Gabriella and Connor stared at Rina in horror. Ken, the assistant DP, looked back and forth between the three of them, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Gabriella’s mind raced as she watched Rina slowly walk into the room, a dragon hissing fire. How would she get out of this one?

“So what were you saying about revising a scene?” Rina asked, her voice deadly quiet as she placed her hands on the sides of the computer screen. “Show me.”

Connor threw Gabriella a helpless look. Gabriella stiffened her shoulders, as a single thought blazed through her brain: submissiveness. Rina liked submissiveness in others. And then, a second thought: Rina was also, at heart, an artist. And Gabriella had done this, ultimately, for the artistic good of the film.

She took a breath. “Listen, Rina, I made a mistake. I had a great idea, something that could totally take the opening scene to a new level. You were away, and I decided to do it on my own. I even had some thoughts of it being a fun surprise for you when you came back.” She gave a contrite little grimace. “Bad idea, I see now. I should’ve checked with you first, should’ve realized this is your baby and you wouldn’t want anyone messing with it behind your back, huh?”

She raised her eyebrows at Rina, who gave a jerky nod.

“Yeah, you should’ve.” Rina looked toward the computer screen as Gabriella held her breath. Rina seemed to be struggling with herself, her lips pressed so hard they were white, her shoulders trembling. Finally, she said, “Well, let’s see it already.”

Her face was still raging, but at least the fire-hissing was gone. Gabriella nodded at Connor, who’d been standing off to the side apprehensively, and he tapped the screen.

There they were, the girls, performing the new opening song with proud, earnest faces, no more forced, too-bright smiles. Rina watched silently. She remained silent even after it was over.

“I thought this would establish the film as something more sophisticated,” Gabriella said, not sure what to make of the very un-Rina-like lack of reaction. “You know, something that appeals to grown women as well as girls.”

Rina finally looked up from the screen. “You think the old way was unsophisticated.” Her voice had something funny in it.

“Uh, I didn’t say that.” Gabriella bit her lip and gave an apologetic grin. “Okay, maybe I did. But I didn’t mean it in a bad way.” Way to lie through your teeth. “Just, like I said, I wanted to make sure our film appeals to everyone.”

She lowered her voice. “Rina, I know this is your baby, but, you know, I’m invested in it, too. And, like you, I believe in this and want to see it become as successful as possible.”

Was this true? Did she really believe in it? She would have to examine that thought later.

Rina fixed her with an icy glare. She was still hurt, Gabriella saw. Very hurt. And really, Gabriella couldn’t blame her. The question was, what would Rina do about it?

(Excerpted from Family First, Issue 613)