Cold rushed through Hope. Her entire body went limp. She couldn’t feel her knees. She just stared up into Rex’s eyes, completely dumbfounded that he would—that he could?—
Instead of saying anything, she glanced down at her phone. Just like before, someone had Airdropped her a link to a media site, the one who had snagged hold of the security cam footage of her and Angelica kissing. She didn’t hesitate as she popped open the link.
The headline was enough to make her want to hurl.
Costars Hope Lawrence and Angelica Shields Start Illicit Affair While On Set
She tried to swallow the lump in her throat, but it only grew bigger by the second. She skimmed down to where Rex’s complaint was. In full. For the entire world to see if they wanted to. Accusations about Angelica’s ethics, her using power to persuade Hope into a relationship, her abusing authority to turn Hope against him.
Absolute horseshit.
She continued to scroll, her thumb barely touching the screen as she read quotes for people they’d worked with, hotels, and then people she didn’t even know. But then she stopped. Because Rex’s complaint wasn’t the only one in there.
Leanne.
God it’d been a hell of a long time since Hope had heard that name. Leanne also had a complaint or at least a letter written up, quotes pulled from it.
“This is Josef,” Hope said.
“Who else would it be?” Rex asked, taking the phone from her so she wouldn’t read any more of it.
“Why would he—I just don’t get it, Rex. Why is he so hell-bent on destroying her?”
Rex shook his head slowly. “I don’t know. I’ve been asking myself that same question.”
Hope rubbed her lips together and stared back at the dining room. “They all got this, didn’t they?”
“Yes.” Rex sighed heavily and then ran his fingers through his hair, tugging hard at the strands. “I’m so sorry, Hope. I didn’t ever think it’d get out, especially not after I withdrew it, and I didn’t know that he had it?—”
“He was the showrunner. He needed to be informed of these things.” Hope gave him a hard stare. He should have known better. She could see the point where he was angry and vindictive, but still, he should have known better. Because everything in that complaint he wrote was completely exaggerated. Still, it didn’t take the sting out of it, and that was absolutely something they’d need to work through.
But not today.
“I need to see Ange.”
“I told you, she’s in a meeting.” Florence stepped into the lobby with them, her hands on her hips and a sorrowful expression in her eyes.
“About this?” Hope held the phone up.
“Yes.” Florence sighed heavily, flicking her gaze from Rex to Hope. “I think it’s about time that the two of you tell me everything, since I’m not likely to get it out of Ange.”
Hope clamped her mouth shut. No one needed to know everything, and certainly not Florence. It wouldn’t do anyone any good to dive deep into that hell hole they’d escaped.
“For starters, who’s Leanne? And I don’t mean a stand-in for Ange last season.”
Curse her for being perceptive. Hope flicked her gaze to Rex, waiting to see what he would say, but his lips were locked shut. Maybe finally he was understanding what exactly was at stake for them. Hope focused back on Florence, clenching her jaw and refusing to answer the question as well.
“Fine.” Florence sighed heavily. “The outcome of the meeting Ange is in will determine how we move forward for the next two episodes and if the mid-season break will still be a mid-season break.”
Hope gulped.
This was that bad. She’d known it as soon as she’d seen the words written on her phone screen, but it hadn’t fully sunk in until Florence had said that. This report along with Hope’s screwup of an interview earlier in the week was only adding fuel to the fire that was determined to snatch Angelica and cremate her on the spot.
Hope shifted slightly, her shoulder bumping up against Rex’s. But they were a united force in this, once again, standing side by side to take on the crises they ran into.
“I should get back to our hotel owners,” Hope said, trying to side-step the rest of the conversation entirely.
But Florence stepped in front of her to stop her. “I realize that this set hasn’t exactly had a whole lot of trust built up over the years, and I realize doubly that I haven’t had a ton of time to work on building that trust up with you and Ange, but Hope, please trust me. I want what’s best for you.”
