Page 32 of Forbidden (Wicked Billionaires #1)

STORM

As we fly out of Los Angeles, Lorenzo receives a call.

It’s from a movie producer, and from one of the movie sets he has financed.

He puts the call on speaker, and we listen as we fly across country.

It sounds like the production is in trouble, and they outline a new list of production problems. It sounds complex, and it sounds expensive.

From troublesome movie stars to weather issues, and technical problems, it is obvious they are in a corner. Finally, the stressed-out producer asks Lorenzo what they should do.

Lorenzo is careful in replying, and I look over at him.

As Lorenzo flies the jet, he calmly asks, how much over budget they are.

The producer clears his throat, and he sounds nervous. “Currently… twenty million.”

I gulp in shock. Lorenzo has not flinched, but he inhales long and slow, as is his way under pressure.

Lorenzo looks over to me, and he winks. He then tells the producer, he will be on set in several hours. The producer sounds even more anxious. Lorenzo then instructs the producer to send a car to the closest airport, and to secure landing rights.

He ends the call and sits up a little. “Time for a small pit stop, dear.” As he pulls gently on the controls, we bank, and head south.

Several hours later, we come into land in a small airfield in Texas. My heart pounds and I’m nervous. The airfield is small. Really small. I reach over to Lorenzo, and he takes my sweaty hand.

As we steel ourselves, I let his hand go, and he lands his jet with two hands. Finally, we slow and stop, just before a huge drop and valley below.

I sigh, shake my head and look over.

Lorenzo stands, and pulls on his jacket. He looks as calm as can be. “Relax baby. You worry too much.”

He is already next to me as I uncurl my legs. I take his elbow and shake my head at the madness.

The unexpected detour will likely be interesting, and I get excited about being on a real movie set. The countryside looks stunning, and I now know a little about the movie.

I enjoyed the last set visit in LA, even if it was just a fashion shoot. This one should be fascinating, and I’m more interested in movies than fashion.

As Lorenzo shuts down the rest of the jet, I throw things in a small bag. Lorenzo explains more about the movie production problems, and the script. The movie is about a young woman, and hero of our nation.

It is a drama about Sybil Ludington, who helped save our American nation, or set it free. In 1777 Sybil, aged sixteen, rode through the night, and rode twice as far as Paul Revere.

She avoided being shot.

She rode forty miles.

And she rode in the rain to warn the British invasion was coming.

She was one of the youngest fighters of the American Revolution, and a hero.

The movie sounds amazing, and I’m excited for her, the star playing her, and for Lorenzo. I’m also proud he financed the costly movie.

Lorenzo explains, they have very complex scheduling problems, and over runs. And it’s been costing Lorenzo two million a week more, than he budgeted for.

Those extra costs have been going on for weeks, and weeks, and I’m surprised he has not been freaking out.

Lorenzo is so cool, calm, and confident under pressure, it blows my mind.

“Just a few hours,” he says, as he hits a switch, and the jet steps drop. “I need to control the mess, enough is enough.”

As we exit the plane, our eyes meet. Lorenzo calmly adjusts his Ray Bans, and he looks impeccable in his navy-blue suit. I can tell he is going into work mode, and his soft gentle side is retracting, his serious and colder side is taking back over.

We slide into the production Escalade, and we head towards the sets. Lorenzo says little, likely getting in the zone, remembering the budget, schedule, script, production reports and problems. He has his copy of the movie script on his lap, and a sleek file.

Rolling hills, and fields continue as far as the eye can see, and it is stunning. In saying that, we are here to do business. I suspect, the movie crew will know, if people fly in to investigate why things are so messed up, there will be consequences.

I feel more nervous than excited, as we drive past crew who rig lights and cranes, work on sets, and put lenses on cameras.

The driver is heading in fast, and hard, I feel like a complete outsider.

Lorenzo is providing almost all of the movie finance, and he told me on the jet, he has a full right to know what is going on.

He also explained, there is a good chance we’d be kept in the dark, and that people would be covering their butts, and the butts of their co-workers.

The only other party involved in financing the movie, is a silent entertainment bank, and that deal was handled by Lorenzo. In effect, this is Lorenzo’s movie, and his power sits above the director, producer, and everyone. He basically calls the shots, and he can fire anyone and anytime.

Finally, we pull up to the main sound stage, car parks and production offices.

