“G

abriella? A minute?”

Gabriella turned nervously at the sound of Rina’s voice. Rina, who had barely spoken two words to her all day, wanted to chat now, just when she was looking forward to climbing into bed?

She quickly closed her laptop. No use antagonizing Rina further by reminding her of the documentary. “What’s up?” she asked, then immediately winced. Bad choice of words. She’d been going for let’s-pretend-everything’s-okay-between-us casual, but it just sounded callous.

“I mean — how can I help you?” Bad to worse. She sighed. “What I mean to say is, I’m glad you’re talking to me again, and now that you are, what can I do to fix the documentary to your liking?”

Rina gaped at her. Then, with a glint of triumph in her eye that made Gabriella’s entire body tense up, Rina said, “Let me be perfectly clear. I do not give permission, under any circumstances, for you to use any part of Huvy’s or my interviews. Beyond that, I couldn’t care less what you do to fix your documentary.”

Her voice was low and cold. Gabriella felt ice slither over her. Whaaat?! “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. I want you to cut out all references to me and my daughter.”

No. This couldn’t be happening. Rina knew very well that if she removed every bit of Huvy and Rina, the documentary was worthless! This project that she’d put her heart and soul into, where she’d invested all the creative energy that certainly had not been given any outlet in Rina’s ridiculous movie—

Gabriella took a deep breath. She needed to be calm and rational. “I understand you’re upset, but let’s talk. Tell me the parts you want changed. I’ll work with you.”

Rina’s eyes narrowed. “I told you what I want changed.”

Calm, Gabriella, calm. Let’s pretend your entire professional future isn’t on the line right now. That you’re not facing a lifetime as Melanie’s secretary if this fails. “Yeah, and you’re basically asking me to throw the whole thing in the garbage.” Her voice shook slightly.

“Maybe that’s where it belongs.”

Gabriella slammed her hand against the desk, her cool gone. “You watched five minutes last night. Five minutes! And now you’re standing here judging the entire thing! You have no idea how hard I worked to make it fair and balanced and positive. Yes, positive! If you would’ve watched it all, you would’ve seen that the overall message is very upbeat, if nuanced….”

Her voice trailed off hopelessly.

Rina didn’t do nuance.

And now Rina was shaking her head slowly, the ghost of a smirk on her face. “I want it all out,” she repeated. She swiveled on her heel and left their room.

Gabriella watched her walk away, still furious. How could Rina do this to her? How could she? After all Gabriella had done for her film, all the times she’d bit her tongue and gone along with Rina’s ridiculous ideas, polishing them to a professional sheen. This movie would be nothing — nothing! — without Gabriella!

(Excerpted from Family First, Issue 637)