I couldn't sleep thinking of the idea that occurred to me after I told Maria about my dilemma.

Giving up on the hope for a restful slumber, I got up at four in the morning and went downstairs.

I made breakfast for the three of us—sunny side up eggs, extra crispy maple bacon, toast and of course, garlic fried rice.

It was Maria's favorite.

When she went to the kitchen, she was surprised to see me in my sweats and white cotton tops over a red apron holding a turner and about to put the plate of bacon on the table.

"You're awake." I smiled and walk over to kiss her lips.

She smelled of sweet dreams and new beginnings.

I took a deep breath and inhaled the relaxing scent of lavender that always reminds me of home—with her and Henry.

"Bakit ikaw ang nagluluto?" She took the plate from me and placed it on the middle of the table.

Coffee is ready so she opened one of the oak cupboards and took out two mugs.

"I couldn't sleep." I turned off the stove then walked over to the sink to wash my hands.

Maria was already closing the fridge door holding a big pitcher of orange juice.

She had her back turned and I waited till she wasn't holding the glass pitcher before I wrapped her in my arms.

Maria squeezed my hands then look up.

Her eyes were warm and kind.

"Good mood ka yata today?" She smiled.

"You are my lifesaver." I kissed the tip of her nose.

"Bakit? Ano naman ang ginawa ko?"

"When we were talking about my problem with Eugenie, you were right when you said that I can either give up on this project or do something about it."

"Anong plano mong gawin?"

"I'm going to ask for a rewrite of the script."

If Maria was shocked, Mommy Chato was perflexed.

I went to her office once I got to RGF.

She just got off the phone and motioned with one finger for me to sit down.

"What brings you here so early, Kyle?"

It was only 7:15 am.

She can come in anytime she wants but for the past forty years or so has been coming in early by choice.

"I know what to do with the movie."

A smile was about to form on her lips but I held up both hands to stop her.

"Before you heaped praises on how much of a genius I am, hear me out first."

"Why do I suddenly feel nervous?" She leaned on her chair.

"I know what to do with Eugenie's lack of acting skills."

"More workshops?" She said it with such uncertainty it almost made me laugh.

I shook my head.

"A rewrite and a reshoot."

"What?" She asked, wide eyed.

"Mommy, I know it's going to be expensive but this will save us a lot of headaches and possible embarrassment."

"What exactly is your plan for the movie?"

"Instead of Agent Alice being a sexy suspense thriller, why don't we make it a spy action comedy with a little bit of sexy on the side?"

The gaps in her eyebrows narrowed.

"Think of that Rowan Atkinson movie."

No reaction.

"Mr. Bean?"

Her face finally showed signs of recognition.

"He had this movie called Johnny English and based on what I learned about Eugenie in the few short months na nakilala ko siya, she can be very funny. Like acerbic and dry humored."

"This way, she didn't even have to try so hard. She can just be herself, do the action scenes because she's fit and the sexy part will come naturally too."

A smile escaped her lips.

I glared at her.

"Why are you giving me that look?" She said in a defensive tone.

"Why that smile when I said the word sexy?"

"How do you do it?"

"How do I do what?"

"Deal with Eugenie and not be tempted to do anything stupid."

Ah.

So this is where the conversation is leading to.

"A," I raised my forefinger, "because I'm not stupid and B," I raised my middle finger, "because I'm not attracted to her like most of the people here."

Mommy Chato smiled.

"Maria is really lucky to have you."

"No, Mommy. I am the one who's lucky to have Maria."

She craned her neck, waiting for an explanation.

"She trusts me. If she was some other woman, baka hindi iyon pumayag na gawin ko ang movie na 'to. But since she knows that I'm not into Eugenie like what most people assumed, hindi siya nakikialam when it comes to my work."

"Why is that, Kyle? The two of you are night and day. What makes your relationship click?"

"I don't know, Mommy. It's not easy to explain."

"Well whatever it is, I'm glad to know that despite Eugenie's oozing charm and obvious attraction to you, masaya ako na hindi ka gagawa ng kalokohan. Maria did a lot of good to you. I'm not going to let you break that good woman's heart."

I left her office in high spirits.

But my walk on cloud nine was short.

I called for a quick meeting with the writing staff, firing the guy who originally wrote the script.

They were all in shocked when I gave them a week to rewrite Agent Alice.

There were three of them, mostly men.

I have to remedy that.

There are female writers at RGF but I wanted someone from the outside.

Someone who will bring fresh ideas to the table.

Dialing Neri's number, I asked for the contact numbers of the two female freelance writers of SRP.

Afterwards, ako mismo ang tumawag sa kanila.

They put down what they were doing when I asked them to come down to RGF for a job.

I will pay them double.

Just don't tell anyone.

The next thing to do was to call a meeting with the rest of the production crew.

It was short and quick.

I told them that the shooting was postponed for two weeks.

At babayaran sila just in case their worried.

For the meantime, kung gusto nilang magbakasyon or magsideline sa ibang shows, it's fine with me.

Isa lang ang hiling ko, for them to sign an NDA.

I don't want news of what's going on to leak.

I saved the best for last.

Speaking to Eugenie's manager, I asked for a meeting with her.

Sonny, a fat gay man with long black hair and a very big protruding belly who loves to wear red, was shocked to learn of the new development.

But after I explained why, he agreed.

"Dapag dagdagan mo ang talent fee ni Eugenie because of this inconvenience." I looked at him.

He wasn't joking.

"You know what? She's lucky she even gets to do this movie."

He was shocked with my blunt remark.

At eleven o' clock, Eugenie arrived at RGF looking elegant in a black and white ensemble.

She was even taller in her black Jimmy Choo high heels.

Eugenie kissed me on both cheeks before sitting down.

I inhaled the faint scent of her sweet perfume.

The one that sticks to whatever part of your brain is responsible for scents and memory.

"Why the sudden meeting?" She asked in that sexy and lilting accent of hers that always reminds me of Pepe Le Pew.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush, Eugenie, but we are going to do a reshoot of the movie."

Her eyebrows furrowed.

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." I lied.

"Bullshit! You wouldn't call for an urgent meeting if everything's okay."

Good point.

"There are things that needed to be fixed."

I was trying my best to be diplomatic as possible.

But I have a feeling it wasn't working.

"Cut the shit, Kyle." Her cheeks were as red as her lipstick.

"Do you really want to know why?"

"Oui."

The truth is never easy.

But sometimes, it's the only way out of a difficult situation.

Eugenie's eyes were steadfast and looking directly at me.

They were light like jade.

"You don't know how to act."

There.

I said it.

The color of her eyes changed to moss.

I prepared myself for what was to come next.

"You're an asshole." She stood up, grabbing the white Chanel handbag with the gold chain.

"You wanted the truth didn't you?"

Eugenie bit her lip to stop it from quivering.

"If you think I don't know how to act, then I am not making this movie."

She stormed out of the room and slammed the door for good measure.