Chapter 69
VICTOR
Josie marches toward me, and I can already sense that, whatever her furious pace is about, it is not good. Not at all.
I glance around. I’m surrounded by people mingling inside the theatre after the premiere.
“It’s all fake, isn’t it?” Josie asks me once she reaches me. She’s not keeping her voice down. There’s an urgency in her tone.
What is going on with her?
I glance around again. People haven’t realized the tension. Yet.
It’s only a matter of time...
“What’s all fake?” I ask her, keeping my voice low and soft. I can’t have this thing blow out. There are journalists here and colleagues of mine.
Whatever it is she wants to talk about, we can’t have it here.
I can’t have Josie jeopardizing all that I’ve worked for. She looks pissed off, so I know it’s a possibility.
“Us.”
It’s one word from her, and it is enough to make my heart skip a beat. And, with that one word, I understand exactly what she’s saying and why she stormed across the busy theatre to speak to me.
Not here, though. Not now.
“You mean what we’re doing?” I ask her, even though I don’t need to know the answer. “Of course it is fake. That is what we’re doing. That’s what you signed up for.”
Jesus, we really can’t be having this right now. Out of all the times for her to bring it up...
“You’re just after that award, aren’t you?” Josie asks. “It was never about me.”
“I thought we had made it clear on day one...”
“Just answer me, Victor.”
“Yes, I really want that award,” I say.
And it’s the truth. I do.
But Josie clearly doesn’t see it that way.
“Yeah. I thought so. It’s got nothing to do with me.”
“Josie, I’m paying for the best lawyer in the country to see to your divorce,” I retort. “You signed an agreement to help me win this thing. Come and help me. Be with me tonight. Stop all this.”
“Victor,” she snarls, “I’m not stopping anything. I want the truth. Do you even like me? Do you even care for me? Am I really nothing to you?”
“Not here, Josie,” I reply. “Be quiet. There are important people here. I can’t have you ruin everything because you suddenly want something... more.”
And I instantly realize I’ve said the wrong thing.
She stares at me for a long time. I can see the bitterness behind her soft brown eyes. I can see a storm about to erupt.
“Everything is over,” she whispers.
And then she goes. Storms off.
And I just watch her walk away.