A Quiet Kind of Dominance novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Taping

The studio smelled like hot lights and burnt coffee, and Hank had been standing in the same spot for ten minutes.

It was a mock kitchen built inside a warehouse in the Strip, with a polished steel pass, six stoves, and cameras on cranes.

Eight actors in white coats stood at the stations.

One of them, a young man with a clipboard, was supposed to drop a tray in the first scene.

"And then you lose it," the director told Hank.

He was a thin man in a black fleece who never stopped chewing gum.

"The big one. The one from season two. Louder than you've ever been."

"Okay," said Hank.

"We've got three cameras on you. Let it out."

"Okay."

The director walked away.

Hank looked at the floor.

I had come with him as his guest, with Lena beside me in her good black jacket.

Now I stepped around the pass and stood in front of him.

"Collar's crooked," I said.

I fixed it.

I smoothed the white cotton flat with both hands, and then I put two fingers against the side of his neck.

His pulse was racing.

"Breathe out," I said, softly.

He did.

"Again."

He did.

His pulse slowed under my fingers.

"Listen to me," I said. "I'm not going to tell you what to do today."

His eyes lifted.

"You'll decide. Whatever you do out there, I'll be at the edge of the set, and I will think it's right."

"Even if I scream?"

"Even if you scream. And even if you don't."

"Audrey."

"Yes."

"I don't want to scream."

"Then don't."

"I'm scared."

"I know. You're allowed."

"Go," I said. "I'll be here."

He went to his mark.

Lena came to stand beside me, folding her arms.

"He's really going to do it," she whispered.

"Do what?"

"Not yell."

"You think so?"

"I've watched him for six years." She smiled slightly.

"He looks like a man who was just told he can put down a heavy bag."

The lights went up.

"Quiet on set," said the director. "Rolling. And action."

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