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Tess stood by the coffee machine, staring blankly at the blinking buttons as the machine hummed to life. Her mind kept wandering back to Zara’s idea. A premiere? It was ambitious, risky, and exactly the kind of thing she’d usually shy away from. But Zara’s enthusiasm had been infectious. Tess couldn’t stop thinking about it.

She heard the front door creak open, and Zara’s cheerful ‘Good morning!’ echoed through the empty lobby. Tess turned to see her, a takeaway coffee cup in each hand, a small smile on her lips. She looked so confident, so sure, Tess wondered if it would even be possible to say no to her plan.

‘You’re early,’ Tess said, attempting to keep her voice light.

‘Couldn't sleep,’ Zara said, handing over one of the cups. ‘Too many ideas bouncing around in my head. I figured I might as well come in and get to work.’

Tess took the coffee, appreciating the warmth against her hands. ‘I’ve been thinking about it too.’

‘And?’ Zara asked. ‘What do you think?’

Tess hesitated, taking a slow sip. ‘I think… it’s a big gamble.’

‘I know,’ Zara said quickly, nodding. ‘But I really believe it’s the kind of gamble that could pay off.’

Tess sighed, leaning against the concession counter. ‘I know, I remember the big sell. But it’s still money we’d have to put down upfront, with no guarantee that it’ll come back. And if it doesn’t… I don’t know how we’d recover.’

‘I get it,’ Zara said, removing some pep from her tone and replacing it with reassurance. ‘I do. And I won’t lie to you—there are risks. But that’s why I’m going to make sure we do everything we can to minimise them. I’m compiling a list of filmmakers who I think might be interested. Ones who’d be willing to take a chance with us. And I’ll work on sponsorships, partnerships, anything that can help cover costs. We don’t have to do this alone.’

Tess felt a flicker of hope. Zara was so certain, so determined. Tess wanted to believe her. ‘OK, but… what if no one bites? What if we can’t get a film, or the sponsors don’t come through?’

‘Then we regroup,’ Zara said without missing a beat. ‘We adapt. We’ll find another way to make it work. But I’m not going to let it fail, Tess. I promise you that.’

Tess found herself nodding, almost despite herself. It wasn’t that she didn’t have doubts; she had plenty. But Zara had this way of making her feel like anything was possible, like even the most absurd idea could turn into something brilliant. It was both scary and thrilling.

‘Alright,’ Tess said, her voice barely above a whisper. She cleared her throat and tried again, more firmly. ‘Alright, let’s do it.’

Zara’s smile widened, and she looked like she was about to leap across the room and hug her. ‘Seriously?’

‘Seriously,’ Tess said, feeling a strange mix of excitement and dread. ‘But I’m going to need to see everything. Numbers, projections, a list of who you’re thinking of reaching out to.’

‘You will,’ Zara said, practically beaming. ‘I’ll put everything together. I’ve already started drafting an email to a couple of filmmakers, and I’ll send you the names so you can look them over. I’ll have a whole plan for you by the end of the day, I swear.’

Tess felt a smile tug at her lips. ‘I think you could sell ice to a polar bear.’

‘Only if it was artisanal ice,’ Zara quipped, making Tess laugh despite herself. ‘You’d be amazed at what people will buy if you just make it sound exclusive enough.’

Tess shook her head, but she was still smiling. ‘You’re ridiculous.’

‘I prefer “visionary,”’ Zara said, grinning.

The lightness in Zara’s tone made Tess’s nerves subside, if only for a moment. She still had her doubts, but she knew one thing: she trusted Zara.

That didn’t mean she was sure the idea would work, but it did mean she believed that if anyone could make it work, it was Zara.

They spent the rest of the morning in Tess’s office, going over potential ideas. Zara was still talking animatedly when Tess’s mind drifted to someone she hadn’t thought about in years: Nina Clarke.

Nina had been a regular at the cinema years ago, always catching late-night screenings, hanging around the lobby to chat with other film buffs, just another kid high off the drug that Tess supplied. But now, she was grown up and a real filmmaker.

Zara was saying something about sponsors when Tess interrupted. ‘I might know someone,’ she said nervously. ‘Someone who might be good to talk to.’

Zara’s eyes widened. ‘Who?’

‘Nina Clarke,’ Tess said.

Zara’s eyes popped. ‘Nina Clarke, as in Nina Clarke? Twelve-minute-standing-O-at-Sundance Nina Clarke?’

‘You know her?’ Tess asked, surprised.

‘My social media timeline has changed into nonstop movies since I started working with you,’ Zara admitted with a little blush. Tess had to stop herself from jumping her right there and then. It was so bloody adorable.

‘Yes, that’s the Nina,’ Tess said, feeling a little self-conscious. She wasn’t much for name-dropping. ‘She was here all the time as a teen, and we’d end up chatting about whatever film she’d just seen. I think she just wanted someone to talk to who loved movies as much as she did and there wasn’t anyone else in her life that she could do that with. Not then, at least. I haven’t seen her in a while, but… maybe she’d hear me out.’

‘Does she have a movie to premiere?’ Zara asked.

‘I’ve been keeping tabs on her,’ Tess admitted. She wouldn’t take an ounce of credit for Nina’s success, but she’d watched Nina’s love of film grow under this roof, and she’d always felt a distant pride in the young filmmaker. ‘I read a while ago that she was shooting something in the area.’

‘She shot a film here?’ Zara asked brightly.

‘Yep.’

‘That’s very good. She’s clearly attached to the area.’

‘Could be,’ Tess said vaguely.

Zara’s eyes practically sparkled. ‘Tess, this is great! So, you’ll contact her?’

Tess hesitated. ‘I could try a DM. I don’t want to promise anything… I’m not sure she’d even remember me. But if she does, and if she’s got something she wants to show off, maybe she’d be willing to do a hometown premiere.’

‘She’ll remember you,’ Zara said instantly.

‘Why’s that?’ Tess asked.

‘Who could forget you?’ Zara said.

Tess felt heat rise in her chest. ‘You’re being very nice to me. I feel like I don’t deserve it.’

‘You’re still thinking about our tiff? You apologised. It’s over,’ Zara said. Tess could see she truly meant it.

‘Oh. OK,’ Tess said, slightly foxed at how easy this had been.

Her mind went to Deborah. That woman would hold on to the merest slight for months. But Zara wasn’t Deborah. That couldn’t have been clearer.

‘Anyway. I’ll DM her now, shall I?’ Tess said, changing the subject.

‘Sooner, the better,’ Zara replied.

Tess didn’t know if Nina would come through, or if she’d even reply. But Zara was right. It was worth a go.

‘Alright,’ she said, taking a deep breath. ‘But it’s a long shot.’

‘Of course,’ Zara said, her smile warm and reassuring.

Tess managed a small smile in return. She still had a million doubts, but she was starting to feel a tiny bit of excitement, too.

The idea of reaching out to Nina, of possibly bringing her back to where she’d started…

It could happen. And everything Zara had witnessed in that terrible meeting would be washed away. Tess knew she could handle the place.

Oh, and the bank would fuck off, too. But Tess liked the idea of impressing Zara. She couldn’t deny it.

She’d never felt such a desire to be respected by anyone before. Not since her mother died. It had never played much of a part in her relationship with Deborah.

The imbalance had been baked in from the start. But Zara was different. Tess wanted to be something for her. What was it, this thing she wanted to be? Smarter? No, it wasn’t really that. More of an adult? Yeah, that was in there, but it wasn’t the whole thing.

The right word came to Tess. A simple word. Better.

She aspired to be better for Zara. Because Zara deserved everything. Jesus, her sister was right. She had it bad.