Chapter 16: Chapter 16

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Jessi knelt beside Darren and stroked his back. Concern and the mere shock pushed away the hesitation she felt.

The heck was that all about?

Why would Jenson even hurt Darren?  He was choking the guy!  He was freaking choking Darren to unconsciousness.  It sure didn't look like a quick little warm-up for their next scene.

"The shit was that?" She stared at a red-faced Darren who was still straining to steady his breathing.

A hair tie was on the floor, right beside his thigh.  Most likely his.  His jaw-length hair was all over his face.  Darren shook his head weakly and let her help him up.

Wow. He was heavier than she imagined.  Perhaps almost 200 pounds. But she didn't complain. "You okay? You good?"

Darren nodded faintly.  Then he just glared at the door.  Heaving deep breaths, he walked towards his messy trailer bed.  "Thanks," he murmured without looking at her.

"You want some water?"  Jessi looked around and saw a half-full water bottle by the sink.

"Please." He coughed loudly again, then sat on the bed and grabbed his phone.  His face remained pinkish as she stood next to him.

"Here." Jessi handed him the water bottle, the utter shock making her heart thump faster in her chest.

Where the heck did Jenson go?  He just walked out the door as if what he did to Darren was no big deal. He didn't even acknowledge her presence. No apologies. No explanations. What's the matter with him?

Darren held the bottle, his breathing still ragged. He slowly drank water while his eyes focused on his phone.

There was an ongoing phone call, but she couldn't make out the name on the screen.

Who was he calling?  His manager?  The director?  One of their big bosses?

Or the police?

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"It's fine, Jess. I'm good." The guy cleared his throat. "It's nothing."

Nothing? Seriously? Jessi could only stare at Darren as he tried his best to convince her he was physically fine, and not paralyzed by shock or fear after the utter craziness that just happened. She stood next to him, her knees still weak.  They felt like they're going to buckle any second now.

Darren sat still on his trailer bed, gripping his phone, his fairly bloodshot and watery eyes glancing at her from time to time.

If only she didn't witness him being choked to death on the floor by his co-star, she would believe him without a shadow of a doubt. But she saw what happened with her own eyes.

The unbridled violence. The hostility. Jenson swearing out loud at him... Darren's face getting all red and swollen from the aggressive choke hold and...

The images just wouldn't leave her brain. Jessi restrained a sigh. Should she call the management? Or just call the cops on Jenson? Would they even believe her? After all, it was going to be her word against his.

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as she stood in front of Darren. She watched him closely. Relief slowly crept in. Thankfully he was no longer coughing up a lung just to regain his normal breathing.

Why did he insist that he was fine? Was he that scared of Jenson?

"It's not fine. He was choking you on the floor, Darren." She stressed the word 'choking' when he kept avoiding her stare.

"No. I-It was my fault." Darren raised his palm and spoke calmly, his brown eyes no longer watery. "My bad. I provoked him."

"That's not...  That's not what I saw," she muttered, confused as to why he was even defending his co-star. And friend?

Were they really friends? If so, why would Jenson hurt him like that? What did Darren say to him that pushed Jenson to blow a fuse and physically assault him? Did it have something to do with their tense conversation back in the parking lot?

"Who are you calling?"

"My sister." Darren swore under his breath when the ringing went on. "Never mind," he murmured after putting his phone away. "Why are you... Right. Time to work." He cleared his throat and stood up hastily.

"Aren't you even gonna..." Jessi followed him to the other side of the trailer where a makeup chair faced a wide vanity mirror with lights on the sides. "Talk to management?"

"Jess, he's part of the management." Darren chuckled and swiftly settled in the makeup chair, his tone incredibly calm despite what he just endured.

Was it simply shock? Or fear? Hence his fake nonchalance?

Well, Darren had a point. Jenson indeed was part of the top management, being one of the show's producers and all. But that didn't give the guy the right to do whatever he wanted, just because someone said something that pissed him off.

"If you won't call the cops, I will."

"No, Jess." Darren shifted in his seat to stare at her, his tone insistent. "Thanks for the concern. Really. Thanks. But I'm okay. Let him cool off. We'll deal with it later."

"You're scared of him?" She stood next to Darren, waiting for him to confirm it, her arms now crossed below her chest.

"No." Darren snickered and pinched the bridge of his pointed nose, as if he found the situation funny and somewhat entertaining. "It's fine. Really. We're like that sometimes. I do or say something to piss him off, and sometimes it... Anyway, let's just get to work. Okay?"

"Does your throat hurt?"

