Page 17 of Under the Table

Angelica’s brows drew together before the look eased. “Are you ready to begin filming?”

Hope bobbed her head from side to side and then rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure I’m ever ready to begin filming. My stomach’s full of knots and nerves.”

“Really? You?” Angelica seemed surprised by that.

“Yes.”

Ansel stepped in front of them. “We’ve had a request about your wardrobe this season.” He was looking directly at Angelica, not at Hope.

“What about it?”

“It’s been… chosen for you. Please don’t shoot the messenger.”

Angelica narrowed her gaze suspiciously. “Chosen by who?”

“Studio approved all outfit changes for this season.”

Surely Angelica couldn’t argue with them on that. Besides, if Hope had someone to pick out her clothes every day, she’d be happy. One less decision to make. Then again, who knew what they were going to dress her in.

Ansel held up a clothing bag along with a pair of shoes. And those heels looked deadly. Hope would fall over and trip in two seconds flat if she had to wear them. But Angelica didn’t say anything. Instead, she simply eyed the clothes over and sighed heavily.

That wasn’t like her.

Everything that Hope knew about Angelica was that she was willing to jump in to defend herself and someone else when necessary. She didn’t put up with bullshit. Or was this all because of Leanne and the hold that Josef had over her?

Could he really still be holding that over Angelica’s head? The number of couples that met in the workplace was astronomical, even if one of them was the boss and the other her manager. Surely he could see that, couldn’t he?

“If you could put the blouse on at least, before we do your makeup.”

Angelica clenched her jaw tightly before standing up and taking the clothing bag. She said nothing as she walked out of the room. Hope watched her go, the stiffness in her steps her only act of defiance. She wasn’t sure she’d ever have witnessed that. Someone had Angelica so wrapped up that they could make her do anything.

But who was it?

Just Josef and the whole situation from before? Or was there more to it than Hope knew already? Lord knew it’d taken Angelica ages just to admit to Hope about her previous relationship and the tensions between her and Josef because of it.

It didn’t take long, but Angelica came back fully dressed. She was no longer in her standard black pantsuit, but she had on a pencil skirt that ended just above her knees. Hope bit her lip as she dropped her gaze down to the end of that skirt, to where Angelica’s creamy skin finally was revealed. Then to her feet, those black pumps with four-inch heels doing absolutely everything to accentuate the smooth curves of her hips.

Hope swallowed hard.

Her heart raced.

Moving her gaze back up Angelica’s body, she was met with a silky white blouse that was low cut, covered with a loose black blazer that had no buttons or ties on the front. When Hope reached Angelica’s eyes, she was surprised to be met with a similar stare, one that was clearly full of heat and arousal.

Clearing her throat, Hope dropped her gaze to the ground as Angelica took two long strides to step closer, bending down slightly right in front of Hope before she slid back into the chair Ansel would use to do her makeup.

“Like something that you see?” Angelica asked, staring at Hope in the mirror in front of them.

“I…I wasn’t…” Hope’s cheeks burned.

“They clearly want tosex me up.” Angelica nearly spat out those words.

God, Hope agreed with the sentiment. But she’d never be one to deny the effect.

“Walking around in this all day is going to kill my feet.” Angelica nodded at Ansel to tell him to begin with her hair and makeup.

Hope was still stunned into speechlessness. And it seemed as though Angelica was absolutely aware of that fact, and talking to cover up her struggle to just make simple words happen.

“Whoever believes a manager walks around in heels like this for sixteen hours a day needs a reality check.”