Page 24 of Tipping Point

I look at my hand, flipping it over.

It’s steady.

5

Chapter 5

CAMILLE

We film through two wet days in Shanghai and Irish apparently drives like a rockstar. He places tenth again. Eleventh at Barcelona, the race after that, just missing a point. Barcelona is rough filming. Both Rafael “Rafa” Navarro, who drives for Skorost, and Alejandro Torres, who drives for Russell, hail from Spain, and we spend two days back-to-back filming them at their luxury homes. Casey’s eyes nearly pop out of her head when we film Rafa’s girlfriend’s walk-in closet. She practically drools all over the Birkin bag collection and has to excuse herself.

We’re still on schedule, but barely. All of us are tired, stressed, and overworked.

After I send the Shanghai footage to WebFlix Max, we have another long video meeting.

Dixon is happy to proceed, approving of my plan.

“I see what she means.” His delayed voice comes through the microphone. His image freezes, and there are a couple of seconds of quiet before the deep timbre of his voice continues. “Initially, I understood your concerns, but she’s focusing heavily on the human aspect of the drivers and their lives, the pit crew and the spectators. By making an episode for each team that covers the year from their perspective, the nuances will be brought to the forefront. The public will see what it takes to survive in this industry, the stakes involved.”

Mr Higher Up still isn’t sure, but he promises me another three races before he makes up his mind. In the meantime, I have to upload all the footage to an online server where the WebFlix Max social media managers can start getting their hands on promo footage.

I make Jay and Evan do it.

We’re in Monaco now, and we have five days before the next race. It’s a short breather, but one we’re all grateful for.

We plan to spend it lounging around the pool area of the Magnifique Hôtel Monaco, but I get an email confirmation from Rheese Knox’s agent that he will allow us to film at his house, right here in Monaco. He will be our first top-ten driver and I’m eager to get him on film. He had to concede another foul to a fellow driver in Barcelona and he is all over the media trying to convince the public that the stewards have it in for him. Rheese Knox doesn’t like not having his way.

I notify everyone on the group chat.

CAMILLE (12:18) Knox is a go for Friday. I’ll send out the call sheet ASAP.

CASEY (12:21) Rheese Knox?

JAY (12:22)*Crying Emoji* You said no filming this week until race day.

EVAN (12:24) *Thumbs down emoji*

The sound tech sends a GIF of a toddler throwing a tantrum.

CAMILLE (12:26) I know guys, I’m sorry. Drinks on me Friday night!

I smile. They’ll rally. I spend the rest of the afternoon drawing up the call sheet, booking our group bus, and working through Rheese’s agent’s long list of dos and don’ts for filming at his villa.

I’m the first one ready and waiting in the lobby on Friday morning. I’m wearing a plain white sundress. The Magnifique Hôtel Monaco did not appreciate my casual style and had gracefully pointed out their dress code. It had shamed me into a full shaving regimen and eyebrow plucking, and I spent last night straightening the curls, which now lay soft and glossy and straight halfway down my back. I have the claw clip in my backpack, just in case.

Casey arrives first. She’s always in a good mood. She’s wearing a large satin shirt only, very short and slightly see through. Her red hair is piled up into a carefully arranged messy bun and she eyes my straight hair enviously. She’s wearing large gold earrings and strappy stilettos.

“Where’s your makeup kit?”

She blinks at me, surprised.

Before she answers, the sound tech slash lighting tech arrives with his heavy kit bag over one shoulder and Casey’s makeup kit in his hand.

I give her a grin and she grins back.

I’ll have to talk to her about mixing business and pleasure. It was a hard lesson to learn for me, and there is no reality in which it works out.

Evan and Jay pitch up afterwards with the heavy cases on wheels containing their cameras and the van pulls up shortly after that.