Page 83 of No Holds Barred

Hope frowned. “Angelica doesn’t touch the kitchens, Josef. You know that. It’s my territory.”

His jaw flapped. He hadn’t been expecting her to call him out on that, had he? Hope narrowed her gaze in a very Angelica-esque move and then she stood up straighter to add to her height.

“Are you trying to replace me, Josef?”

“If you don’t fall in line, then yes, I will replace you.”

Hope’s stomach dropped. She hadn’t known if she’d be around for season four but having that opportunity threatened now made it that much more real. She wanted to be here next season, and she wanted to be here with Angelica.

“Leanne can’t do my job. She’ll never be able to.”

“She’d be a two-for-one deal, and she’s a lot more malleable than you and Ange.” Josef’s nostrils flared.

God, this man was such a tool. Hope shoved her hands into her pockets and rolled up on her toes. “I only have one thing to tell you, which is that if you take both Angelica and me out of this show, it will fail. I honestly don’t know what made you such a dick—maybe you’re overcompensating for something, I don’t know. But I’m not going to let you walk all over me, and I’m not Ange. I won’t let you threaten me.”

Hope pushed her toes into the floor and stepped away from him.

“Get back here, Hope!”

“Nope! I don’t think I will!” she called over her shoulder as she barreled her way down the hallway and toward the kitchen. She didn’t have to put up with this bullshit, and she certainly wasn’t going to let him try to push her around any longer.

Stepping into the dining room, Hope locked her eyes on Cadence and immediately waved her over. They stepped outside and away from the rest of the crew and the kitchen staff.

“What’s wrong?” Cadence asked.

“Why would you think anything is wrong?”

“Because you look like Ange on a rampage. What happened?”

Hope sighed heavily and crossed her arms. “Josef.”

“That man needs to seriously fuck off.”

Snorting, Hope shook her head with a laugh. “Yeah, he does. But he’s the show runner, and despite numerous complaints, he hasn’t fucked off yet. And I don’t think he will unless a man tells him to.”

“Ugh.” Cadence wiggled and then rolled her eyes. “All right, so what’s the plan?”

“Plan?”

“To get rid of him. I know how to hide bodies, you know. I work in Hollywood.”

“Oh my God.” Hope put her hands up. “Cadence!”

“Joking! Joking!” Cadence laughed. “But seriously, what’s the plan?”

“He’s trying to get Leanne to film with us today. I guess Angelica keeps pushing her out of the scenes, which doesn’t surprise me. But I need you to keep her out of my kitchens. Seriously. I don’t want her to stick one toe beyond those doors.”

“And what are you going to do?”

“I’m going above everyone’s head.” Hope pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Right now. So I need you to distract them because I’m not going to be in there when they show up to pitch their fit. Treat them like they’re toddlers not getting their way. Slow and with repetition. They won’t get it this time around, but maybe by season four they will.”

“Hope.” Cadence snagged her arm to hold her back for a second.

“Yeah?”

“Good fucking luck. You’re going to need it.”

Hope smiled at her, and then she broke out into a full grin. “I’m going to make damn sure that this bullshit stops sooner rather than later. I’ve had my fill of it.”