Page 113 of Under the Table

“You talk about rules and regulations as if the world should live by them, but you’re such a hypocrite.” Rachel’s voice lowered dangerously.

Angelica bit the inside of her cheek. She knew exactly where this was going. She knew that Rachel knew. How? Not one clue. But that’s where all of this was stemming from. Protecting her baby sister. And the only way to do that was to demonize Angelica, the other woman, the home wrecker.

“Hope loves her family. She’ll never give them up. You, on the other hand, have all the advantages. You’re her boss. You’re her coworker. You’re experienced.” Rachel’s fingers curled into fists, as she stood nearly nose to nose with Angelica. “You’re taking advantage of her.”

Angelica held every emotion tightly in her chest. Now wasn’t the time to let them loose. This was for Rachel to feel as though she’d made her point, as though she’d stated her purpose and swayed Angelica to change her mind and back the fuck off.

“You’re ruining everything she’s worked so damn hard for.” Rachel crossed her arms and glared. “And she’s about to lose everything.”

Angelica swallowed hard. She glanced toward the lobby and Annalise, and then Josef and Sy. She held her breath as she looked back at Rachel, this fiery woman who was so much likeher sister. Angelica stepped to the side to make space between them.

“Excuse me,” she murmured.

Without a second glance, she left. She walked straight back to her room and locked herself inside. Stripping out of her dirty and wet clothes, she flung them onto the floor of the bathroom and climbed into the shower, tears falling down her cheeks as sobs wracked through her. She pressed her hands against the tiled wall as the hot water rained down on her shoulders.

She was so stupid.

She was so lost.

She was in love.

Angelica breathed deeply, her voice echoing in the small confines of the shower, the sob piercing her ears as she clenched her eyes tightly. Pain seared through her, overwhelming her. Standing directly under the water, she pushed her hair back from her face and tugged on the strands to feel that last bite of pain.

She was in love.

And Hope couldn’t love her back.

Chapter

Thirty-Eight

“Hey, I need you to do this scene. Ange isn’t available.”

Hope frowned at Rex. “What do you mean?”

“She can’t walk the property right now, so I need you and Rachel to do it.”

Hope stilled, straightening her shoulders and wiping her hands on the towel on her apron. She was right in the middle of lunch service and running the new menu through the kitchen. This wasn’t the ideal time.

“Why do we need to walk the property?” Hope reached over to baste a steak in a skillet so it wouldn’t dry out.

“To look for areas that might be dangerous to kids and to talk about entertainment for kids that can run the gambit of ages. Ange was supposed to do it, but she can’t right now.”

Again, Hope frowned. “I don’t understand that part. Why can’t she do it? Is she sick?”

“No.”

“Is there an emergency?” Hope put down the spoon she’d been using to baste and poked the top of the steak with her finger to see if it was cooked yet.

“No.” Rex sighed, the stress lines in his face deepening. “I just need you to do this.”

“I’m going to need a minute.” Hope pulled the steak and set it on the side of the stove to rest properly. “We’re right in the middle of the rush.”

“Now, while there aren’t that many people out there.” Rex touched her shoulder. “I mean it, Hope.”

She gritted her teeth, but she did what he wanted anyway. She gave a few last-minute directions to the chef, who was at least competent in cooking for adults, and then she walked out of the kitchen.

“Take off your chef’s coat.”