CIRCO

by Tara Ellis

  It was a week and a half later. Britney was in Hollywood walking through the Dead Eye Entertainment studio lot. It was like she was in disguise, little makeup, oversized sunglasses, big floppy hat, flat shoes with a basic women’s dress suit; that was her idea of blending in.

  The circus was still burning after Denver. The media became a living nightmare. Press and paparazzi were in everyone’s face. It didn’t matter what your job was in that business, even the cleanup staff were being bombarded to get information. All media outlets told the same story of what happened that night but in different variations. El Circo De Fantasias was stripped of its family friendly image and treated as the cesspool of entertainment.

  Britney walked into the main building. Eyes were on her. Damn near everyone watched her. She didn’t ask for directions, appearing as if she knew where she was going. She kept on her way. The head producers needed to have a chat with her.

  When stepping on an elevator a man walked off jutting his eyes. She acted like she didn’t notice or maybe she really didn’t care. Men and their eyes, always tracing her form. Britney was used to having looks out of desire and resentment, now it was repulsion.

  She had so many people to blame for why this was. But deep under all those curves she knew Denver was her fault. Maybe not all, but a good portion was. When someone knows that they truly messed up big time, regret becomes insufferable. Britney wondered why she tried to take on the responsibility of three people. She wondered why she allowed Vanessa to be back on the scene. She kept on wondering why she didn’t listen to Regina. She wondered about every little detail that attributed to Denver being a disaster. Her guilty thoughts manifested themselves into ghosts that haunted her ever since.

  She came up to the entrance of the producer’s boardroom. She checked her watch; fifteen minutes early. As Britney waited standing by the double doors they were cracked open. John Hampton’s head popped out. “Oh, Hi there,” he said. “I believe this is the first time we met. I have to say I’m just the biggest fan of yours.” Britney didn’t want to smile, but she did anyway in the name of politeness. He opened the door wider for Britney. “We have lots to discuss.”

  Britney was a little hesitant. “I think it would be best if I waited for Artemis.”

  “Young lady last time I checked Artemis is laying in a hospital bed damn near dead. He’s not coming here.” He said that in a joyous tone. Like thinking about it stirred happiness in him.

  “We talked on the phone. He will be coming here.”

  “Oh you spoke with him; I can’t get him to answer my phone calls.”

  “I didn’t speak with him. I talked to his wife. She told me that he was coming.”

  “Really?” Hamptons smile grew even further. “Then he must truly be a fool. Putting his life on the line.” Britney’s frustration was increasing; showing anger would only escalate the problem, so she swallowed it. “Well if he shows up or not. We’s havin a discussion in here, a discussion that pertains an awful lot about you.” He walked back further in the room, followed by Britney who shut the door behind herself. That choice developed instant regret as she saw across the table the descendants from Porky the pig.

  John Hampton overfilled his seat as he sat down. “Pull out a chair Miss Moore.” She did. “Now tell us what went wrong that night.”

  “Weren’t you paying attention to the news?”

  “Of course,” he smiled again. Hampton had this intimidating way of smiling that made people feel small. “But I would like to hear it directly from the source.”

  “I gave the wrong person an opportunity. An opportunity they took advantage of.”

  The other two men in the room besides Hampton focused on Britney sternly.

  “Really that simple huh,” said Hampton. “Now this Vanessa Medina you hired into the company, were you aware that she was a minor.”

  “No.”

  “From word I was getting she was originally let go of the company at first as a theater technician. And then you rehired her as some sort of clown.”

  “Yes this is true. If this is going to be a game of twenty questions I’m not in the mood for it. The police have already went through this with me.”

  “We aren’t the police Miss Moore. We are your bosses. This isn’t a game but if you don’t abide by us well… well finding work will be tough. Don’t make us become the enemy.”

  Britney swallowed hard, the tears wanted to leave too, but she gave them no permission.

  “So from the result of that night who are all the employees that have been dealt with?”

  “If I know what you mean, who has been let go?.. I’ve made the decision to terminate our talent Joyce, Andre and an animal trainer because they engaged in violent behavior.”

