Fifty-Five Lucie
Fifty-Five
LUCIE
‘H urry, please.’
Greg strides ahead, closely followed by Ced. I tail them, my consternation growing with every stomped step. Why am I even doing this? Greg doesn’t deserve a second of my time, let alone my company on a high-speed dash across town when I’ve had to leave a dress rehearsal for my own production.
‘We’re going as fast as we can.’
‘Appreciate that, Miss Hart, but time isn’t our friend.’
And neither are you , I hit back in my head.
‘You’d better have a good explanation for this,’ Ced warns. ‘I don’t sprint across Stratford for just anyone.’
‘We don’t have time to discuss it. Do this one thing for me and I swear I’ll explain after.’
After?
I stop walking.
A few yards ahead, Greg and Ced realise I’m not with them.
‘What are you doing?’ Greg demands.
‘You promised you’d tell me the truth.’
‘ After you help me.’
I dig my heels in. ‘Now.’
‘Lucie, we really don’t have time …’
‘Why do you need me? Why are we in a hurry? And what on earth makes you think I’d trust you to tell me the truth?’
‘Because you can trust me. We have ten minutes to get there.’
‘Where? And why?’
‘If you’ll let me explain, I’ll tell you as we walk …’
Not good enough. I wouldn’t trust Greg Dabrowski for a million quid. ‘Tell me now, or I’m not moving.’
He throws his hands up in frustration. ‘It was my idea, okay? The fake relationship to drag the crowds in.’
‘I know it was,’ I shoot back, stung. ‘And Theo …’
‘ Not Theo.’
I’m already priming my return volley, more than ready to fight. But this cuts me dead. ‘What?’
‘Can we at least talk and walk? Look, if you don’t like what you hear, you can leave. I won’t ask anything of you. But please, I beg you, let’s keep moving.’
He’s desperate, isn’t he? It isn’t an act. ‘Fine,’ I say, starting to walk again. ‘Why not Theo ?’
‘He was never in on the plan. But he was too chicken to say no or tell me I was out of line. I get that: nobody says no to me. Apart from you.’
‘But the messages – he was agreeing with you. Replying.’
‘He was scared, I guess. This job was meant to save him: he couldn’t risk losing it.’
‘So he lied to me instead.’ Emotion constricts my voice, tears not far behind.
‘About not telling you, maybe, but not about the rest. The guy loves you, Lucie. He practically walked out of the show when he found out how Duncan got hold of the messages.’
I can’t process this. I stare at the pavement as we hurry down Sheep Street, past Gonzalo’s, where Hal and the morning staff are setting tables for lunch.
… he loves you … it’s all a huge misunderstanding …
It’s what Theo was trying to tell Lyle when he saw him last week, isn’t it? It’s what his voicemails have started with, too – the ones I listened to before ignoring them altogether.
You have to listen to me, Lucie. I never wanted this. It wasn’t my idea …
What if Greg is right? What if Theo was too scared to say no to him? I understand the reluctance to say or do anything that could jeopardise a job. Especially one as significant as Hamlet could be for Theo.
But do I want someone who will fight for me first, whatever the consequences?
‘Lucie, are you okay, love?’ Ced is at my side, his smile pure concern.
‘I – I don’t know.’ It’s the truth.
I’ve tried everything to push Theo from my mind. I’ve promised myself that he means nothing to me – can mean nothing to me from now on.
And I have spectacularly failed on both counts.
I love him. Beyond all limit of what else i’ th’ world …
I have to tell him.
Greg is watching me, uncertainty pulling every muscle in his face. ‘Help me make this right, Lucie?’
I take a breath, my mind set.
‘What do you want me to do?’