Cold rushed through Angelica. She nearly froze on the spot. She’d never expected to be called out on this. She’d been short and avoidant and dismissive, but she hadn’t been downright mean. Angelica took her time, sitting in one of the chairs to gather herself for the argument that she hadn’t been planning on having.
“You’re not just a costar of this show, Ange. You’re a producer. And if you don’t start treating her better, then you’re going to have a problem with production. This isn’t like you.” Logan stretched his legs out in front of him, like he was just getting off that plane instead of having done it hours ago.
“I know.” Angelica frowned. “I just don’t like her.”
“I don’t honestly care if you don’t like her. She’s the showrunner, and you need to learn to work with her. I trust she’s not pulling the same bullshit as Josef?” Logan looked at her directly, as if he was seeking an honest answer from her, one where she could definitively say one way or another if anyone was being mistreated.
“No, she’s not.”
“In fact, I’ve heard reports that the vast majority of the crew are loving working with her. So far, you’re the only one who’s having an issue.”
Angelica breathed slowly, feeling this scolding to her core. She knew better than to behave the way she was, but jealousy had gotten the better of her and without a direct answer from Hope about where their relationship stood, she hadn’t been sure what she was looking at when it came to Florence. “You’re right.”
“I’m… right?” Logan frowned at her. “You don’t often admit you’re wrong.”
“I don’t. So take it while you can.” Angelica uncrossed and crossed her legs again, working on getting rid of the nervous and uncomfortable energy that pushed its way through her.
Logan shook his head at her. “I will.” He then sighed heavily. “That was thesmallproblem we have to deal with.”
“Josef?” Angelica guessed, already knowing that once again that man was wheedling his way into her life whether she wanted him to be there or not and he was the reason she was having so much damn difficulty.
Logan nodded dejectedly. “Yes, Josef, or rather the shit he’s pulling. I don’t know if you’ve looked outside?—”
“I know it’s bad. Eva’s picked up on it, and they were asking her about Hope and me.” Angelica sighed. “Rex spoke with Florence about putting some extra security in place for the children on set, because they really do deserve that protection.”
“So do you and Hope.” Logan crossed his arms and pointed his toes. “But the news and the media are taking this by storm. It’s gone through the roof in terms of questions, speculations, all the drama that comes with this sort of thing.”
Angelica swallowed the lump that instantly formed in her throat. “So what do you want to do about it?”
Florence came into the room, that same sorrowful and scolding look on her face as was there almost every time Angelica had seen her. “You have to tell them.”
“I…” Angelica panicked. Her heart raced, her entire body went clammy. “I don’t want to.”
“You and Hope coming out with this information is going to put an end to all of the questions and wondering. It means that we own the information,” Florence argued.
“No, it doesn’t. It means that we were coerced by Josef to reveal things we don’t want revealed. He’s still the one in control of everything.” The fear was nearly too much. Angelica wanted toretreat back to her room and hide away so that no one could find her. She needed this.
“You’re not wrong.” Florence sighed heavily, and Angelica could finally see the weight that this was putting on her, the burden of holding everything together. “But when you and Hope come out with it, then we’ll be in control.”
“You really don’t have a choice anymore, Ange. We gave you as much time as we possibly could.” Logan looked at her squarely, that sad expression on his face that told her he wasn’t exactly happy about this situation either.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” they both said at the same time.
Logan added, “We don’t know what else he has in store for this. But if you two can take whatever he throws at us and talk about those moments like a couple, then it won’t come off as bad or detrimental, just two people in love and trying to figure out life before the whole world was watching them.”
“I don’t like this,” Angelica said.
“We knew you wouldn’t.” Florence stayed steady, not moving to offer physical comfort or even a comforting word beyond that, something Angelica was eternally grateful for. She wasn’t sure that she’d be able to manage it if that was offered. “But it must be done.”
“It must,” Logan reiterated, as if Angelica hadn’t understood that fact from the beginning.
“I need to talk to Hope.”
“We thought you might.” Logan stood up and walked out of the room.
Florence took another minute or two, seemingly hesitating before she walked out of the room and shut the door behind her. The silence was exactly what she needed—it covered Angelica in a blanket of comfort and peace. The world out there wasspinning out of control, but in here she had what little control remained in her grasp.
