He didn’t answer.
“I’m here to speak to Dorian Fisher,” I said casually. The concern written all over his face only boosted my confidence. “I’m here to tell him that ‘your’ screenplay, the one he and Odetta Olson aredyingto make into a film, is not yours at all. I’m here to expose your sorry ass. I’m here to make sure the world knows what a horrible person you are.”
Man, it felt good to say it. At least I had that: a few fleeting seconds when I actually believed I was on top. That good would prevail over evil. That I couldwin.
“It’s too late, Marnie.”
There was no defiance in his tone. No sense of superiority. Just growing panic.
“It’smywork, I can prove it.”
I made a move to walk ahead, but I had no idea where I might find Dorian Fisher. Besides, part of me was enjoying this. Ben had betrayed me so deeply. The time for revenge had come at last.
“Wait,” he said, holding his hands up. “You’re going to fuck everything up.”
He took a deep breath and looked around us, but no one was paying any attention. We were the nobodies, still. Not for much longer though.
“Listen to me, okay? Dorian Fisherlovesthe screenplay. He’s buying it. That’s why I was invited to this. He spoke with my agent this afternoon and made an offer.” Ben paused, slightly out of breath. “It’s $500,000.”
“You’re a fucking liar.”
“He’s ready to sign the deal right here.”
He was bluffing. He had to be. This was life-changing money. This was fuck-you money.
“Fine,” I said, like I was completely unfazed by the sum. “Then I stillhave time to tell him that it’s notyourscreenplay to sell.”
Ben gripped my arm so tight I winced in pain.
“Did you not hear me? Five hundred thousand dollars! If you go tell him your little story now, he’ll get spooked. He’s going to walk away.”
“It’s not a little story. Youstolemy work.”
Ben glanced around again, clearly way more terrified of other people hearing us than anything I could say to him.
“I didn’tknowit was your work. And all I did was get inspired by it. That’s not a crime. I rewrote so much of it that it’s barely recognizable.”
“That’s not what Carmen’s producer friend had to say.”
Kavi had been clear. Aside from the title and the author’s name, both versions were pretty much identical. At this point I was willing to believe a woman I’d never met over the man I’d shared my life with for the past three years.
“What are you talking about?” But then realization hit him. “Carmendidgive you those contacts.”
His jaw hung slack.
“She did, because she trusted me. And I didn’t give them to you because I knew they’d reject your work, like everybody else has done before them. And that’s because you’re bad, Ben. I’m sorry your parents are too nice and that they made you believe that you could do anything you put your mind to. Your screenplayssuck. I can’t tell you how much I regret all the hours I wasted reading them and then pretending you had any talent whatsoever.”
He exhaled, like I’d punched him.
“And I’m sorry your family is so broken you think the best you can do with your life is be Carmen’s little bitch. You’re going to be stuck at that job forever and I’m walking away from Cannes with half a million dollars. BecauseImade this happen. You’re too scared to even dream.”
There was a commotion behind Ben, enough to distract us and for me to see Dorian Fisher in deep conversation with Constance.
“Then why don’t we go tell Dorian Fisher everything? He’s talking to my dear friend Constance over there. Let’s go say hello and see what he has to say about this. I’m sure he’d love to know all about your professional integrity, stealing files from your girlfriend’s computer.”
The look in Ben’s eyes was one of pure horror.
“You’re fucking crazy.” He quickly recovered. “Look, okay. We’ll split the money. I’ll give you 30 percent, okay? I found the agent, I’m the one who sent it out, who got the deal.”