"No. I'm okay." Darren sighed and forced a smile. It didn't quite reach his eyes.

"You sure? Your chest and your throat's okay?" She cautiously placed her hand on his arm. "No breathing problems, or anything?"

"No. I'm good. Promise." Darren nodded and even grinned at her, as if she was worrying and getting worked up about absolutely nothing. Then he quickly got up from the makeup chair. "Gotta wash my face first. Almost forgot. I'll be ready in ten. That okay?"

"Okay." She squinted at him, not trusting his feigned calmness at all. She just watched him as he walked away from her to head to the bathroom. "I'll be back in a bit," she said before Darren could shut the bathroom door.

"Yeah. Sure. I'll be here." Darren flicked the lock upon closing the bathroom door.

She sighed to herself and let him be. It wasn't like she could force him to talk to their bosses or someone in charge of the production team. But he should get checked. Jessi stepped out of the trailer, her thoughts still in a bit of a haze.

She had to find someone who could take a look at Darren to see if he needed medical attention. It was  part of her job.

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"Jessiah."

She stopped dead in her tracks when she recognized the deep voice. She was just about to talk to someone from the medical team on standby. Instead, she ran into the culprit himself.

Standing outside his trailer, alone and wearing a plain shirt and the same leather pants, the guy watched her from a distance. The culprit...the reason why she had to find a medic for Darren right now. "Can we talk for a sec?" Jenson took a few steps forward.

Jessi stood still as he approached her, minding his poker face and non-apologetic tone. What was left to talk about? Hadn't she seen enough already?

"Look. I just wanna talk for a minute." Jenson squinted as sunlight shaded off the photogenic angles of his tan face, emphasizing his deep-set eyes with long lashes, his defined cheekbones, and masculine jawline. In some lighting, his eyes looked light blue, but not in this daylight.

Her breath got stuck in her throat when he took a few steps closer. Darn it.

Jenson caught her staring.

Her chest ached somewhat when he kept getting closer and closer. Now his black combat boots almost touched the edge of her sneakers.

They stood right outside his trailer. His short but thick hair appeared a little tousled, but it still looked good on him. His cologne smelled of vanilla, a hint of musk, and some floral undertones. So deceivingly relaxing.

She loved the scent, though.

"You okay?" Jenson asked in a more mellow voice, his tone and posture believably chill, lulling her into believing he meant no harm. As if he didn't physically assault someone back there. As if he didn't try to kill Darren with his bare hands just minutes ago.

"No," she replied, scowling at him, not bothering to mask her shock. "I should report you, Jenson."

"Yeah. I know. I'm sorry," he sighed as he walked her towards his trailer. The door was left ajar for some reason.

Why was he apologizing to her? Did he even say sorry to Darren through text? She near winced when Jenson's warm hand held her shoulder, almost warning her to go along with him or else he would make her.

His grip wasn't tight, though. The guy was being gentle and rather cautious when he led her towards the narrow entrance to his trailer. "Can we talk in private?"

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"Why?" Jessi stared into his eyes.

They no longer gave off an intense, palpable sense of aggression. Instead they looked calm now, much calmer than what she'd seen earlier. He should be calm. Otherwise she wouldn't let him anywhere near her. "Just for a minute." Jenson squinted at her. "Please?"

A minute? Just a minute? She looked him dead in the eyes as he stood before her with his head tilted downward to meet her gaze.

He was just that tall. They were eye-to-eye now, their faces almost touching. Benefit of the doubt. Fine. Okay. There's always two sides to the story, as she'd been told countless times before.

For now she would give him a chance. She'd let him explain himself and his extremely violent behavior with Darren.

Maybe he was acting in self-defense or something?

Well, for one, Darren repeatedly convinced her that it was his fault and not Jenson's. That he instigated the whole thing. That he provoked Jenson. Darren also reassured her that he was not seriously hurt. A blatant lie, but, it wasn't like she could convince him otherwise.

"Please?" Jenson leaned in and sighed. His frown etched some lines on his naturally pouty lips. Like his impressive physique, they made him look younger than his actual age. "Just wanna explain."

She kept mum and gauged his sincerity, minding the smell of some minty gum in his breath, unlike Darren's mouth that often smelled like an ashtray. "Don't shut the door." It was all she said before walking past Jenson to get inside his trailer. Her breathing halted when he guided her up the stairs with his hand gently touching her lower back.

