the kitchen counter. Deposit of first and last month’s rent is due today, and you can move in on the first.”
“Sounds great.” Luke extended his arm to the agent, who then smiled and shook his hand.
“Excuse me, please. I need to make a phone call.” He retreated back into the house, and Elle turned to Luke, a smile of excitement crossing her lips.
“Congratulations! I’m so excited for you!”
“Thank you.” Luke grinned, then lifted Elle off her feet and spun her around the deck, his hands clutching her rib cage. For a split second, Elle wanted to slap his arm and demand to be put down. But then she forced herself to let go, to enjoy the moment. And within seconds, she was laughing with Luke, her hair blowing in the ocean breeze. When her toes touched the wood of the deck, she gazed into his carefree eyes, enveloped in his lively, seize-life-whenever-you-can outlook. And she liked it. She liked it a lot.
“We should get back. I’ve kept you away too long.”
“Don’t be silly, it’s okay. We have plenty of time.” Elle smoothed down her clothes, still trying to adjust to the brisk breeze of the deck. “Although, if I’m even a few minutes late, I’ll have daggers from Gina.”
Luke chuckled. “And how is that different from any other day? She always has daggers for you.”
“Ugh, I know. It’s exhausting.”
“You could kill her off,” Luke joked. Elle allowed herself to savor that thought for a quick moment, before shaking her head and returning to reality.
“Nah. We’re losing Desmond. If I take Molly out of the equation, it won’t even be the same show anymore.”
“Would that be so awful? It could be a fresh start.”
There was that term again. Troy had used it the previous week in his living room, and now Luke was using it in reference to the show.
“Or career suicide . . . for both of us. Molly is the heart and soul of the show. Even if the actress who plays her is a total pill.”
“Don’t let her get to you. She’s not worth your time.” Luke took Elle’s hand in his and they walked into the kitchen, where he signed the contracts and handed a check to the leasing agent.
As he handed the pen to the leasing agent, Elle smiled. “Welcome home.”
Even though Elle and Luke were five minutes late, the lead actors were nowhere to be found in the conference room. Their table read wasn’t nearly finished and they were scheduled to run until at least 4:00 p.m., if not longer. The supporting cast was seated, ready to begin, but Gina and Nolan were absent. Elle wondered where they could be.
“Um . . . that’s odd.”
“Should I go look for them? See what’s holding them up?” Luke offered, placing his hand on the knob.
“No, I’ll do it. You can look over your script and I’ll be right back. Text me if they show up, okay?”
Perplexed, Elle walked down the hallway, hoping she wouldn’t interrupt a lovers’ quarrel of some kind. She braced herself as she walked in the direction of the executive offices. When she turned a corner into the atrium, she heard shouting.
Oh boy.
She followed the screeching voice of Gina, who was standing in the doorway to Whitney’s office.
“I can’t believe this! You said it was over!”
“Baby, listen to me.” Nolan could be heard from inside the office.
“Baby?” Whitney yelled, sounding appalled. “Since when is she your baby? Did you get back together with her?”
“I’m sorry, Whit. I can exp—”
“Don’t apologize to her!” Gina shrieked, stomping her foot against the linoleum floor. “I am so done. You begged me, pleaded with me for another chance. And being the idiot I am, I gave it to you. But now I’m done. You can fuck off, Nolan Rivera. And take your little whore with you!”
Gina wiped her cheeks and stormed toward Elle, whose feet were frozen to the floor. Gina’s cheeks were the color of a blasting fire engine. Elle felt terrible for her, unable to comprehend how it must feel to be the victim of infidelity. It was one of her biggest fears, and seeing it transpire right in front of her eyes was gut-wrenching.
“You knew about this, didn’t you?” Gina’s eyes were bulging from their sockets. Outrage poured from her skin.
“No! No, I promise you, I had no clue.”
“I don’t believe you.” Tears streamed down Gina’s cheeks as she yelled. “I gotta get outta here.”
“Listen, take the day. We have the table read, but it’s