Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer by Lee Hollis (famous ebook reader .txt) 📗

up, the nurse said, “May I ask, are you his significant other?”

That was such a complicated question, but there was no point in trying to work it out on the phone with a busy health-care provider who had much more important things to tend to, so Poppy simply replied, “Yes.”

“He’s going to need someone looking after him when he gets home, so you might want to think about making arrangements to have someone check on him, either yourself, or a family member.”

“I will do it,” Poppy said.

She wasn’t exactly sure how that would work with Sam all the way up in Big Bear and her down in Palm Springs. But she would figure it out.

Poppy ended the call, still distracted by the commotion on the other side of the trailer. She marched around and stopped in her tracks at the sight of Hal Greenwood, his massive bulk pressed up against his newest star, Joselyn Tremblay, pinning her to the side of the trailer. His paws were all over her, a couple of his fat fingers working to undo her blouse. Joselyn struggled to free herself from his grasp, but kept a pleasant smile on her face, as if she did not want to upset him, but clearly there was distress written all over her face.

“Now, Hal, don’t be a naughty boy . . .” she pleaded.

“I can’t keep my hands off you, you’re so beautiful . . .”

Poppy was not about to let this poor young woman become the latest victim of this revolting lech. She raised her script that was rolled up in her hand, waving it at Hal. “Excuse me, Hal, sorry to interrupt, but I would like to discuss this scene we’re about to shoot with you.”

Hal tore his lustful, roving eyes off Joselyn and fixed them angrily upon Poppy, the last person he wanted to see right now. “What?”

He loosened his grip on Joselyn, who seized the opportunity to slip away from him and keep a safe distance.

Poppy continued, pretending to be oblivious to what she had just witnessed. “There is a line in the script that doesn’t make any sense to me and I’m curious to get your thoughts on how I should play it.”

Hal exploded with a spew of expletives that Poppy calmly ignored. Finally, when he finished ticking off just about every four-letter word in the English language, he bellowed, “I am not the director of this movie! If you have a problem with the line, go talk to the Brit! Now leave me alone!”

Poppy, however, did not budge, which just infuriated him even more. He knew it would be impossible to try foisting himself on Joselyn again, especially in front of Poppy, so clasping his fleshy hands together, almost as if to beg, he asked Joselyn, “Maybe we can continue this in your trailer where it’s more private?”

Joselyn feigned immense disappointment. “As much as I would love to, Hal, I’m in the next scene with Poppy.”

Poppy could almost see the steam rising off the top of Hal Greenwood’s head, his lewd, crude, unwanted efforts stymied. Without another word, Hal stormed off.

Poppy had expected Joselyn to dissolve into tears on the spot, having been through such a ghastly ordeal, but instead, she was almost robotically placid. She gave Poppy a wan smile.

Poppy stepped forward, concerned. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Joselyn reassured her.

“What just happened now is not only disgusting and unacceptable, it’s illegal.”

Joselyn shrugged. “Just part of the job, I guess.”

Poppy reared back, stunned. “No, Joselyn, it most definitely is not. Hal Greenwood has a notorious reputation for this kind of thing, and should be held accountable.”

Joselyn considered this rather apathetically, then with another shrug, said, “Maybe, but he’s the big boss who can make or break careers, so what can I do?”

Poppy could not believe how blasé this girl was acting after such a traumatic ordeal. “You can do plenty. You can report his abominable behavior to the Screen Actors Guild. They will protect you.”

Joselyn considered Poppy’s recommendation briefly then summarily rejected it. “No, I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

“Because like I told you before, I have worked too hard to get here, and I’m not going to ruin everything now by being some kind of whistleblower. . . .”

“He can’t be allowed to get away with this!”

“Forget it. I have too much riding on this. And if you go blabbing to SAG or anyone else about what you saw, I’ll deny it.”

“But Joselyn—”

“Mind your own business, Poppy,” Joselyn warned before flipping a switch and returning to her perky, upbeat self again. “See you on set.”

And then she happily flounced away, as if nothing had happened, leaving Poppy simmering with anger and feeling utterly helpless.

Chapter 36

Every bone in her body ached as Poppy pulled up in front of Matt’s house to drop him off. It was closing in on nine in the evening after clocking in a long twelve-hour day on the set, not including the drive time to and from Joshua Tree. Matt, who was barely thirty, had weathered the grueling day far better than Poppy, who had swung through a Starbucks drive-thru that was trying to close for the night for a desperately needed shot of caffeine on their way back to Palm Springs. She didn’t care that she would be up and buzzing most of the night because she only had one more scene left to shoot and that was not scheduled for another few days, leaving her free tomorrow. Greta had asked them both not to tell Hal they were coming back for one more day in order to avoid another one of his temper tantrums on set, and Poppy and Matt agreed.

Matt shifted in the passenger seat, turning toward Poppy. “I gotta admit, despite all the drama with Hal and everything, I had an awesome day today. I love playing this part.”

“That’s one of us,” Poppy cracked.

“But you were great, you’re such a talent, Poppy, you never should have quit acting.”

“Leaving Hollywood was the best decision