The gesture almost made her flinch, but something in his remarkably different demeanor now told her he was just this way with women. Was it a sign of a cunning, manipulative personality? Perhaps. But from their past conversations alone, he did seem sincere and good-natured. A bit mysterious, sure—but not shady or ill-tempered. Not physically violent at all.

She wanted to believe her first impression of him was close to the truth, but, she just didn't know him well enough to prove her theory. "I said leave it like that," she said louder when he was about to close the door behind him.

"Yeah. Sorry. I'm sorry. Force of habit." Jenson left the door slightly ajar and raised both of his palms as he stepped towards her.

She didn't back away. She should stand her ground. Show him she wasn't afraid of him. Make him believe she wasn't scared of standing up to him just because he was one of her bosses.

What he did was wrong and someone had to tell him that to his face. No excuses. He had to own up to it somehow.

"I'm not judging you or anything," she muttered, keeping her voice calm as he stared at her. "But what the heck was that all about?"

Instead of answering her directly, the guy looked away and repeatedly bumped his clenched fist on his forehead.   Jenson stepped back. He sat in the makeup chair near the vanity mirror in the corner of his trailer.

She followed suit, then stood next to the chair with her arms crossed, her gaze focused on his face.

Now he looked rather contrite for his actions and not just faking it to convince her so. Or maybe he was just that good an actor.  "Sorry you had to see all that." Jenson tried to look at her but averted his gaze after a few seconds.

"Don't apologize to me, Jenson. Apologize to him."

"Yeah. I will. Later," he murmured while sighing out loud. He was still frowning, his dark brows and forehead furrowing in what seemed to be genuine regret. "Sorry, that you had to see that."

"Do you realize now the position you've put me in?"

"Yeah." Jenson slouched in his seat and glanced at her again. "But no need to panic. We'll settle it later."

"Why not now?" She made a face, not truly buying his apologies. "We're supposed to start taping in an hour."

"Yeah. I know. I know."

She scoffed and backed off a few steps, the conversation still not easing the heavy feeling in her chest. Inside, her heart still thumped loudly but it wasn't sheer nervousness or fear of him. She glanced to the door.

They had to check if they should keep talking in normal volume. To her relief, there was no one else nearby or outside his trailer. For now.

She shouldn't be here alone with him. In his personal space. The other makeup artist could step right in any second now. But some overconfident, danger-seeking part of her wanted to hear his side of the story firsthand.

Adrenaline. Yeah. Pure adrenaline was pumping through her veins right now, ridding her of the fear and concern she should be feeling for lecturing one of the big bosses about proper workplace etiquette.

Well, she wanted to hear him talk. She wanted at least one good explanation for his shockingly brutal behavior just minutes ago.

It just seemed so out of character for him. He had to have a pretty good and sensible reason for what he did, and she had to hear it now straight from his mouth.

"What happened? What were you fighting about?"

"I can't tell you," Jenson murmured. He shook his head faintly and wouldn't look her in the eye again. "Sorry—I can't."

It must be the fifth time he apologized to her today. Jessi stood still and eyed him, almost convinced that he didn't mean to hurt Darren earlier. "Fine," she sighed. Better if she left him alone now. She was one of his subordinates. She shouldn't be the one reprimanding him for his inexplicable behavior. "At least apologize to him before we—"

"Yeah. I will."

"If something happens to him, I'm talking to  management."

"As you should."

"Okay. Apologize to him." She squinted at him, puzzled by his quite condescending tone. "I'm serious, Jenson." Jessi eyed the door. Time to go. She had to check up on Darren and reassess whether he needed proper medical attention. And in case Jenson decided to talk to Darren now, she would be there to make sure things wouldn't get heated again.

"Jessi." Jenson budged in his seat and caught her wrist before she could walk away.

It surprised her, forcing her to regard him with her undivided attention. His calloused hand felt warm on her skin, and his grip paused her negative thoughts.

"It was wrong; I know." The guy let go of her wrist now. "But can we keep this between us?" His attentive eyes narrowed. "Can we focus on work for now?"

She feigned composure to match his steady gaze. His tone bordered on apologetic and self-deprecating, and she could tell he was serious about patching things up with Darren later. But she had to show him she wasn't scared of doing the right thing, just to make him realize his hostile behavior earlier was definitely unacceptable. "Are you telling me to not call the cops?"

"Yeah." Jenson glanced away and nodded weakly. "Like I said, I'll settle it with Darren later. After work."

"Alright, then."

"Where you going?" The guy got up in haste when she kept heading towards the door.

"To work." She kept her back to him and stepped out of his trailer before he could try to stop her again. "Got a job to do, boss."

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