Chapter 14
Chapter
Fourteen
Hope carried the plate of hot food carefully as she left the kitchen and walked directly toward the conference room where they were staged.
She’d gotten up early that morning to cook a full breakfast, her step far lighter than it had been in weeks.
Even with the shadow that covered the day and the episode, the conversation she’d had with Angelica last night had uplifted her heart.
She smiled as she stepped into the conference room and found Angelica seated at the conference table, her legs propped up.
The dress she wore rode up, revealing a smooth creamy thigh, the same thigh that Hope had her hand on last night.
Although at that point she hadn’t been thinking any thoughts like this.
“Hi,” Hope said, her voice wobbling a little.
Angelica looked up at her with a light in her eyes that Hope had missed. “Good morning, Chef Lawrence.”
Hope’s smile would have faded at the use of her title and last name if it hadn’t been for the teasing tone in Angelica’s voice—the tone that Hope had wanted to hear again but had been damn sure she wouldn’t.
“I brought you some breakfast.”
As if on cue, Angelica’s stomach growled at both of them. Hope chuckled, shaking her head as she stepped closer and set the plate down in front of Angelica.
“I knew that you probably hadn’t eaten yet.”
“You’re right.” Angelica’s lips curled upward into a half smile. “What is it?”
“Just some fruit and toast. I figured you wouldn’t want anything too heavy this morning.” Hope whipped off the cloche and set it to the side. She handed Angelica a fork. “And I expect you to eat it.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Angelica laughed lightly, but she did pop a grape between her lips and chewed.
Hope pointed to the contraption Angelica had her feet resting on, the edge of her dress moving up even higher as she shifted to reach for another grape. “What’s that thing actually called?”
“I don’t know.” Angelica’s cheeks reddened. “You’d have to ask Lyric. I’ve just been calling it the knee-rolling wheelchair thing.”
Laughing, Hope shook her head. “You’re ridiculous sometimes.”
“Is that a compliment?” Angelica eyed Hope over her mug of coffee.
“Everything is a compliment for you.” Hope found herself grinning broadly. She couldn’t stop herself. Something had shifted, hadn’t it? Because this morning was so much easier than any other day had been between them.
But perhaps that was because they had a common enemy.
“Hardly.” Angelica snagged her iPad. “I was looking over the information you emailed last night about what Ashlee said. I think you’re right. She doesn’t know who her target clientele is, and that’s causing an issue with staff. They don’t know who to cater to in order to beef up reviews.”
“She also doesn’t understand goals and vision for the hotel as a whole.” Hope touched Angelica’s knee lightly. “Which is something she’ll need your specific talents on.”
Angelica’s lips curled up. “And luckily that’s something I can do seated.”
“Yes. It is. Did you still want me to handle room service?” Hope slid back and away, not wanting to touch too much and give Angelica the wrong idea. She wasn’t here to try to start a relationship with her. But she was going to attempt to at least make peace.
“Yes, if you think you can manage that.”
“I absolutely can.”
This conversation felt far more like how yesterday should have gone. Instead, Hope had been subjected to Leanne and the drama that Josef was creating. Angelica glanced toward the open door and then lowered her voice. “Have you heard when Josef is returning?”
“Returning?” Hope furrowed her brow.
“He was in Los Angeles for a few days with Logan.”
Hope shook her head, but that’d explain why he hadn’t been there to get Leanne settled.
Though he should have been. Instead, he’d left Leanne to fend for herself, which in Hope’s estimation was probably to add to the drama he wanted to create.
She sighed heavily. She really needed to report this to Logan, at least as much of it as she could.
Angelica hummed and focused back on the iPad. “I’ll see if I can find his travel itinerary.”
“You seem far more awake this morning than you did yesterday.”
“Mornings are good, once I get moving. Then it doesn’t hurt as much.”
Hope nodded. “Keep eating. You need to keep your strength up.”
“Yes, you do.” Leanne’s voice coiled around them like a snake ready to strike.
Hope tensed instantly, but she didn’t look behind her to see Leanne. Instead, she focused her gaze directly on Angelica, who stared straight back at her. Hope dropped her hand back onto Angelica’s knee and left it there as she nodded and then slowly turned to face Leanne.
“Good morning,” Hope said, keeping her tone as light as possible, even though she didn’t feel that way.
