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Urgent meeting at 7:15 a.m.

There’s a strange atmosphere in the meeting room, which seems subdued and gloomy, despite the bright lights. Outside, the sky is still dark. Night stretches on, and dawn doesn’t seem ready to break. Vadim, who hasn’t arrived yet, got us all out of bed without actually telling any of us the reason for this hastily called meeting. Not even me.

Maximilian yawns repeatedly. Sophie plays with the blonde curls that she didn’t have time to tame. Clarence uses a file to hide his face as he rubs his sleepy eyes. I stretch in my chair and swallow one last sip of black coffee. Kate arrives, looking concerned. She barely acknowledges us before taking a seat at the table.

A few seconds later, Vadim enters and lets the door swing shut behind him, then apologizes for “the inconvenience caused by this very early meeting.” Without bothering to sit down, without even taking off his long, black coat, he gets straight to the point.

“We’ll be leaving for Los Angeles at the end of the day. I’m sorry if this disrupts your personal lives, but we have to act quickly. Skylight Pictures is in the process of getting their hands on one of our projects. It’s a series of feature films that I can’t reveal anything about right now, but that our American subsidiary has been working on for several years.”

I watch him, mesmerized by his charisma. Vadim’s voice is calm and firm, and he exudes both composure and strength of character. His gray eyes shine with that combative gleam that I love so much. I feel like I’m seeing him again at twenty. Even then, nothing could stop him.

“Get whatever you need to do here done by six o’clock,” he continues. “Make sure your respective departments are covered—delegate, assign tasks—then go home and get ready. I don’t know how long we’ll have to stay there. Four to seven days, probably. If there are any personal reasons why that might be difficult, come see me directly. I need every single one of you.” He looks around at his team with quiet confidence.

“Vadim, you’re forgetting May Sim,” Kate says. “We have to replace her. Finding someone for the lead role in French Kiss can’t wait ‘four to seven days.’”

“I haven’t forgotten, Kate. It’s not as though L.A. is short of talented, young actresses who would kill for this role… So, can you organize another casting call there as soon as possible?” His sarcasm isn’t lost on anyone.

Kate Monroe nods, unable to hide her offended expression. I gloat a little—and I’m not the only one.

***

Welcome to Hollywood!

I would have loved to enjoy spending time in L.A. It’s a city I adore, one that always takes me right back to the happiest times of my life—and a few painful ones, too. But like all my coworkers, I haven’t had a moment to spare since we arrived in California.

As soon as we got off the plane, we headed to the parent company’s stunning offices in the prestigious neighborhood of West Hollywood. After three exhausting days of meetings with the company’s executives and our American counterparts, our small French team finally understands the scale of the problem. And the task ahead of us. Skylight Pictures promises to be a formidable—perhaps even unbeatable—opponent, but we stand united.

Vadim attends all the meetings and has very little time to spare for us outside of them. Kate is often absent, tied up with her urgent casting. Sophie, Clarence, and I are therefore responsible for representing the French subsidiary as we draw up our battle plan. Unlike my two coworkers, I already know most of the people we’re talking to, since Vadim introduced me to his entire team during my previous stay here. I feel so at ease—in my element, even—that I don’t hold back at all, boldly suggesting strategies without letting myself be intimidated.

Several times, amid the frantic pace of the meetings, I catch Vadim looking at me. In his weary eyes, I see that mix of pride and defiance that I never tire of.

Every evening, I have dinner with my two favorite coworkers, then head back to my room at the Sunset Marquis.

“Are you coming with us to Bar Centro, Alma?” Sophie asks. “We could change real quick and go straight there.”

“Do you hear that salsa music calling my name?” Clarence calls out, as he starts dancing on the sidewalk.

“I can barely keep my eyes open. Go on without me,” I reply with a smile.

“You gave us the same excuse last night!” says Sophie.

“Oh, we’ll wear you down, don’t worry!” Clarence assures me.

The truth is, I sneak off to join Vadim as soon as their backs are turned. Every night, I jump into a cab, my heart pounding and my legs trembling like a teenager’s, insanely impatient to be back in his arms. Out of sight, in his private Bel Air residence, he is all mine. No need to hide anymore. I finally feel like I can breathe.

But we aren’t completely alone. For practical reasons, Max is staying at Vadim’s place, but he knows full well that he needs to keep a low profile and, more importantly, keep our secret.

Ah, the magic of a confidentiality clause.

Abigail, on the other hand, opens the door for me every evening and manages to make me feel just as uncomfortable every time. The young housekeeper always flashes me the same inquisitive look as she offers to “take my things” and doesn’t seem to appreciate it when I politely refuse. She then offers me a “refreshment” and sulks when I say no with a smile. Each time, Vadim comes to my rescue, wrapping his arms around me, kissing my neck, or whispering sweet nothings in my ear. But I always find that Abby takes forever to leave. Then I don’t see her again until early morning, when I slip out of the Californian palace and discreetly head back to my hotel. There she is, invariably, behind the window, watching me leave.

Why am I the only one who’s bothered by this?

***

Lying in Vadim’s arms, I let myself be lulled by his steady breathing. In the dim light, I gaze at his peaceful face and his smooth, silky chest, rising and falling with each breath.

“Vadim, are you asleep?” I whisper.