All of Me

3. Chapter Three - Smithereens-1

3

Chapter Three - Smithereens

One month later…

The press junket for her latest movie to be released had been long and arduous, but finally it was coming to an end. The last interviews were in New York at a Manhattan hotel, and Tiger found being interviewed in a small hotel room uncomfortable and trying, especially when she was asked the same questions over and over.

Thankfully, for the last interviews, she would be paired with her costar Teddy Hood. Teddy was going through a painful divorce, but he’d still stayed professional and cheerful throughout, doing his job, fulfilling his contract despite his woes. He confided to Tiger after each day that his smile felt false, that he felt as if he were playing a role, but hey, he said, “That’s what I’m paid to do.”

“You can always talk to me, Teddy,” Tiger told him, kindly. “Anytime.”

For herself, Tiger was looking forward to getting home to Seattle to finally meet Nell. They hadn’t been able to make the meeting work before Tiger had to work, but this weekend was the time. She was nervous, but thanks to Apollo’s machinations, she and Nell had at least talked over Facetime a couple of times, albeit casually.

Tiger decided to call Apollo now, between interviews. She’d just finished with a creep from a British tabloid, Grant Waller, whom she had never liked. The way his eyes roamed over her body, the way he always, always, asked her about her underwear, for chrissakes. The film had been a comic book-based superhero movie, and Tiger played one of the main heroes, clad in a tight leather suit. She’d played the role a couple of times now, and each time, Waller had asked her about what she wore under the suit. Tiger had been gracious and humorous at first, but this time, she had snapped back at him.

“How about we talk about your underwear, Mr. Waller? You seem to have a fixation with it, after all.”

Grant Waller had smiled what he obviously thought was a charming smile, but it looked to Tiger like the grin of a snake. “I’m not the one on public show.”

“Public show? Funny, I thought I was fully dressed throughout. Tell me, Mr. Waller, have you a mother? A sister?”

His smile had faltered a little. “Yes, why?”

“How would you feel about someone continually asking about their underwear?” She fixed him with an ice-cold stare and felt victorious when he’d backed off and asked another question. The interview limped on for another few minutes before the studio rep had called time. She hadn’t bothered to shake Waller’s hand afterward. Asshole.

Tiger talked to the rep for a few minutes, then excused herself to the hotel corridor to make a call.

“Hey, sis.”

“Hey, loser. How’s it going?”

Apollo laughed. “Since you last asked about two hours ago? We’re doing good. We’ve got everything ready for your visit… or should I say, Nell has been tidying everything up fifty-five billion times because she’s scared.”

Tiger chuckled as she heard Nell in the background, protesting that Apollo was busting her. “Hey, tell Nell not to worry. When we’re all together, I’ll help her get her revenge on you.”

“I will not tell her that,” Apollo laughed, “Hey, listen, I—”

Tiger never knew what Apollo was about to say, because something, someone grabbed her from behind, and she dropped her phone. She was slammed full force into the wall of the corridor, and she felt hot breath on her ear. “f*****g stuck-up b***h,” Grant Waller growled, his hands burrowing under her skirt, “Let’s see how much of a w***e you really are…”

Tiger struggled with him, crying out before he clamped his hand over her mouth. No. No, this wasn’t going to happen…

But his strength was too much for her, and for the next few minutes, Tiger could only cry as Waller assaulted her. Only when he attempted to kiss her did she get an advantage, biting down on his bottom lip hard. She tasted blood as he screamed and pushed her away, slapping her around the face hard enough to knock her down. Tiger slumped to the ground as Waller walked away, wiping his mouth.

For a few long moments, all Tiger could hear was her own heavy breathing. She felt numb, shocked into incomprehension about what had just happened to her. Then, moving like an automaton, she stood shakily and straightened out her dress, her hair, wiped her mouth.

She checked her watch. Her final interview was happening right now. She walked to the designated room, barely acknowledging the studio reps or even Teddy, who shot her a concerned look as she sat down next to him.

“Hey, are you okay?”

Tiger looked at him blankly, not seeing him. The journalist was shown in and sat down and began to ask his questions. Somewhere inside her wrecked mind, Tiger knew she should be talking, but she couldn’t form the words, couldn’t understand plain English.

Suddenly Teddy stopped the interview and turned to her. “Seriously, this is off the record,” he added to the journalist, who was looking equally concerned. She nodded, her eyes on Tiger. Teddy held Tiger’s hands. “Tiger… honey, you’re not okay, are you?”

She stared blankly at him and the felt something wet drip onto her neck.

“Jesus, you’re bleeding…” Teddy looked at the reps, one of which quickly got on her cell phone to call for help.

Teddy pulled off his overshirt and pressed it to Tiger’s head. “Honey, what happened? What happened?”

Finally, the dam broke inside of her, and she spoke, only in a whisper, but to her it sounded like a scream. “No… no, I’m not alright… I’m not alright at all…”