Page 21 of Beyond the Darkness (Basic Instincts #3)

“Oh.” He pulled a face. “Just a little. They’ve got some kind of agenda going on. I don’t know what it is, but it’s not promoting the play, I know that much.”

“Well, duh. The only thing they’re really interested in promoting is themselves.”

Hudson had already finished his first glass. He poured another. “I think you’re right. I’m certain they’re gearing up for a muck-raking job on my past.”

“How come?”

“Ah, just a couple of things they asked me about earlier. Ancient history really. It’s kind of odd they should mention it now.” When Luke’s brow furrowed in interest, he continued. “What the hell. I might as well get it off my chest. It starts with that fucking movie. Red Hills Massacre.”

“Surely that’s not so strange. They’re bound to be interested with everything that’s going on.”

“That’s just the start.” He took a deep breath.

This was not a story he’d ever shared before.

Probably crazy to spill it to another journalist, but he trusted Luke implicitly now.

“I was young when I made that movie. Just starting out. I hate the damn film now, but it was a really big deal for me at the time. The director was Singer Fry. He made it clear when they were casting that it was close between me and another actor. I’m not claiming to be a victim here.

I wanted that role and did what I had to get it.

Which included going to bed with Singer Fry. ”

Luke’s eyes widened. “Hudson. I’m so sorry.”

“Hey.” He raised both hands. “This was well before Me Too. I knew that’s what it took to get the job, and it was a price I was willing to pay. That was all on me. I’m not blaming anyone else.”

“You weren’t the one in the position of power. It was an abuse.”

Hudson shrugged. “It was what it was. It’s not the part I have a problem with.

It was afterwards. Once we started shooting, Singer thought he could call on me whenever he wanted to have extra helpings.

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the guy, but, well, all the Viagra in the world couldn’t get me hard for him again.

That’s when the movie became a real nightmare.

Long night shoots, take after take out in the cold woods in just my underwear, when I’d nailed the scene first time.

Belittling me in front of the crew. Screaming, tantrums. The guy was coked off his tits most of the time, so he was volatile enough without the added sexual revenge. ”

Luke reached across the table. “I’m so sorry.”

He shrugged. “Don’t worry. That’s not what this story is about.

So, Singer was an asshole. Big deal. It was Hollywood.

A major studio movie. I’d wanted the part.

I gritted my teeth and got on with it. I finished the movie without sleeping with him again, it came out, was a huge hit, and I got a lot of offers on the back of it.

It seemed a fair trade-off.” Hudson swallowed a mouthful of wine.

“My career seemed to take off afterward, each part better than the last. And at the same time, so did Singer’s.

Thankfully, our paths never crossed again, though I used to look at the hot young actors in his movies and wonder what they’d had to do to get their roles.

“I was around twenty-eight, twenty-nine when The Leopard came up. This was the biggie. A mega-budget superhero movie with franchise potential. I was shortlisted, then screen tested, then suddenly it was down to me and another actor, and after weeks of waiting, I got it. A career and life-changing moment, right?”

Luke looked concerned. “Well, I already know you weren’t The Leopard. What went wrong?”

“The age-old Hollywood story. The director left the project after having problems with the studio executives. Two weeks before we were due to start shooting.”

“Creative differences?”

“Exactly. And when he was replaced by Singer Fry, I was out too.”

“Shit.”

“I was disappointed. Of course I was. But it was what happened next that ruined my career. Stories began to appear in the press that the whole reason the movie had been delayed and the original director fired was because of me. That I was difficult and demanding. Stories backed up by people who claimed to have worked on the film. It was complete bullshit. I’d done everything that was ever asked of me for that role. ”

“Stories put out by Singer.”

Hudson nodded. “It was around that time that I was outed too. I’m certain that came from Singer’s camp as well. He wanted to ruin me completely. I’d heard rumours that he’d done the same to other actors who had rejected him, but now I got to experience it first-hand.”

“Bastard.”

“Powerful bastard. Still is. How many of those big fucking franchise movies has he made now? Each one bringing in massive profits. He’s untouchable.

As was I, in an entirely different way after those stories leaked.

My days of playing romantic leads were through.

” He sighed. “In a way, it did me a favour. I moved into theatre and that’s what I truly love.

There’s great money to be made in TV and film, but my heart is on the stage. ”

They were interrupted as their food arrived and the server made a big deal of grinding black pepper and adding Parmesan cheese to their dishes. It all looked and smelled fantastic.

“Good choice,” Hudson said. “Coming here, I mean.”

Steam rose from the plates, and they were both too hot to eat.

“So, what is it with Corman and Amber? You think they’re planning to dig all of this back up again?”

Hudson filled his glass and offered a top-up to Luke. He put his fingers over the rim.

“I’m driving, remember?”

Hudson gave his best puppy dog look. “You could always leave the car where it is and stay with me tonight.”

Luke hesitated a moment, before grinning. “Restraint has never been one of my virtues.” He took his hand off the glass. “Go on then, fill it up.”

Hudson splashed the wine into the glass. “I don’t know what Corman and Amber are up to. But this morning’s creepy mail delivery was a photo of me from The Leopard, then later today, they brought it up as well as asking about Singer.”

“Could Robbie have sent you the photo?”

“Of course he could. The man is insane, I wouldn’t put anything past him.

But the only reason that I can see for the podcasters to be interested in Singer Fry is that they plan to put out some sensational scandal piece.

They probably hope I’ll give them an exclusive on sexual abuse and exploitation in Hollywood.

Isn’t that the kind of story that will bring their local podcast to international attention? ”

“I hate to say it, but yes. That’s exactly what they’d get from it.”

“Either way, I don’t trust them. This show is troubled enough, without having to worry about a couple of desperados digging into things from my past that I would rather forget.”