Page 33 of Love: Take Two

"Awa Faye speaking," I answer, snapping into professional mode as soon as I unlock my phone.

"Awa," Conrad's gruff voice greets me. "What's this I hear about you being sent to the principal's office?"

Shit!He must have spies here if he's already heard about Rory's new demands. Between Yong-rae's rocky start, Tabitha's baffling fixation on him, Noah's presence stirring things up, and now a spy reporting back to the firm, I shouldgo ahead and refill my fluoxetine prescription. I'm already too volatile if Tabitha can see right through me.

"You've been misinformed," I reply calmly. "Tabitha and Yong-rae had a disagreement, but we have everything under control."

"I wouldn't call having to manage your client from the parking lotunder control, Awa." His condescending sneer raises my hackles more than usual today.

What have I done to deserve a spy looking over my shoulder, checking my work? Don't I represent one of the firm's biggest clients? Didn't I broker this entire deal from start to finish? Aren't I the reason she stayed with Gehrig & Associates after "The Speakerphone Incident" three years ago? She wanted nothing to do with these dinosaurs from the days of Harvey Weinstein, but I assured her I would represent her personally, without their input or interference.

"I will be watching everything that goes on via headset in the video village, not the parking lot," I correct through gritted teeth. "Once things calm down, I'm sure the producer will relax those rules."

"And what about Noah Park?" Emmitt booms back from somewhere away from the phone. "Is he there trying to slip in extra concessions for his client? I told you the partners should've had final review of the rider!"

An ambush call is hardly original, but it is effective. I force my jaw to relax.

"He's here for the same reason I am—to support his client. He will not be a problem," I answer truthfully.

"See that he isn't," Conrad barks. He hangs up before I can respond, but it's not necessary. Everyone knows you don't get on Conrad's bad side if you want to keep working in the business. Not even having the top-earning woman in the industry as your client will save you if he decides you need to go.

So some jerk I used to have a thing for is here. So what? It was ages ago and, just like Tabitha, I'm a goddamn professional.

Chapter eighteen

Noah

Afilm set is a lot like a colony of ants; everyone bustling this way and that, doing their part to ensure the production works as a whole. The Director of Photography motions to the gaffer to adjust the light for the overcast conditions. The First Assistant Camera calibrates the lenses between takes. And today, thanks to an unfortunate ultimatum, the Assistant Director delivers two headsets to the video village so Awa and I can listen in on shooting from a distance.

Rory motions impatiently for us to put them on.

"Check that you can hear everything clearly," she says brusquely. One sideways glance tells me Awa isn't any happier about the situation than I am, but Rory's face makes it clear our leeway is all used up.

"—you stay out of my way, I'll stay out of yours," I hear Tabitha warn, as clear as if she were standing next to me. On the monitor, I see Yong-rae frown.

"You're the one who was stepping onmytoes after the last take," he protests, and I wince. Yes, he should stand up for himself. He worked hard and won this role even without connects or an enviable IMDb page. But he's talking to TabithaFuckingStyles. If anyone's entitled to give their scene partner a few tips, it's her.

I look back over at Awa to see her pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Yes, we can hear them," she groans. The feeling is mutual.

I've been at Luxe for going on a decade. I'm a partner. And yet suddenly my career hinges on two people who sound like Henry and me in the back of the car on a road trip instead of adult, professional actors who've done this before. Jim and Brent are practically salivating at the chance to take my place. If things don't improve, they'll do it.

Rory nods to the First AD, a pale, lanky man looming behind her with a clipboard and a headset of his own.

"Taryn will be around if you need anything." He gives us a small wave, and Rory points a menacing finger at both of us. "Don't make his life harder with your bullshit. You're supposed to be here to help me. So…help!"

With that, Rory heads back to where the lighting team is testing around Yong-rae, Tabitha, and a few extras. It's an exterior shot.

"You must've really pissed her off," Taryn chuckles in a thick Welsh accent. "Rory's the most laid-back producer I've ever worked for…until now," he smirks.

I wave away his hand when he reaches to adjust my headset.

"I got it. And I didn't do anything. Despite what the studio thinks, Yong-rae is an adult capable of independent thought. He makes his own decisions."

"You mean his own mistakes," Awa interjects.

"Excuse me?" I object, eyes narrowed. "I think it was Tabitha who kept talking after the director yelled 'cut'."