Page 80 of Under the Table

“I’m not giving you a choice. And if you don’t want to film it, then don’t. But I’m not going to walk out of this hotel without at least making sure that the people here are going to get paid for the work they’re doing and know what and who they’re working for. You can film it or not. But I’m sure you have enough to edit to make a reasonable episode without all of this. That or I severely underestimated your ability.” Hope crossed her arms. She was pulling her weight as Rex’s wife, and she knew that, but it was deserved this time around. He had to be aware of that.

Rex nodded at her. “Okay. And yes, we do have enough.”

“Good. Josef?”

“If Ange agrees to it, then I’ll make sure it happens.”

Oh, so now he was going to roll over for her? Hope wanted to cuss him out and put him in his place again, but she held back. It wouldn’t do her any good to be that person right now. In fact, it might be better if she or Angelica remained on Josef’s good side. And for now that was still her place.

Rex helped pull the microphone from Hope’s skin and set the pack onto the table before they left the conference room. They walked together toward the elevator, and she stopped before she hit the button and looked up at him.

“Thank you,” Hope said.

“For what?”

“I know this couldn’t have been easy for you.” She reached for his hand and laced their fingers together. “Considering the situation.”

“You’re treading on a slippery slope with her. I hope you know what you’re doing.” Rex looked down at her directly. “Because if this goes sour, it could ruin all of us. And after today, we’re all in this together.”

Hope hummed and nodded her agreement. “You’re right. And I think I know partly why she’s so upset about all of this.”

“Julian’s an asshole.”

“He’s more than that.” Hope bit her lip and looked around them to see if anyone was nearby who could hear what she had to say next. “He’s a mirror into a side of her that she didn’t want to see.”

Rex sighed. “I’m not going to begin to understand what you see in her, Hope. I just don’t.”

“I think she’s misunderstood.”

“I don’t need you to defend it.” Rex slid his hand to her neck and the back of her head, tilting her head so she was looking up at him. “I don’t understand it. But I can honor it. I think she needs you tonight.”

Hope stilled. Cold washed through her followed closely by a gentle warmth and heat. This was the wonderful, kind, and loving man she’d fallen in love with. And it was amazing to see him again. “Wh-what do you mean?”

“Ange has had a rough week, and I imagine it was tougher than she let on.” Rex bent down and pressed his lips against Hope’s. “Stay with her tonight if you want to,” he whispered against her mouth. “I’ll take a turn reading Eva her fairytales. Though I won’t do the voices right and she’ll complain, just so you know.”

Hope laughed lightly. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’m sure.”

She surged forward and kissed him hard. “I love you.”

Rex hummed an answer.

“Tell Eva I love her too.”

“Will do.” He watched her until she got in the elevator.

Hope pressed the button for Angelica’s floor and then waited impatiently. He had set the bar high on spouses, that was for sure. She’d never met someone so kind and loving as him, and she was glad that he was getting back to that unique part of himself. When she reached Angelica’s door, Hope knocked gently.

It didn’t take long, but Angelica opened the door.

“Can I come in?” Hope asked.

“Yeah.” Angelica’s voice sounded so small. God, Hope needed to fix that. So much had gone wrong in the last week, and they just needed to talk about it all and get back on track. She could do this. For them.

As soon as the door was shut, Hope stilled. “Angel… are you okay?”

Angelica stopped walking back toward the bedroom area and stayed in the hallway. She’d already discarded the blazer she’d been wearing all day, the spaghetti straps of her red blouse highlighting her shoulders.