"Oh my god," one of the men whispered, and then he laughed, just once, before he reined himself back in.
The woman tried to maintain composure. "That's—" She couldn't finish. "We'll be in touch. Thank you for coming in."
"But—" Chad gestured at the camera, at the script, at the room. "Don't you want me to read the other scenes—"
"We'regood," the woman said, her voice strained. "Really. We're good."
"Thank you for coming in."
Chad stood there, his resume still in one hand, his confidence vibrating like a live wire.
"Okay," he paused. "Great. I thought—I mean, I felt like that went really well—"
Behind the table, someone made a noise.
It might have been agreement.
It was definitely laughter.
Chad left the room. head high.
Behind him, he heard theexplosion.
Laughter, loud and uncontrolled.
Someone gasped. Someone else said, "Oh my god."
Chad smiled to himself.They loved it.
Inside the room, the woman pulled out her phone, tears streaming down her face.
"Caleb? It's Mara. Did you actually send that guy?"
She dissolved into giggles. “That was the funniest thing I’ve seen all month.”
Chad walked out of the building into the late afternoon sun.
He'd nailed the audition.
Tonight, he'd nail the gala.
Everything, finally, was going his way.
TEN
The Tasting
April
Liam guided her to the car. When the driver stepped forward, Liam waved him off and opened the door himself, offering April his hand.
She took it instinctively, leaning into his grip as she climbed in. He followed her inside, the door shut with a soft, heavy click, sealing the world away.
Liam reached for a bottle nestled in ice and poured champagne into a crystal flute. He handed it to her without asking, and when she took it, her fingertips lingered against his, barely long enough to notice before she pulled away.
Her phone buzzed.
Laura:Quick check-in
