Page 82 of No Holds Barred

Angelica snorted slightly, her lips quirking into a half smile. “You’re assuming that Hotel Bombshell will be renewed foranother season. Remember what I told Mel and Jess? Lack of imagination and vision will kill a business faster than anything else.”

“We don’t have a lack of vision.” Josef’s breath was hot on her cheeks as he leaned in even closer. “We have old baggage that we can’t cut off yet.”

Angelica’s heart clenched hard. She tightened her entire body. “Then that’s a management problem.”

She pushed herself up to stand, planting both of her feet on the ground. She looked directly at Josef and then at Leanne, speaking to her and hoping that for once Leanne would hear what she had to say. “Don’t sell yourself out for someone who’s so willing to use and abuse his way to the top. Trust me, it’s not worth it in the end.”

“What did you just accuse me of?” Josef spat.

Angelica stepped to the side and moved closer to Rex. “Nothing you aren’t already aware of.” She stood behind the camera, Rex immediately standing at her shoulder as she watched Josef flounder with what to do next.

“You don’t deserve this role, Ange. The only reason you have it is because of me.”

“You’re not wrong. I wouldn’t be in show business without you. But I didn’t get this job solely because of you.” He could never take away her passion or her skills for this job, and she was tired of letting him walk all over her. She was tired of trying to please everyone to the point that she would sacrifice herself for them.

“I don’t want you on this show, anymore.” Josef crossed his arms. “At the end of this season, you can kiss your job goodbye. The fans want someone younger, someone who’s going to cause tension instead of resolve it. They want drama. Not an old woman digging her nails in to keep control.”

Angelica’s chest constricted. “We’ll see about that.”

When she turned to walk back inside, Hope was standing right there. Hadn’t she left? Hadn’t she gone back to the kitchen already? Hope held herself steady, and as soon as Angelica reached her, she turned. They walked side by side until they reached the back door to the Dorset. Hope reached forward and held it open for Angelica, brushing their fingers together as Angelica walked past her.

“You’ve got this,” Hope murmured.

“We’ve got this,” Angelica replied. “You and me.”

Hope’s bright smile was all she needed to see to finish out her day.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

“Hope!” Josef called her name as he half chased her down the hall.

She skidded to a halt on her way to the kitchen to wait for him. That man shouldn’t run. He’d probably give himself a coronary just by attempting to. Josef breathed heavily as he stood in front of her.

“Hey. I tried to get your attention before.”

“I didn’t hear you,” Hope said, keeping her smile tight. “What can I do for you?”

“Leanne needs to film with you today.”

Hope tensed. “Why?”

“She needs to learn about the kitchens and how to run one, and she needs more screen time. Ange keeps pushing her out.” Josef’s cheeks were still quite red.

Hope pressed her lips together in a thin line. Did he honestly think that she and Angelica were still enough at odds that she would help him over her? Or was it just wishful thinking on his part? She could see where her relationship with Angelica would be confusing. Hell, it confused her most days.

“I don’t think Leanne needs to learn about the kitchens. Unless she’s planning to work in one, she doesn’t need tounderstand, and we’re a bit late into filming the episode for me to go back to the basics with her.” Though if they’d kept Katherine on, this would be a perfect opportunity to do that. Hope bit her lip. “And I don’t want her to get in my way when we’re doing our first full run of dinner service tonight.”

“I’m not giving you a choice, Hope.” Josef squared his shoulders, but he was such a short man that it didn’t really seem to make that much of a difference because Hope still towered over him. “You’re going to film with Leanne today.”

“No, Josef. I’m not.” Hope put her hands on her hips as if to make her point. She wasn’t going to back down on this. Not only was she tired of Josef and the way he was running this show, but she wanted to stand up for Angelica this time around. She’d agreed that she would do this.

“Yes, you are.” Josef’s cheeks puffed out.

“Why do you want her to learn the kitchens?”

“So she can do Angelica’s job next season.”