Chapter 76

AURORA.

After paperwork that took many, many hours, the day came for production to begin. I awoke with a wide grin on my face, so wide that I was sure no one would be able to turn it downward. I bathed, dressed up and went to the living room, where Abuela had prepared a breakfast fit for kings in celebration.

Hugging her and planting a large kiss on her cheek, I sat down to eat. Lola had already left for work and left me a message that we would celebrate the production later at night when she got back. After filling my stomach with Abuela’s special cooking, I booked an Uber and waited for it to arrive. When it did, I left for the production company. In the Uber, I broke out into a victorious smile. This was a significant leap in my career as a writer, a dream becoming a reality.

Sarah texted me that she would not be coming in today which was disappointing because I did not want to be alone. The film and television industry was a new and challenging terrain for me, and I was a newcomer eager to prove my mettle. Having Sarah by my side would have been a huge boost to my morale.

I got to the company and my day officially began. Mateo was there and he showed me around, introduced me to the workers and his partners and we got started. However, I got a weird vibe from the director in charge. He sized me up with his eyes and didn’t even bother to respond to my greeting.

My eyes met his and he quickly removed his gaze from mine. A cold, unrelenting disdain seemed to emanate from him. I had to keep myself from walking up to him and demanding to know what his issue was.

“Mateo,” I leaned in to ask him a question, lowering my voice so no one else would hear. “Is everything okay with the director? He seems… off.”

Mateo shrugged. “Oh, Peter’s just like that. Don’t take it personally. He’s usually temperamental. You’ll get used to it.”

It seemed like a reasonable explanation. I mean, there were people in the world who were just naturally melancholic. If he was working here though, he must be of great value to the team because I didn’t understand how someone with such a dark energy could be working in such an amazing company.

As the day progressed, Mateo confessed his reservations as to us working together. We met in a quiet corner of the production company's offices during a break to discuss the situation.

“What do you mean?” I asked him when he told me he was taking his hands off the project. “What’s wrong?”

“I’ve thought about this a lot these past few days. I’m happy you won the bid but I can’t work with you every day and not want you, Ysa. You’ve rejected me once. I don’t want a repeat of that.”

“Mateo—”

“I think it’s best I observe the production from a distance and put some distance between us as well. If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

And then I was alone. No Mateo, no Sarah, just me in a room full of people who knew I had no prior experience. Without Mateo’s support, I had to navigate this challenging environment alone. While the director's attitude was a constant source of stress, I was determined to prove myself through my work.

As the days progressed into weeks, I poured my heart and soul into the project, hoping that my dedication and creativity would eventually win over those who doubted me. The production team became my daily battlefield and I was fixed on winning this battle.

However, as the days went by, I couldn't ignore the frosty atmosphere surrounding me. The weight of the director’s dislike hung heavy in the air, making every interaction with him feel like traversing a minefield.

I found myself immersed in the production team's work. Despite the awkwardness with the director, I started to earn my colleagues' respect through my dedication and commitment to the project. We began the casting and I was at the forefront, having written the script.

While Mateo remained professionally distant, I couldn't help but notice how hard he worked behind the scenes. His dedication to the project was evident, and he made significant contributions to the production. It was clear that he had a wealth of experience in the industry.

There were moments when our paths crossed during production meetings or discussions. Our interactions were strictly professional and centered on the project's progress. Mateo's support and guidance in those discussions were invaluable.

However, a part of me couldn't help but wonder how things might have been different if we weren't entangled in our complicated personal history. The rejection of his romantic advances seemed like an insurmountable barrier, and I couldn't help but reflect on the what-ifs.

****

The director, Peter, did not like this new woman who won the copyright bid. After learning about her history with Mateo, it just made sense that her book had been the one to win the bid. The protagonist’s lover married some rich heir and died as a result of heartbreak? Peter scoffed. He’d read better books. In his opinion, she did not deserve to win the bid. There had been plenty of other writers who submitted their manuscripts that deserved it more than her. Left to him, he would call one of them up and give them the contract.

But this was life, he reasoned. This new woman was the ex-girlfriend of the company’s most important partner. How would she not win when Mateo was obviously putty in her hands?

She might have crawled away into their company but he was not going to make it easy for her to stay.