“Good morning.” Leanne’s lips pulled up to the side in a half smile, but it looked a little predatory, as though she was trying to make this as uncomfortable as possible. “It’s good to see you, Ange.”
Angelica licked her lips, her entire body tense, but Hope was damn sure that no one else would be able to tell because she looked the perfect picture of calm. “Leanne. I thought you took that job in Florida.”
Leanne shrugged as she stepped into the room and settled into the chair on the other side of Hope. “It didn’t seem like a very good fit.”
“They didn’t offer you the position,” Angelica said, correction in her tone.
Leanne’s smile faltered slightly. “No.”
“Hmm. Wonder why.” Angelica had the slick little smile on her lips that told Hope she knew more than she was letting on.
She definitely wanted to ask more about that later.
“How are you doing, really?” Leanne’s voice softened, all that bravado that Hope had witnessed before disappearing in an instant.
Perhaps there had been real love between them at one point.
“I’m doing well,” Angelica said, keeping her face straight.
“I was so scared when Josef called me about your car accident. And when he said it was so bad that you couldn’t work—”
“You thought you’d jump on the opportunity to take over yourself?” Hope said, her anger lashing out before she could stop it. Still, someone needed to say it because if anyone else found out about Leanne and Angelica’s past, they’d be thinking it. They just might not say it to her face.
Leanne’s mouth dropped in surprise, and Hope was pleased with herself for that one.
Angelica cleared her throat, shooting Hope a look that told her to shut it. “He didn’t have to call you. As you can see, I’m fit enough to work.”
Hope held her tongue on that lie.
“You still look sore. And your leg! Don’t you want to rest up until you’re free of the cast?” Leanne’s voice took on a tone like she was talking to a child. It grated on Hope’s nerves. Angelica was anything but, and while Hope loved coddling her, it wasn’t because Angelica needed it.
“I’ll be in the cast for six to eight weeks.” Angelica didn’t even move.
They both recognized the moment that Leanne’s gaze fell on Hope’s hand on Angelica’s knee, on the way her fingers curled around to the smooth skin on the inside of Angelica’s leg.
But Hope didn’t move her hand. She wanted Leanne to understand just how damn possessive she was of Angelica because then it’d show Leanne that she didn’t stand a chance in hell if she pushed back on Angelica at all.
“Oh. I see,” Leanne muttered. “I’ve been replaced.”
“Hardly,” Angelica said.
“And aren’t you the one who left her?” Hope asked, keeping her look just as pointed as before. “I don’t remember anything about you agreeing to make the relationship work. Instead, I just remember you abandoning her when she made the ask.”
“That’s enough, Hope,” Angelica whispered, pain in her voice.
When Hope looked over to Angelica, she couldn’t tell if what she’d done was right or wrong.
“I’m here to film, so your services are no longer needed.”
“They are.” Josef barreled into the room.
Hope immediately jerked back, placing her hand back in her lap and shying away from Angelica. While it felt good to tease Leanne, she didn’t want to tick off Josef any more than he already was.
“You can’t walk, Ange. And if you think you’re going to be up to your usual tactics, then you’re misinformed.” Josef nodded at Leanne and put his hand out for her. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here last night to introduce you to the crew.”
“That’s fine. Hope showed me around.” Leanne smiled at him and shook his hand.
“Did she?” Josef sent Hope a curious glance. “That’s surprising.”
“I can be very welcoming when I choose to be.” Hope crossed her arms and sat back in her chair, making sure not to disturb Angelica’s legs. The last thing she wanted to do was to add more pain to Angelica’s already hurting body.
Josef focused on Angelica. “I hired Leanne for two episodes until you’d be back on your feet. I didn’t want you to strain yourself by coming back to work too soon, and I want you to actually rest.”
To anyone else those words would sound like a caring and concerned boss. But Hope sensed something else underneath them, and when she looked into Angelica’s face, she was damn sure that Angelica heard the same thing.
“Ange!” Eva raced into the room, wrapping her arms around Angelica’s neck in a hug and burying her face in Angelica’s hair.
Hope immediately stooped down and pulled Eva back. “Baby, you have to be careful, okay?”
“But I…” Eva looked at Hope and then back to Angelica. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”
“No, you didn’t hurt me.” Angelica reached out and brushed her hand along Eva’s arm. “I’m fine. It’s mostly just my leg.” Angelica rolled her eyes dramatically. “The doctors said I couldn’t walk on it for two weeks! Can you believe that?”
