Chapter 44 #2
“Good idea.” The officer handed her a card with his name and the report number on it. Angelica took hold of it firmly and breathed relief. “Sorry about the mess.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Mrs. van Driel said.
Angelica kept her mouth shut, still staring down at the card. How the hell was she supposed to tell Hope about what had happened today? She’d be scared and angry and ready to take Josef down as soon as she found out. Angelica would too if it was the opposite and he’d come after Hope.
“Ange?” Florence caught her attention.
“Yes. Sorry. We…had a meeting.”
Florence snorted and shook her head. “Is there another conference room we can talk in?”
Angelica pursed her lips. “I have a better idea.”
Standing up, she walked into her office and ignored everything strewn on the floor, the broken glass from the cups that they’d knocked down when Josef had resisted.
She reached for her phone and her iPad, taking them with her.
The officers would get the video as soon as she emailed it to them, but she could do that later. Her lawyers would get a copy as well.
Florence waited for her at the door. Angelica nodded.
“Are you a whiskey or a bourbon woman?” Angelica asked.
“Whiskey.”
“Good.” Angelica sighed and walked toward her small apartment. Florence followed her. As soon as they were inside, Angelica shut and locked the door. “Take a seat.”
She put her things down and snagged the whiskey she kept in the kitchen and poured each of them a glass. “Ice, or no?”
“Yes.”
Angelica came back, handing the glass to Florence and sitting next to her, crossing her legs, and immediately sipping the alcohol. It wasn’t what she wanted, not really, but it’d do for now, until she could catch up with Hope and tell her everything that had happened that day.
“Thank you,” Angelica said quietly.
“For being in the right place at the right time?” Florence asked, an eyebrow raised.
Angelica jerked her head slightly to the side and then shrugged. “Today you were. But you also took charge, so I didn’t have to.”
“I can do that in other situations, you know.”
“Yes, I know.” Angelica took another sip of the whiskey. “Maybe I’ll even let you.”
“That was what I came here to discuss with you. How we’re going to go forward with filming the second half of the season. I really want the two of us to work better together.” Florence looked at her directly, and Angelica could see Florence’s desire.
Angelica nodded. “I’ll be less resistant. I promise.”
“Good. I—”
There was a knock at the door. Angelica tensed immediately.
“I’ll get that, if you don’t mind. I think you’ve had enough surprises for today.” Florence pointed toward the door.
“Thank you.”
While Florence got up, Angelica snagged her phone and opened her text messages. She had a couple from Hope, but nothing about the incident, more just random moments from her day. Angelica typed quickly.
Angelica
Tell me when you have time to sit down for a phone call. Tonight. Preferably soon.
Hope
This doesn’t sound good.
Angelica
It’s been a day.
Hope
I can in an hour.
Angelica
Done.
“It’s just a package.” Florence said as she came back over, holding out the small box to Angelica. “I had to sign for it.”
Angelica furrowed her brow, taking the box from Florence’s hands. It had Christian’s name as the sender. Curious, she dug at the tape until she could open it. Inside was a forest green velvet jewelry box. Angelica pried open the lid and froze.
“What is it?” Florence asked.
Angelica turned it around to show the stunning emerald ring with flanking diamonds in a gold band. “This was my great-grandmother’s on my dad’s side. My mom hated it.”
“Were you expecting it?”
Shaking her head, Angelica pulled the ring out to look at it more closely. “I haven’t seen this since I was a teenager. My dad always said that it was won during a bet, and that it had to stay in the family, I assumed my brother would give it to one of his girls.”
“But it’s your mother’s.”
“She died.” Angelica flicked her gaze to Florence. “Two weeks ago.”
“Ange…” Florence winced. “You could have left—”
“I didn’t want to.” Angelica took the ring out of the box and held it in the palm of her hand. “But I think I know exactly what I’m going to do with this.”
“Do you?”
Angelica hummed and then looked at Florence before putting the ring away. “Depending on when Josef is released, we should have more security while filming.”
“Agreed,” Florence answered. “And as far as the defamation lawsuit? I know Logan is worried about it, but after today and looking over a bunch of the footage from the last few seasons thanks to Rex and Sy, I don’t think he’ll have much of a leg to stand on and the case will likely be dropped.”
Angelica nodded. She’d hoped that’d be the case, but until someone else brought that up, she wasn’t sure she could trust it. Then again, trusting others wasn’t exactly her forte. “It won’t be resolved before we go back to filming.”
“No, it won’t,” Florence agreed. “But maybe by next season.”
Humming, Angelica chose not to respond to that one. She finished her drink and smiled at Florence. “Thank you for being here today.”
“Two thank-yous in an hour? Who are you and what have you done with ice fairy Angelica Shields?”
Laughing, Angelica shook her head. “I think maybe she melted.”
“I think that’s to my advantage,” Florence leaned forward and finished her drink as well.
“Likewise.” Angelica nodded. “I do need to talk to Hope, though.”
“Yes. You do. I’ll leave you to that. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need something—even though I know you won’t.” Florence stood up, smiled at her, and then left. Like nothing had happened.
Angelica breathed into the silence, closing her eyes, and centering herself. Now all she had to do was tell Hope. And fuck, why did just that thought bring all of the unshed emotions from earlier forward? Staring at her phone, Angelica made a choice she never would have before.
Angelica
I need to be more honest with you. This is an emergency, and I need you to come to me. Josef was here. I’m safe. Physically fine. But I need you.
. . .
Three little blue dots showed up and then vanished. Then they showed up again. The sound signaled the arrival of Hope’s text, and immediately, Angelica relaxed.
Hope
I’m on my way.