“We’ll start with management today. That’s you.”
“Right.” Colm put his trembling hands on the table top. “What am I doing wrong?”
That sounded so contrite, as if no one in their right mind would actually say that. And no one probably would, at least not in that way. But Colm had a similar script to Angelica’s, andshe suspected they were both just going through the motions of getting this done.
“You need to set structure and boundaries with your employees. The more they know about what’s happening and the consequences of not doing their jobs, then the easier it’ll be on them to do their jobs and you to hold them accountable. There’s slight room for flexibility, of course, but we can’t have too much room for it.” Angelica frowned at her iPad screen and the words on it. She sounded like an absolute idiot when she said these things.
She looked to Rex, hoping that he’d push something out of the way to make this better than what was currently happening, but nothing was said.
“I…” Angelica said the single word and then stopped. She shook her head and tried again. “I need you to…” She closed her lips. She looked up at Colm and then to Rex, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t do this.”
Standing up sharply, Angelica left her iPad on the table and walked out of the room.
“Ange!” Rex called after her.
She ignored him.
“Ange!” Rex yelled again.
She took another step before Rex grabbed her and spun her around. He stepped back, making sure there was still space between them and put his hands up to let her know he wasn’t going to touch her again, but that didn’t really stop the anger from roiling up in her belly and chest.
“What the hell?” Angelica nearly screamed.
“Where are you going?” Rex asked.
“I don’t know.” Angelica shook her head, crossed her arms, and planted her feet. Ideally, she was going anywhere that was away from that room and away from the ridiculousness of this show. Because she couldn’t handle it.
“Ange…” Rex sighed heavily. He stepped forward, hands out to his sides before he planted them on Angelica’s upper arms and pulled her in.
And she let him.
She found herself pressed against Rex’s chest, wrapped in his warm embrace, and she didn’t feel the need to pull away. Instead, she stayed right there—tense but still—and breathed in his scent. She closed her eyes, letting the emotions of the last few hours wash through and consume her for just a brief second. And then she relaxed.
Angelica pulled away, stepping back. She lifted her chin to stare up at him, eye to eye. “What was that for?” she asked.
“Thought you might need it.” Rex shrugged. “What’s upsetting you more? The text fromthe Doucheor the script?”
Angelica pursed her lips, not sure she wanted to answer that question. She’d instantly found the calm that she’d been searching for earlier, and all it had taken was a moment of compassion from Rex. Not something she would have ever put money on before.
“I’m not new when it comes to management, Rex. I’ve been in middle management the majority of my career. Now I’m an owner. I know what the hell I’m doing when it comes to running a hotel.” Angelica ground her molars together.
“You do.” Rex nodded in agreement.
“So why does she get off thinking that I don’t know what the hell is going on?” Angelica tightened her grip on her arms, closing in on herself even more than before.
Rex just raised an eyebrow at her, as if he’d been waiting for this outburst to finally happen.
“I’m not stupid. I’m not some woman who can be pushed around, and I’m not someone who needs to be micromanaged to the point that there is no point!” Her words were sharp, and they hit hard as she spat them out.
“You’re not,” Rex agreed again. “You’re more than capable of doing this job.”
“I’m sick and tired of showrunners treating me like I’m their plaything to move around the screen and do exactly whattheywant me to do.” Angelica’s breathing was heavy, and the list of accusations and offenses that she wanted to lob in his direction was so long. But it wasn’t because Rex had done anything wrong—well he had, but he wasn’t part of what she wanted to yell about. Not today at least. “Why can’t everyone just leave me alone to do what I want to do!”
“What do you want to do?” Rex asked.
“I don’t know.” Angelica threw her hands in the air. “I want to scream. I want to go home. I want to…” She stopped sharply. She wanted Josef to be gone and done with her, for him to leave her alone so that she never had to deal with him again, but she also knew that would never happen. He was out to get her, and he was out to make her life a living hell no matter what.
And why?