“When Emma broke her leg they gave her crutches, and she couldn’t walk on it either.” Eva brushed her fingers gently along Angelica’s arm this time. “I was so worried…”
“I’m okay, kiddo. I promise.” Angelica lifted Eva’s chin and smiled at her. “I really promise. It was just a car accident.”
Hope pulled Eva back a little to put even more space between her and Angelica.
She really didn’t want Eva to accidentally hurt her again, for two reasons.
One, because of the initial pain Angelica would feel, but secondly, she didn’t want the rest of the room to know how much pain Angelica was still in—and she was pretty sure Angelica wanted it that way as well.
“Hey, we’re just setting up in the… kitchens…” Cadence stopped talking mid-sentence as she looked around the room. “I didn’t realize there was a meeting.”
“Unofficially,” Angelica said quickly, smiling at Cadence. “Setting up for what?”
“Hope’s inspection.”
“Right.” Angelica sighed.
Hope tensed. The last thing she wanted to do was leave Angelica and Leanne in the room together with Josef, and no one to act as a buffer. Cadence stepped closer and winked at Hope. “I think Rex was looking to start shooting at reception, an interview with Ashlee.”
“Good.” Angelica picked up her iPad and shifted herself before awkwardly setting the iPad back on the table. “I should go talk to him about what he wants to film specifically today.”
Josef puffed his chest up. “Ange, you shouldn’t be—”
“I’m fine to work, Josef. The doctors said I could as soon as I was feeling better, and I am.” Angelica gave him a hard stare, daring him to challenge her on that one.
Hope knew that he wouldn’t. Because when push came to shove, if Angelica put her foot down, Josef wouldn’t dare to go around her. She just didn’t do that as often as she should, in Hope’s humble opinion. Perhaps with Hope backing her up on this one she’d be far more willing.
Angelica stood up, gripping onto the knee scooter and planting her foot on the other side of it. She leaned over to snag her iPad, but Hope was quicker to grab it and held it tightly in between her fingers. “I’ll walk you out.”
“Thank you.”
Hope stayed right by her side as they moved into the lobby area, where they found Rex. Hope sighed heavily and touched Angelica’s arm lightly. “I wish you’d finished your breakfast.”
Angelica laughed. “Is that all you think about?”
“Feeding you?”
“Yeah?” Angelica’s lips were still pulled upward into a smile.
“Most days.”
Laughing again, Angelica shook her head. “Thank you for that, by the way.”
“I told you that I’d have your back.” Hope handed the iPad over. “I just wish that I could be there the entire time that you have to deal with her.”
“Well, the initial meeting is over, and she didn’t catch me by surprise like she wanted to, so that’s one up on me.” Angelica rolled her shoulders.
“I’m sorry about Eva.”
“Don’t be. She doesn’t know the extent of my injuries, and I’d rather keep it that way.”
Hope nodded her understanding. “And Leanne? How did you know she didn’t get that job?”
“Because she asked me for a reference. And unlike the last time, when I just wanted her out of my hotel and out from under me, I decided I wasn’t going to lie in the letter.”
“Really?” Hope furrowed her brow at that. “So what did you tell them?”
“The truth.” Angelica reached down and touched Hope’s forearm.
“I told them that Leanne is very good at following instructions when she wants to, but that she also has a history of harassment in the workplace, particularly with upper management, and while she is competent, it often comes with the cost of personality conflicts.”
“She harassed you?”
“I like how that’s all you take from that conversation.” Angelica frowned.
“You never told me.”
“There’s a lot I haven’t told you. Namely, two years ago when we parted ways, she told me never to talk to her again. So why is she back here? This week of all weeks? And don’t for a second think it’s because she’s a bleeding heart and cares for my wellbeing.”
“I didn’t.” Hope bit her lip and shook her head, no idea why Leanne would be here. She didn’t know her that well.
“I don’t know why she’s here, but it’s because she needs something from me. Whether it’s a letter of recommendation, a job, money—”
“Money?”
Angelica hummed and nodded. “Is that Ashlee?” Angelica pointed toward reception.
“It is. Let me introduce the two of you.”
“Thank you.”
Hope led the way toward the reception desk, walking slower than normal to make sure Angelica kept up with her. She wasn’t going to let Angelica face this ordeal on her own. And today confirmed that more than ever.