Tina sat up stiffly and reset her sunglasses. The sunlight bouncing off of the pool waters went straight to her eyes, and it was causing her to tear up. “If I could point out rather salient issues, Gavin: I don’t carry the weight in the industry that you do, nor have enough resources to start an outfit …”

“You could take on a partner or two.”

Tina shook her head. “No… no… no. If I were to do something like this I’d want to be independent.”

“Independence only means you’d be dependent on other things, and other people anyway, like corporations who’d want to have their products featured in your films …”

“There are ways I can control those, if I were to have an independent outfit…” Tina retorted.

Gavin smiled a little. “Let me put this another way. I think we’re not that different, you and I. We both need to change course at this point in our careers. Or die. Creatively, I mean.”

Did he miss what I just said? I don’t have his clout. Tina shook her head. “I can live without changing…”

“So Gavin is giving you his pitch, huh?” A woman’s voice interrupted her.

They both turned to see who had joined them. Walking toward them was an Asian woman of medium height; slim build, long, straight black hair, wrap-around dark glasses.

Tina had never seen her before, even in photos, so she was probably not from the industry. She guessed that the woman could also be a friend of the owner of the mansion, vacationing here, judging by the trail of men following in her wake. One was the man who’d greeted Tina when she’d first arrived; he was now carrying what looked to be her beach bag and several beach towels rolled up and piled on top of each other. Behind him another man carried a tray of ice-cold water bottles arranged in a pyramid.

“Hi, Celine. Yes, you’re right. I’m giving Tina my spiel.” Gavin smiled at the woman.

“Started without me, I see.”   She gave him a fond smile. She sat on a chair opposite Tina’s, after turning to motion to the men trailing her to take her things to the table instead of the cabana several feet away. “Hello, I’m Celine.” She offered a manicured hand to Tina. “Tina,” the blonde shook the hand and smiled back.