Cindy shook her head. “You mourn family when they are gone. After this moment, I will never think of y’all again.” She folded her arms. “Tomás, please have security escort this woman and her horrible daughters out.”
Daphne grabbed the phone off Cindy’s desk. “I’ll inform the guard at your gate in the change of ownership.”
Patricia wilted. “We’re homeless.” She wailed much like she had the night Robert Knight died in this very hallway.
“I’m sure you’ll be able to find the second-smartest man you’ve ever known,” Cindy quipped.
Jake, the gray-haired security guard, dragged Patricia out of the building. He grinned the whole time. Drusilla followed, walking like a Barbie doll, all stiff and yet somehow remaining beautiful. Natalie was out with friends; she wouldn’t be allowed back. They’d be fine, really. Drusilla would receive residual checks for her movies, though Cindy vowed to never make a teen musical drama again.
Mr. Hall put his hand out. “I have papers for you to sign.”
Cindy turned to see the people who had gathered staring at her. Something big had taken place; all their lives had changed for the better. Today was a very good day. She lifted onto her tiptoes. “Knight Studios is officially closing down Drusilla and Friends.”
A cheer erupted.
“Starting right now,Egypt’s Goldis our number one priority.” The back of the group where the actors and production crew clumped together clapped. Someone whistled.
“Back to work,” she hollered. “We have a reading to get through.” They cheered again.
The group dispersed. Daphne gave Cindy a hug before returning to her desk. That woman was so getting a raise.
Tomás winked at her and picked up the phone.
Those who had spilled out of the conference room funneled back in. Beau moved to go with them, but she couldn’t let him just jump back into the fray. She tapped his shoulder, and he turned. “Stay away from page seventy-five.” She winked. “I think we should work over that scene together tonight over cake.”
He grinned. “It’s a date.”
Tomás leaned out of the cubicle. “Your things are on their way.”
“My things?” she asked.
“Your desk, the bookshelves.” He hooked his thumb over towards her dad’s office. Her office now.
Cindy’s hand went to her heart. “I thought Patricia sold them.”
Tomás kicked at the carpet. “She told me to, but I had them stored.” He lifted his chin. “She sucks at bookkeeping.”
They all laughed.
Cindy followed Mr. Hall into her office and sat in Patricia’s chair. The metal dug into the back of her thighs. This would be the first thing to go.
Mr. Hall laid out several sheets of paper. “Sign here, here, and here.”
She put her name right next to her dad’s. Right where it belonged. Knight Studios was hers, and she was finally ready to put her twenties behind her and step into the role she was always meant to play.
Epilogue
The Knight formal dining room hadn’t been used in years. Patricia didn’t believe in eating, so there was no need for a room dedicated to the task.
Cindy, however, loved to eat real food that required chewing. So, for her birthday, she was going to celebrate in the dining room. She lifted the sheet off the walnut table, revealing the highly polished wood and years of memories.
Beau set down the two candles he’d carried in from the kitchen. “Is it always this dark?”
“Patricia had the power shut off and the house account closed down. They’re sending a technician over Monday morning.” She hurried to the kitchen to retrieve the cake stand holding the world’s best birthday cake and returned to place it in the center of the table.
Beau pulled out her seat. “Remind me to thank her; you look stunning in candlelight.”
“Just in candlelight?” she teased.