  “Really, but Joyce is a profitable rising star. And there is some money you could still squeeze out of Andre. Together as a Hollywood couple we were making bank.”

  “I took the actions found necessary to protect the brand sir.”

  “If that were true you would have fired Scarlet as well.”

  “I wanted to. But she has a personal relationship with Artemis. So I decided to place her in suspension. I will let him deal with her.”

  Hampton cocked his head to the side saying “Seems fair.” He went on with another question. “Was there any others?”

  “I decided to let go one of our head technicians after they directly disobeyed me that night.”

  “mmm okay. So we understand that you decided not to air the footage. Resulting the airing of a rerun. I hope you are aware that decision cost us some money with the network. Because they lost viewers and that dragged other programs down. It’s a long explanation but we had to make it up to them, so someone is going to make it up to us. Now how you think we are going to get that back?”

  Britney was becoming more aggressive, showing more emotion. “Everything was my fault. Is that you want to hear?”

  “Well it does make everything easier, but it doesn’t answer all my questions.”

  “I invested myself in that night.”

  “I’m sure you did Miss Moore. Despite the flaws you do have the right mentality. The captain always goes down with his ship. Well in your case the co-captain.”

  Britney was ready to leave. Being treated like a child was enough for her to quit and never look back. It would have happened if Artemis didn’t come crutching through the door. That sight staggered everyone. Britney’s first impulse was to reach out for a hug, but he looked fragile. Seeming twenty years older and fifteen pounds lighter.

  The Ringmaster took a seat right next to Britney. The room was quiet until Artemis spoke. “Well is everyone going to be slack jawed or we going to do business.”

  The smile on Hampton’s face came back. “Lets. Lets. But first off I gotta commend you. Most people would be taking their leave but you’re here still with us.”

  Artemis wasn’t appeased by that comment. “Quit your half assed compliments.” Hampton’s smile regressed after that retort. “We are going to package up the footage and air the night in Denver.”

  “That move requires a lot of balls Artemis.”

  “And I have them.”

  “But what will that accomplish?”

  “It will give us the illusion that we were in control that night.”

  “How so?”

  “By making it seem like it was all an act.”

  “An act? That is the big solution? The public knows everything about what happened.”

  “Going on what I seen the television put out, the public has a vague understanding of what transpired. None of our people sent out a statement. Not a single word was dropped to the media or public.”

  Britney interjected by saying “He is right. Our performers and staff are contractually mum about our inner core. Not e
ven a Facebook post or a twitter mention was made.”

  “All the media has against us is the bootleg footage and the opinion of the audience.”

  Hampton’s tone was increasing in hostility “So you want to look like you’re in control Artemis, when you were clearly not? That is just pride at its worst.”

  “It’s not pride it’s business. We’ve already lost one-third of our sponsors. This is the best to keep our money from dwindling.”

  “By telling an obvious lie to the world.”

  “By telling them a story!” There was a pause in the room as Artemis seemed to be getting agitations from his chest.

  “Despite the negative attention as of lately we are still booked for the white house. That gem alone will give us more valuable credibility.”

  “That may be true Artemis… But the public can always sense a lie. A lie you want to hold that boosts your ego.”

  “It’s not a lie because I’m in control damn it!” He stood out of the chair while holding his chest.

  “Settle down Artemis,” said Hampton.

  “Don’t tell me what to do. This company would’ve never been to where it has without me! Because of me you made billions!” The angrier Artemis became the more he crippled in front of them. “I know what I’m doing! Because of me The Ringling Brothers went out of business! Without my format Cirque de Solei would not be around! And you question me? I am the greatest entertainer that has ever walked the Earth! Shakespeare could have never done this shit! ”

  Hampton twiddled the pencil in his hand and bit his lip.

  “Do you have any more questions, Mr. Hampton?”

  The attitude regressed considerably, talking under his breath Hampton said “No sir there is not.”

  “This meeting is over.”

  Artemis and Britney walked out of that room together. She assisted him as they were heading out of the building. There was a small conflict within Britney to do what was best for herself and to stick to what she knows. Deciding to remain loyal to a deteriorating leader was going to be a real test for her.

  Medina