Had the rumors already started? Even if they had, she needed to handle Cole’s attitude first. He was already making this shoot difficult, and they hadn’t even been here a week. The cast and crew discussing her personal life, no matter how upsetting for Anna, wasn’t as important as finding a way to work with her director of photography.

“Please say whatever it is you need to say.” Anna tensed, waiting for the illicit insinuation to become graphic accusation.

Cole huffed. “You run this set like it’s a day care.”

Oh, this. Regardless of how poorly described, she had dealt with this before. Anna took a deep breath. “How I run this set is of no concern to you.”

Cole rolled his eyes with an exaggerated sigh. Anna wondered what would happen to her career if she engaged in such childish behavior.

Cole continued. “You’ve allowed input from every crew member, even that girl, the PA.”

“Sofia, yes.”

“You’ve permitted the actors to change lines.” Cole narrowed his eyes. “You’ve spent more time with the AD than anyone would think is normal.”

“Nothing about this job requires me to justify my actions to you, especially if they don’t involve your department.”

“You wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for your ex-husband.”

“Excuse me?” Apart from the ridiculousness of Tom being involved in this production, she would never take a job from him.

“You wouldn’t have a career if it weren’t for your marriage. Some of us got here on talent.”

Oh, one of those. It was refreshing to have someone just say it to her face. She had been the recipient of smug smiles and hushed conversations regarding her start since the beginning of her relationship with Tom. She could recount her early successes. She could remind him that she always came in on schedule and on budget. She could tell him that Tom had pursued her relentlessly for months, rather than the opposite, which the entire industry assumed. None of it mattered.

“We’re behind because of your delays, not my work as the director.”

“Everything was fine before you got here.”

“Clearly, it wasn’t, considering they hired me and completely rewrote the script. I’m happy to discuss any questions or issues you have regarding your job on this shoot, but I don’t have the time or interest to explain myself to you.”

Anna walked away from a stunned Cole. She shook it off. She’d been directly challenged before, and she would continue to deliver the message until it was heard.

“Did you say something about blood?” Anna asked John.

“You okay?” John asked, watching Cole stomp off to the commissary.