Behind The Spotlight Chapter 97
Producer Lewis gritted his teeth and glared at Axel and Collin, deep hatred boiling inside him.
"You just said this two months after the filming started!? You bastards, I want to fucking kill you right now, I swear I want to kill you!" His voice cracked with raw fury, echoing inside the trailer.
Axel didn't avert his gaze despite the hatred radiating from Lewis, and neither did Collin.
"Fuck! Why did you have to cause a scandal like this?"
"It's not a scandal. First of all, nothing has even happened yet. We just want you to know that my client will file a case against his ex-wife and fight for custody of his son," Collin explained in a calm but firm tone.
"Okay, alright, I'm going to calm down." The producer facepalmed and rubbed his temples, clearly trying to suppress the migraine forming.
Director Lee Kim was listening, but he didn't speak for a long while. He was contemplating the balance between artistry and practicality...
As a director, he saw that Axel was perfect for the role, and it would be a huge disappointment to lose him. Furthermore, they had already filmed 30% of the script, with Axel appearing in most of the emotional scenes. Replacing him would require more money to reshoot everything with a new actor.
However, Lee also understood that Axel was breaking the contract, or at least on the verge of doing so.
"You said that he still hasn't filed a case. Can you postpone it for a year or something? Just don't touch this project."
He looked at Axel seriously, practically begging him not to ruin the film's future. But the actor shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Lewis, but I can't. My son is getting abused, and I can't turn a blind eye to that."
"..."
Producer Lewis also had a son, someone he loved more than anything in the world. On a personal level, he could understand Axel. Still, it was painful to accept.
"Fuck!"
He took a deep breath to suppress the rising urge to explode again.
"You have to pay for the damages. The contract states that if Axel causes a scandal that affects the project, he must pay $5 million. I'm giving you a chance here, don't break the contract. We can act like nothing happened."
This time, Producer Lewis looked at Collin with pleading eyes, hoping the agent would talk some sense into his client.
"Axel is still new in this industry, and $5 million is not something he can afford. Collin, don't destroy your career. Touchpebbles Pictures is under Wash Dismay Studio, a studio that could blacklist you with a single phone call. I can assure you, your clients will get blacklisted if you go through with filing the case."
Collin shook his head and apologized.
"I'm sorry, Lewis. I will support my client."
"You and your client should fucking die. Do you understand what you're doing? With this decision, you could destroy the lives of many people. The employees who rely on this movie, what about them?"
"Our decision still stands, and we're prepared to face the consequences."
"... Sigh. At least you told us before everything became impossible to fix. Well then, I guess we'll never see each other again. Pay the damages and we're done."
"How about we continue filming instead and let Axel keep his role?"
This time, it was Lee Kim who spoke, showing surprising support.
"Lewis, we both know that Axel is perfect for the role."
"Lee, don't tell me you're siding with them? You're just a fucking immigrant. You might not understand what you're saying. Even your accent is fucking stupid."
"Act civil. I know you're mad, but there's no reason to keep cursing and resorting to personal attacks."
"There are a lot of reasons to keep cursing. The situation we're in is fucked."
"Listen to me. Axel is perfect for the role. Instead of firing him, why don't we help him with his lawsuit? Just like you said, we're part of Wash Dismay Studio. They have strong influence and connections that could make this go away quietly."
"Is it even worth helping someone like him?"
"You saw his performance. Tell me, is he perfect for the role or not?"
"I admit he's good at acting, but that doesn't mean he's worthy of being protected."
"Lewis, if you fire him, this movie won't be perfect anymore. His absence could lead to a box office failure."
"His scandal could cause a box office failure."
"Maybe. Maybe not."
"I can't believe you're trying to convince me to help these bastards."
Producer Lewis sat down and let out a deep sigh. He thought about it seriously. Firing Axel was the safest move for avoiding a scandal. It would cost more, but the project could be salvaged.
Still, he couldn't deny Axel's performance was the best in the cast. The guy had improved so fast, it was almost unnatural. Like he was on steroids or something.
Even the director, the brain behind the project, said Axel's performance elevated the movie.
"You didn't lie about what you said, right? Your son is really getting abused and you want to protect him?"
"From the bottom of my heart, everything I said to you is real. I have the evidence here."
"No, you don't have to show it to me. I don't like getting into someone's private life."
Producer Lewis waved his hand, his expression heavy and conflicted.
"You won't get your remaining salary," he muttered in defeat.
Axel and Collin were surprised. They had expected worse, Axel especially thought his role was gone.
"I'm alright with it."
According to the contract, Axel's salary was $1.8 million. He had already received half after signing. The remaining $900,000 was supposed to be paid once he finished filming. Now, that was gone, like dust in the wind.
At least it was better than getting fired and paying millions in damages.
"Thank you, sir. I promise I'll work hard and give this role my all until the very end."
"And now you're calling me sir? Get out of my sight. I need to figure out how to explain this to the boss."
Axel thanked him again before leaving with Collin.
Lewis knew this wasn't the right decision from a business perspective. It might even come back to bite him. Still, he chose to help Axel. Not as a producer, but as a fellow dad who just wanted the best for his kid.
"God, I hope this decision won't cost me my job."
With that, Axel reopened the custody battle. But this time, he came prepared. Armed with undeniable proof, he was finally ready to bring justice.
It didn't take long for the custody trial to happen, and the result was...
+++++
[Author's Note: The PDF of Chapter 1 to 50 has been posted in Discord. You need to be a Patr eon member to access it. Also, I want to say thank you for all your support.]