“Great, Patricia, I’m sure Bri would appreciate anything you can do to help her accomplish that objective,” Sonia carefully replied. “Now let’s quickly finish the schedule.”
Again Sonia unconsciously rubbed at the back of her neck as her glance fell over the schedule, her fingers on the screen of her iPad as she flipped through the digital pages on-screen as the crew gathered their own notes, comparing them with the others.
“Tired, boss?”
She glanced away from the small screen of her iPad as she turned to Patricia, frowning.
“Saw you rubbing your neck. It’s been a long day...” Patricia murmured, sympathy in her tone.
Sonia brought her hand down immediately. It wasn’t the long day that made her rub her neck. It was him.
She didn’t have to turn around to know who was in the large stable, along with her staff and the young stable boys who worked the Kealoha.
She refused to give him even that much power over her.
She brought a purposeful smile to her face. “Yes, it’s been a long day, but I’m fine, Tricia. But thanks,” she tacked on, seeing the crestfallen look on the older woman’s face.
She was always careful with her assistant’s feelings, even when the woman made some crazy faux pas or screwed up a location site, Sonia covered for her, something that was becoming harder and harder to do, each day.
In a lot of ways, she felt empathy for the older woman. It wasn’t easy, the business they were in. So much competition to not only get to the top of their field but stay there, as well.
At one point in her career, Patricia had been on her way to the top; however, bad choices, both career and personal—in the way of drinking—had drastically changed her career path. Paranoid, due to the alcohol, Tricia began to blame those who worked for her for sloppy mistakes. Mistakes that were actually hers, and hers alone.
It didn’t take long for her to gain a reputation as not only an alcoholic but one who mistreated her staff, blaming them for her mistakes.
She’d eventually gotten help for the drinking. But it had come too little, too late.
Despite all of that, Sonia felt a deep sense of loyalty to her once mentor and felt as though she owed Patricia.
As a young woman, Sonia had interned with Patricia Haynes, who at the time had been affiliated with both a major network as well as public television network. As the producer of several shows on a local public television, Patricia had wielded a certain amount of power. The two women had clicked, with Patricia sharing valuable information with Sonia, willing and eager to help Sonia in any way she could as she learned the ins and outs of producing a television show. She’d told Sonia she reminded her of herself at her age.
This had all happened before the downhill sprawl in her career.
When Sonia’s career had grown exponentially, and she’d eventually been offered her first show to produce with a major cable network, she’d immediately thought of Patricia and called her mentor to ask if she’d be interested in working with her.
Initially, Sonia had been concerned that Patricia would be offended, as she would serve as Sonia’s assistant, but was relieved when the woman had eagerly taken her up on the offer, and they’d been working together every since.
That wasn’t the only reason for her hesitancy.
Added to all of that, Patricia had originally been set to produce the show.
However, the show hadn’t ever really gotten off the ground. The ideas that Patricia had come up with to showcase the ranch had fallen flat on the executives. After languishing for two years, no real work had been done to develop the story line, until Sonia was approached by Marty Shop and Sheldon Harris and the deal had been renegotiated. Sonia was becoming well-known in the industry and the two executives had felt that under her directorship, the show would sparkle. Hesitantly, she’d agreed to view the footage they’d already shot.
And she’d been hooked. But she wouldn’t consider doing it without asking Patricia to come on board. She felt she owed the woman at least that much.
Although at times Patricia made a caustic comment and Sonia felt as though Patricia was jealous of her success, she’d immediately feel awful for thinking that way. The woman had always been her biggest champion, and had it not been for the older woman, she wouldn’t have gotten her early break into the business.
“So, that’s it for the day. Why don’t you pack up and get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be an early one, and with the holiday coming up, let’s get as much work in as we can. No telling how crazy it’s going to be in a few weeks!”
“Oh, no...don’t remind me!” Patricia piped up. With the Fourth of July around the corner, coupled with an expected increase in holiday tourism, the Kealoha Ranch, as well as the crew, were gearing up for an avalanche of spectators.
“Which reminds me, I need to go to the trailer and download the production schedule from corporate.” Sonia barely refrained from groaning. It had been a long day and she was beyond tired.
She reached a hand up and again began to massage her tired neck muscles. Not to mention the fact that Key was eyeing her down. The longer she’d stood speaking with the crew and Patricia, the more heated his stare had become. She hadn’t even had to turn his way to know that.
She felt that familiar fissure of sharp awareness curl through her stomach, winding its way throughout her body, and the resulting spike of goose bumps to sprinkle over her skin.
“I’ll take care of that, boss, it’s been quite a day. Me and the guys are headed that way on the way back to the hotel.” A big, beefy hand touched Sonia’s back and she barely refrained from wincing. “In fact, before heading to the hotel, we’re going to hit the Wave for a few drinks,” he began, mentioning one of the nightclubs not far from the hotel where they were staying. He stopped and smiled down at her, the dimple in one of his chubby cheeks flashing as he extended the invitation. “You’re welcome to join us.”
“Thanks, Walt,” she replied, smiling up at the large man. “Maybe some other time. I’ve got some work to do in my room before I hit the bed.”
“Well, anytime you change your mind, let me—us—know.”
She saw the disappointed look enter his dark eyes before he nodded his head and turned with the others to leave.
She nodded and smiled before she dismissed her crew, after giving final instructions for the next day’s filming.
“It will be a light day tomorrow, everyone. I don’t expect us to go past noon, and after that, the next few days are yours!” Her response elicited the expected pleased reaction from her staff, bringing a genuine grin to lift the corners of her lips.
She watched the group leave and drew in a deep breath. She knew who she now had to face.
“Looks like it’s time to saddle up,” Tricia murmured, and Sonia bit back a groan in reply.
She didn’t have to turn around to know whom Patricia was talking about. And her assistant’s reference to saddling up didn’t help at all....
Sonia sighed and closed her eyes briefly. She remembered the way Keanu had spoken the heartfelt words to her over the phone after he’d finally agreed to do the show and allow her and her crew on his land.
“The new generation, our generation...we all need to come together and work on the environment to survive. Not just in Hawaii but all over the world. If the Kealoha Ranch can help in any way...we’re ready to saddle up, ma’am.” His deep baritone had washed over her like a hot shower.
As the producer of several hit shows, when she’d been