Read Online Hollywood is an All Volunteer Army by Steven Paul Leiva - Free Book Online Page B

corner of the world. You know that now yourself, don’t you? Your hate has ruined me. You have destroyed my career.”
    â€œI have done no such thing. This is the wages of your sins, not mine.”
    â€œAnd on that melodramatic turn of phrase,” I said, turning to the camera that stood in for 3 million people, “I think it’s finally time to go to a commercial.”
    The red light on the camera going off was, to Jordan, like a gong being struck. He leaped out of his chair and sprung onto the still sitting Lapham, knocking him and his chair over. He started beating at Lapham with his fists, screaming incoherently—although it is logical to presume that profanity was involved. Lapham, who is a good six or seven inches taller than Jordan, kept a defensive posture throughout, deflecting blows while trying to talk Jordan into stopping.
    I got up and Roee came over and we stood over the two flailing bodies. I was amused by an analogy Roee struck between the two beneath us and the mating practices of a certain species of squid that fornicate in a frenzy of violent movement.
    After the drawing of some of Lapham’s blood, we decided to break it up.
    â€œNow why don’t you both just sit down and catch your breath,” I suggested.
    Jordan, the broadcast professional, looked around at the smiling, interested, yet idle crew. “Don’t—don’t you have to go back on the air.”
    â€œI don’t see why. We never were on the air.” Some of the crew couldn’t help but laugh.
    â€œWhat?” Lapham blinked with confusion.
    Ignoring him, I continued. “Therefore, Robert, your career has not been ruined. Not that I couldn’t arrange that if I wanted to.” I pulled off the “Charlie Wise” makeup, hair, face, the whole illusion, shocking not just Jordan, but Lapham, who had had no idea.
    â€œFixxer?! What the fuck...?”
    â€œI don’t answer questions!” I shouted, using my own voice. “Now both of you sit!” They did so. “You are not in the broadcast center of the This Day show. You are in a perfect replication in a warehouse three blocks from that center. The people you see around you are my employees, loyal to me. They can be trusted. Not a word of what has gone on this morning will ever get out—if you both cooperate.”
    â€œBut I want it to get out!” Lapham’s anger was tactile and hot. “That’s what the fuck I’m paying you for!”
    â€œWell, sometimes I don’t always deliver what I’m paid for.”
    â€œThen I’m not going to pay you.”
    â€œI deliver something better.”
    Jordan watched this exchange, confused. Which was understandable. His world had gone from something warm, familiar, cozy, supportive, and solid, to the slippery deck of a ship lost at sea, tossed by waves and threaten by the monsters that Be Here. He must have had a million questions, but he was drawn to and asked only two, which he addressed to Lapham: “You paid to ruin my career? How much?”
    Lapham looked at him, irritated, as if Jordan had suddenly become an annoying child. “A million dollars!”
    â€œPlus expenses,” Roee felt compelled to remind.
    â€œPlus expenses,” Lapham confirmed. “Which,” he took a quick glance around, “is obviously going to come to a lot.”
    â€œOh, maybe another million,” I informed.
    â€œAnother million!”
    â€œYou’re paying two million dollars to ruin my career?” There was an element of the impressed in Jordan’s voice. “I’m—I’m touched.”
    â€œTouched?”
    â€œTo think you—you thought that much of me.”
    â€œI thought you were a damn, fucking schmuck!”
    â€œYeah, but one worth two million dollars to ruin.”
    â€œIt’s true, Mr. Jordan, does think a lot of you,” I said, taking over the conversation. “He told me