Page 62 of Under the Table

Episode Three

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULIAN TOWERS

Chapter

Twenty-One

“It’s so good to meet you in person, finally.” Julian Tower stepped forward, holding his hand out to Angelica.

She tensed but put her fingers against his and shook his hand. She wasn’t used to this kind of greeting from anyone when they arrived. Mostly because they didn’t tell them when they were coming. Angelica glanced over her shoulder to Hope, sending her a curious look.

“It’s good to meet you too,” Angelica said, squeezing his hand as she shook it. But when she tried to let go and step back, Julian pulled her forward and lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss against her knuckles. Angelica’s breath halted in her throat.

“You must be Julian,” Hope said, stepping in closer and distracting him from whatever the hell he was doing to Angelica’s hand.

When he released her, Angelica had to work hard not to rub the back of her hand against her side to wipe anything that might be him off of her. Rex waved at them over Julian’s shoulder and then beckoned them toward him.

“You’ll have to excuse us.” Angelica breathed deeply and walked around Julian toward Rex. She didn’t even bothersending a glance over her shoulder. She knew he was watching them. She could feel his gaze boring into her.

“We’re set up in here,” Rex said.

Angelica shivered as she stepped into the conference room and was finally out of Julian’s sight. She tossed Hope a raised eyebrow of a question, but Hope looked just as bewildered as she felt. That had been quite the welcome. She was later arriving than everyone else because of an emergency trip to San Francisco, but it had only cost her a day. Everyone else had been able to arrive and set up without her.

Angelica pushed her bag against the wall and pulled out her iPad, ready to work.

“We rearranged the filming schedule, so we’ll do the opening sequence in the morning first thing.” Rex sat at the table next to her, and Hope hovered over his shoulder as if she was looking at the iPad in front of him, but her eyes were glued on Angelica. “Tonight, I want to start with the retention issues that we know about. Let’s interview Julian and see if you can get to the bottom of that.”

Angelica was fairly certain she already knew what part of the issue was. Maybe. If Hope didn’t have that experience, then perhaps it was all her warning bells going off for nothing. Or maybe he was just as enamored as people had become lately. Angelica’s taste of fame wasn’t something she was particularly enjoying.

“When are we starting?” Angelica asked.

“As soon as you finish with Ansel. He’s waiting for you.” Rex looked across at Sy. “I need you to set up now that she’s here.”

“Got it, Rex!” Sy immediately went to work getting the crew and equipment he needed together.

Rex breathed slowly. “We’re trying to keep this one quick so you two can go wine and dine an investor, right?”

“Right.” Angelica was surprised by that. She hadn’t mentioned it to Rex at all. A quick glance at Hope said that she must have been the one to mention it. Perhaps he was okay with them traveling together then? She’d check with Hope just to be sure before she confirmed dates. Or rather, have Lyric confirm dates.

“Sorry to rush you, but I don’t want to get behind.”

“It’s no problem.” Angelica blinked at him. “I’ll go find Ansel.”

“I’ll show you,” Hope finally said, stepping back from Rex. “He’s this way.”

Angelica sighed and stood up, stretching her back at the same time. The flight hadn’t been that long, but the travel and sudden change of beds was doing her in this time around. She really just wanted to lie down for a few hours and rest, but she rarely ever got that opportunity. In fact, the last time she’d managed to do that, Hope had been in the bed with her.

Hope pressed her hand lightly to Angelica’s back as soon as they left the conference room, and leaned in close now that no one else was around. “I need to talk to you when you get a chance.”

“What about?” Angelica had to work hard to keep her spine from stiffening. Anytime someone said that it was never a good thing. “What did you find here that I don’t know about?”

“Oh, nothing about the hotel.” Hope grinned at her. “About us.”

“Us?” Angelica furrowed her brow.Usdidn’t exist. Why did Hope always seem to press her for that? Angelica held her breath, because she was out of energy to tackle that conversation tonight. She just needed to get through the rest of today so she could get some sleep before tomorrow.

“Yeah.” Hope started to lean in, but Angelica pulled away. Hope seemed to catch herself and then stopped. “Ansel is this way.”

Angelica sighed as she sat in the chair and Ansel immediately started to pick apart her hair and makeup, moving as quickly as he could to get her ready. At the end of the thirty minutes, he disappeared to hand her an outfit. Angelica frowned at it. Josef still had his influences, unfortunately.