As I realize the scale of the epic drama, I gulp. It’s absolutely massive, and it looks like three movie units, or crews, are shooting at the same time, both indoors and out.

We share a look, and Lorenzo is cold, completely in the zone. He kisses my hand and winks. “Relax baby, this is what I do.”

“Really?” I ask anxious.

“Every day. What do you think I do, when I’m not drizzling, then licking honey off your tight ass?”

I blush, try not to smile and climb out.

Minutes later, we receive drinks, and we are walked around the busy movie studio complex. I tag along silently, and I have not been on any kind of movie set before. Not even a TV set.

Lorenzo explains some detail to me, as he and the producer, plus another man with files lead the way. It is kind of cool, but it is a heck of a big production. People in wardrobe walk by fast, and others with radios, horses, cases of lenses and cameras on their shoulders.

Lights, cameras, tracks and cranes are everywhere, and in the distance a chopper flies low, filming horses charging alongside a forest.

I spin in a three sixty, and my jaw drops. What the actual hell.

Lorenzo calmly leads me to director’s chairs, and cameras shooting a different scene. Finally, the crew shoot another take, and the clapper board claps loud.

After the crew get some perfect takes, I watch them set up the next shot. The actors prepare their lines, and clapper loaders, gaffers, and grips move fast. The make-up is also perfected, and old-fashioned hair adjusted.

Lorenzo listens to people, in the distance, and at times he talks low.

It looks like, he is in and out of short fast standing discussions with various crew, and he looks cold.

Even fierce.

He is fully back in business mode, and his jaw looks tense, his energy hard. After the next shot, he joins me, and his eyes scan, taking everything in.

Lorenzo and I watch the crew shoot for the rest of the morning, I think he’s trying to ascertain what the current issues really are. And why the heck the movie is shooting so slow.

He has already explained, the recent heavy rains, and the lost shoot days because of the rain, the distracted stars, and special effects problems.

Also, that a lead actor has been demanding, and even expecting late script adjustments.

Lorenzo mentions a rumor, that the director is some kind of hotshot. But to make the movie his style, he is often slow in getting the scenes perfect.

Lorenzo walks on set between shots, and he subtly asks crew members, like the cinematographer, and art director, what they think the schedule issues are.

He is gentle, and I’m amazed how much he seems to know, about making movies. I just thought he read screenplays and met with bankers.

The guy is actually a film maker who has done well. Really well.

Finally, Lorenzo heads off to meet some of the production team that are now fully available.

I stretch, and walk to the next set, where they are filming outside a colonial style house and barn.

As I sit quietly in one of the director’s chairs lined up, I watch another scene being filmed.

This scene is grand, with carts, horses and extras.

The lighting is stunning, and they are imitating a sunrise feel.

I watch the crew and cast set up and shoot, and they move with flow and speed. I now understand, bad weather, problematic actresses partying, or complex sets with water can mess things up, but watching now, something seems off.

I don’t know what else is causing the movie to shoot slow, but as I sit and watch, I start to see some of the crew move lethargically.

They look down, and some even look exhausted. Moral looks at a low, and that is kind of weird. The big movie they’re shooting sounds kind of cool, and I love the idea of the storyline.

The two stars look great together, and the huge sets and locations are stunning. It should work as a movie, but at what cost, and how much risk to Lorenzo?

I notice a couple of older angry-looking production crew members walking around and handing out call sheets.

They seem to boss some of the onset crew around, and kind of without respect. They are two tough old timers, and they look totally over it.

I watch carefully, and finally they leave. Some of the onset crew visibly sigh and relax. I think little of it, but I then overhear comments. From the onset gaffer and camera team.

They sound pissed, and I try to listen more closely.

No one on this set, has any idea I’m with Lorenzo, and I stretch and try to stand closer. As the crew work, many of them seem pissed with the two ‘old bastards’ running the shoot, and creating such negative energy.

I walk on, head down, but my eyes are peeled, and I listen, and watch. An hour later, Lorenzo and I pass in a studio, and I pull him aside. I ask him to step outside the studio, and he looks stressed.

Finally, he comes out, and I look at him, as I cross my arms. “Did you find much out?”

Lorenzo shakes his head, “I have a fair idea of the technical problems, but I do not know why the crew is shooting so slow. I’m pissed, and something is off. Most crews, shoot more script pages per day, and even on a drama like this. Something is wrong.”

“Well, I have an idea.”

Lorenzo raises a rare grumpy brow. “Speak.”