The Stand-In(79)

“Time to go, sir.” The guard looks at me. “Ma’am, do you want us to call the police so you can press an assault charge?”

It’s like Todd really doesn’t get it until he looks at the event woman, her lip curled in disgust. He turns back to look at me and…crumples. It’s like watching a bag deflate in slow motion.

I pretend to consider what the guard said, although I know that I can’t. Fangli’s image needs to be considered. “Banning him from all events will do.”

Todd’s face goes red as I refuse to move or look away.

I’ve won.

I turn away first, giving him my back. He’s not worth my time.

“He’s gone,” Sam says after a moment. I nod but I’m listening to the people around me as the crowd spills out to the balcony. The moment with security has not gone unnoticed.

“What was that about?”

“The nerve of that guy.”

“That’s Wei Fangli. I heard she’s a real bitch.”

“For what, not wanting to be pawed by that pig?”

“Did you see that?”

Sam’s touch on my arm reminds me to straighten my back and keep my expression neutral. Todd’s gone but my triumph is dampened by the knowledge that this might rebound on Fangli.

Sam quells the murmuring with a frown that makes me tense, and it’s not even directed at me. He takes me to the side, out of sight of others on the balcony, and wraps his arm around me. “What happened? Do we need to go?”

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. You’re shaking. That was your old boss, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

Sam’s expression hardens. “Tell me the whole story. All of it.”

The sordid tale spills out. “I don’t know why I couldn’t stand up to him, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t. I couldn’t lose my job and I didn’t want to accept it was happening.”

Sam tucks my head under his chin. “Gracie. It’s all on him. Not you.” He pauses. “Can I tell you a story?”

“Yes.” I want to get my mind off this mess.

“I told you about my mother and how she wants me to take over the production business.”

“You did.”

“She also tried to get me my first job. I said no, I was going to change my name and do it myself.” He leans us against the railing, the wind lifting up our hair. “She warned me against a certain acting coach and I was sure, because I was a teenager, that she was lying to me so I’d fail and have to come back to her.”

“What happened?”

“I went to meet the coach. She was famous and everyone knew if she agreed to take you on, you were special. It was her and me.” He sighs. “Then she told me to sit down and she put a hand on my thigh. High on my thigh.”

“How old were you?”

“Eighteen.”

“What did you do?”

He laughs and it’s the same tone that I have when I think of Todd. “Nothing at first. Maybe it was in my head. I didn’t want to make a fuss. I didn’t want her to think I was a little kid.”

“Did she stop?”

Sam looks at me, mouth turned down. “Do you think she would? Did your boss?”

“No.”

“What I realized later was it’s not only sex. It’s power. She saw a vulnerability in me and took advantage.”

“I’m weak, is what you’re saying.” I move further around the side of the balcony and Sam follows. We’re now completely hidden from the crowd.

“I think Todd saw you care about people and you avoid calling attention to yourself. He saw a chance.”

This is too true for me to debate. “Did the acting coach… I’m sorry.” I suddenly realize I’m prying.

“I managed to drop the script, and when I bent to pick it up, I pretended to fall off the chair, muttered my apologies, and ran out.”

“Smart.”

“I felt like an overreacting idiot until I went back and told Fangli and Chen. We knew there was no point in telling the instructors so they helped me talk it through, process it. That was that.”

“What about the coach?”

“Faded into obscurity after she got caught misreporting her taxes.” He smiles broadly. “I might have been the one to report her.”

“They say revenge doesn’t make you feel better.”

“Do they? Felt pretty great to me.”

Sam’s story encourages me about the situation but I still feel like past me was gutless. “I should have…”

He puts a finger on my lips. “Fuck shoulds.”

“But…”

“Gracie, you are perfect as you are. It’s not a bad thing to want to keep peace in your life and care for the people in it. That a bad person can manipulate it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. To be kind and generous is a gift.”

“Please take your seats.” I hear an usher politely herding people into the main room. “We’re about to begin.”

In our secluded side alcove, Sam and I ignore him.

“Todd knows I’m Gracie when I’m dressed like this, as Fangli.” I point to the tube top.