting their cake and eating it too.
“Even if Ms. Crenshaw was released from the contract and her obligations under it, the studio retains the rights to the project.” Their attorney smugly glares at me.
“That’s fine. I don’t want it.” I toss my hands up.
“You can’t be serious. You practically begged me to approve this for you. Now, you’re going to walk away?” Brad’s blubbering is comical at this point.
“I did beg you, Brad. I shouldn’t have had to, but I did. And by the time you were done, it was no longer mine. You ripped it apart. I gave up the entire purpose of the project to get the green light from the studio. I don’t want the weak remnants.”
“It was terrible before. I made it great,” Brad yells at me.
“Gentlemen, we are getting off track. Are you going to sign the termination agreement or not?” my attorney cuts in.
“Sign the agreement, Brad. You don’t want me in your studio any more than I want to be there.”
Huffing, Brad clicks around on his computer. His attorney says something to him and Brad shakes his head but returns his attention to the camera.
“Fine. Good luck getting anyone else to take you though. I can have you blacklisted in this town.”
“That was a threat, Brad. In case you forgot, this call is being recorded. Not to mention if you tried that, you would be in breach of Section 35, which states in part that the studio will not disparage Ms. Crenshaw. Would you like to remedy your outburst?”
Smirking because my attorney is a bad ass bitch, I watch the color drain from Brad’s face.
“I’ll sign the agreement.” I raise an eyebrow at Brad through the screen. “And I won’t say anything.”
“We’ll wait on the line while you sign.” The termination agreement was sent for electronic signature since no one signs in person or with actual ink anymore. Times have changed a lot in just a few short months.
My email dings with an incoming message.
Pulling up the document, I click the button to sign and officially terminate my relationship with the studio. “Done.”
“Pleasure doing business with you both. Be advised that if I hear anything untoward about Ms. Crenshaw, you will be hearing from me.”
With that, the call ends. The studio that I have been tied to for more than half my career is officially over. It’s both freeing and terrifying.
Propping the phone on the counter, I video call Preston now that my call with the studio and his training has finished for the day. Preston answers on the first ring and his sweaty face fills the screen.
“There’s my girl.” His blue eyes look darker than I remember. His blonde hair is matted to his forehead from the sweat collecting at his hairline. He looks shirtless and my mouth waters at the thought.
“What are you doing?”
“Went for a run after lifting with Miller.”
“Hey, Ives!” a voice calls off screen, and Preston shifts the phone to a walking Miller beside him.
“Hey, Mills.” I like Miller. A lot of the time when I talk to Preston, he and Miller are together. They really are inseparable. It’s amazing they survived three months apart. They are alwaysworking out together, cooking at each other’s houses, or just hanging out. Their relationship makes me miss my friends. If Tay or Gabby lived closer to me, we would probably be the same way.
“I can’t believe you’re running in the Florida heat.” Florida in late June is no joke. It’s not only hot but very humid making the heat index close to or north of 100 most days.
“Coach told Preston he had to lose weight.”
“He did what?!”
“Miller is instigating. He told me I better get in shape before camp starts so I am adding some extra cardio and weights.”
“Are you sure you don't want me to talk to him?”
