Chapter 3 #2
The silence reverberated through the room, and Cadence still looked between each of them. They were going to have to up the ante on the masks they wore if they were going to make it through the next four months.
Angelica checked the time, wishing that Josef would show up already, maybe even Logan, just so they could get through this meeting as quickly as possible and end it straightaway.
Angelica tossed her hair over her shoulder and lowered her chin to look at her iPad as Cadence reached for the small snacks that Lyric had set in the room.
This wasn’t going to be a short meeting, unfortunately.
“Ange.” Josef’s loud tenor tones reverberated through the room.
Angelica tensed, but she was glad he was here. Any buffer that she could find, she’d take. He plopped down between Hope and Cadence.
“Logan’s not coming today.”
Angelica frowned. She’d wanted him here so he could witness how Josef treated her. He’d had so many questions during the break, and he’d promised they’d be watching Josef closely, but it seemed as though that wasn’t actually going to happen.
“Like I was saying before you came in,” Angelica started, “we’ll primarily be on the East Coast, so there won’t be as many trips back to Los Angeles while we film.
We’ll be heading to Maine first, and the problem there is the kitchen primarily and updates to the hotel itself. It’s like walking into the eighties.”
Rex snorted. “Yeah, it is.”
Angelica shot him a look, but she quirked her lips up slightly.
They could manage this, couldn’t they? It might take a bit of time to get used to how they were all going to interact, but they could find a way to work together for the next four months without causing too much drama or hurt.
The stark difference between Hope and Rex now compared to the end of season two was already obvious.
They had definitely talked and worked on some of their problems.
“I’ll be heading a renovation of the main hotel, at least a light renovation of the rooms but a major overhaul of reception, and Hope, I’ll need you to focus on the kitchens because I won’t have time for them,” Angelica said, not looking in Hope’s direction. She wasn’t ready to risk that yet.
This would give them a break from each other, a separation that they’d both no doubt need in order to survive the first episode.
Shooting that first episode was always like pouring a cold bucket of chaos over them, and Angelica wanted to make the transition as smooth as possible this time around.
They had their crew together, so they all knew how each other worked. It should be easier this time around.
“Don’t forget that we need to keep the tension high,” Josef chimed in. “Season four renewal depends on us knocking this one out of the ballpark.” He laughed boisterously, but his gaze was hard as it landed on Angelica. “I expect you and Hope to deliver on that.”
Angelica hummed, but she didn’t say anything. Cadence’s gaze bounced between all of them. Angelica had no doubt that she was drowning in the dynamics that she had been previously unaware of.
“I’m sure Hope and I can find something to argue about in Maine.
” Angelica made a note of that, though it wasn’t one that she intended on going back to.
Josef could fuck himself for all she cared.
If she only had one more season of working with him, then she’d be in bliss at the end of filming.
Whatever was happening next, she needed to separate herself from him for her own mental health.
“Budgetary conflicts always seem to be a hit on social media for you two,” Cadence chimed in, looking directly at Angelica.
“Sure. We can do that. Hope?” Angelica faced Hope, looking for confirmation and forgetting how damn sexy she was with that new haircut of hers.
It was as if she’d come fully into herself with it, as if it rounded out the edges that she’d had before trying to fit into a box that she didn’t measure up to.
But with this… fuck, Angelica was in over her head.
“Yeah. Sounds like a plan.”
“Good.” Angelica did note that. There. They had one argument planned and set. Angelica looked back up to Cadence. “Anything else?”
“Oh uh… No. It was just a thought.” Cadence squinted at Angelica and then shifted her gaze to Hope.
If Cadence had doubts before, she’d have none after this season of filming. She was astute, Angelica had to hand it to her, but also the crush she’d harbored on Angelica probably made her far more in tune to these types of things than the typical male in the room with them.
“Boston is going to be another problem…”
Angelica focused on work, pushing through the meeting as quickly as she could. Two hours later, she was closing up her iPad and turned around to find Hope still standing in her office. Her heart stuttered, but she managed to keep herself in check as she stood near her desk.
“Was there something else you needed to discuss?”
“You and I need to talk,” Hope said, walking forward. “We need…” Hope sighed heavily, her shoulders coming up in a sign of tension that Angelica deeply understood.
“I have another meeting, Hope. I can’t continue with this right now.”
“Ange…” Hope’s face fell.
“No, Hope. I’m not going to do this right now.
” Angelica picked up her iPad. “I’m already late.
” She nodded at Hope and walked out, leaving her there.
She’d seen the message from Lyric that she had the car ready, and the escape was absolutely necessary.
She wasn’t prepared to have a conversation about them, about what they were going to do next.
Because it would hurt too damn much.
And she hadn’t built up enough walls.
Today proved that.
Angelica slipped into the passenger seat and smiled at Lyric. “Ready whenever you are.”