The Perfect Christmas by Kate Forster

gaze and looking him in the eye.
    ‘You’re braver than you look,’ he said, leaning back in his chair.
    ‘You don’t intimidate me,’ lied Zoe with a smile.
    Jeff narrowed his eyes at her for a moment, ‘Good for you. Most people shit themselves when they meet me,’ he said, almost proudly.
    ‘Should I be impressed or concerned for them?’ She asked.
    Jeff’s expression changed and he smiled a little. ‘Greene, listen to me, I have to have this book. I can make the movie a huge hit.’
    ‘So can Harvey, Brian and David,’ she said, listing the three other top studio heads, who had all offered her meetings since word had spread that she had Hugh Cavell in her managerial stable.
    ‘Yeah, but why would you work with those morons? My studio will make the best picture, you know it and I know it, so stop playing games. What does this guy want? Money? A shot at writing the script? Casting approval?’
    Zoe sat back in the leather seat and crossed her legs. ‘Yes, he wants all of those things, and the other studios have already offered them.’
    ‘So what the fuck else does he want then?’ Jeff looked impatiently at his Breitling watch.
    Zoe paused for effect. She might not be an actor, but she knew how to play the role.
    ‘Actually, Hugh wants me as the lead EP on the film,’ she said. ‘He doesn’t trust anyone to produce it, unless I’m involved.’
    ‘
What
?’ Jeff recoiled as if she had just announced she was pregnant with his child.
    ‘You heard me,’ she said calmly.
    A passing waiter placed two flutes of champagne in front of them, but Jeff pushed his away.
    ‘Scotch, neat,’ he snarled at the waiter, who retreated as though stung.
    Zoe, glad for the distraction, picked up her glass and took a sip, trying to not let her hand shake.
Show him nothing
, she reminded herself,
not how much you want it, and certainly not how much you care.
    Jeff looked Zoe up and down dismissively.
    ‘Come on, Greene. Get real. You’re a fucking talent manager not an executive producer. ’
    ‘Yes, I am.’ Zoe wasn’t insulted. She represented some of the biggest stars in town and could pull a deal together faster than any of her peers. She knew her own worth. ‘But that’s about to change.’
    ‘You’ve got no runs on the board,’ he said. ‘What else can you bring to this besides the author?’
    ‘My expertise, my people skills, my industry knowledge, I’m good at what I do.’
    Jeff rolled his eyes. ‘You and everyone else in this room,’ he scoffed.
    Zoe sipped more champagne and felt the amber liquid roll down her throat, hoping it would be an elixir of courage. ‘It’s simple, Jeff. The book comes with me attached as EP, that’s what Hugh and I have agreed, so don’t even
think
about going over my head. We have a contract even you couldn’t pull apart.’
    Jeff was silent. Zoe pushed her chair back and stood up.
    ‘Think about it and call my office tomorrow if you’re interested, my assistant Paul will patch you through to my cell,’ she said, and made to walk away from the table.
    ‘Sit down and don’t make a scene,’ he snapped and again, she did as he asked.
    There was silence, each one holding their cards close to their chests.
    ‘So you want to make movies, huh?’ Jeff asked finally. ‘Not many women make it in this business. Do you think you can handle it?’
    ‘Don’t patronise me because I’m a woman,’ she said politely. ‘I can do any job as well as a man.’
    ‘I’m not. I don’t care what’s between your legs,’ he laughed. ‘I want to know you can handle the bullshit and the drama when your leading stars hate each other and I’m screaming at you on the phone and the directors losing the plot and you haven’t slept in a week.’
    Zoe smiled, ‘My film wouldn’t be like that,’ she stated.
    ‘Oh really?’ Jeff smiled now, and he stared at her for a long time. ‘Why’s that?’
    ‘Because I would make sure everything was sorted before we got to set,’