Whoa!
How did I just go from a critical spy mission to picturing Park as a father?
I’ve got to keep my head in the game.
Besides, Park made it clear earlier this morning that whatever we had between us was over now. After this, we’d both go our separate ways like good little rule followers. Except now I hate the rules I made. They were supposed to protect my heart, not break it.
“Yes, it’s my fault we’re late,” I mumble to Mary. What excuse would an actress accept? My eyes brighten as one pops into my head. “Makeup on this guy took forever.” I pat Todd’s shoulder. “But don’t worry, I worked my magic. He looks ten years younger now.”
Mary brushes her hair back from her face, glancing at Todd. “Is this the improv actor you were telling me about?”
“Yes, this is the guy playing the part of Todd Allen today.” Park wheels him over to the metal chair and transfers him into it. The chair has no arms, so keeping Todd’s lifeless body from falling out presents a bit of a challenge.
“Todd Allen.”Mary rolls the name off her lips as if she’s getting used to it. She walks around to the other side of the table, taking the seat across from Todd, completely unfazed by his lack of responsiveness. Like how does she not have a single question about why he’s knocked out right now? “And he’s my broker?”
“That’s correct.” Park straightens, looking at her. “Remember, this is a live improv audition for both of you. Neither one of you can break character until the director says so.”
“Don’t worry about me.” Mary crosses her legs, keeping her back upright. “I never break character.”
“And you can do a Russian accent, right?” I hope she’ll demonstrate it for us to see what we’re dealing with.
Instead, she puffs out a mocking laugh. “I’m an actress. I can do every accent.”
I glance at Park, not even bothering to hide the concern in my eyes.
“It’ll be fine,” he mouths to me. Park steps toward Mary. “Do you have any questions about the role you’ll be playing today? You’re Sasha Petrov, an independent weapons dealer from Russia. You just arrived in Seattle to purchase chemical weapons. Todd Allen is the broker, and nobody but you knows he’s a double agent in the CIA. Ideally, we’d like to see you get him to admit that he’s working for both sides.”
“Yes, yes, yes.” She waves his words away. “I know what I’m doing. We went over this last night.”
Park points to the tiny camera in the corner. “We’ll be watching outside the shed—”
“And the director?” Mary cuts in. “He’ll be watching to see if he wants to cast me in the movie, right?”
Park nods. “Yes, the director is watching. So you just need to wow everyone with your performance.”
I incline my body toward her, wanting to add to what Park’s already said. “In this scene, Sasha is also trying to get Todd to confess out loud that he’s selling the weapons Dr. Nicholas Lawrence designed and built. He has in his possession two microchips that he needs to give you. The chips have the weapon codes and the location of the missiles on them.”
“Once Todd gives you the computer chips, and you confirm with him that the files are on them, you can hand over the money.” Park bends, patting the briefcase under the desk.
Mary nods. “I don’t know why we’re going over this scene again. We went through all the details yesterday. I’ve been prepping for the role all morning.”
Park smiles at her. “We just want to make sure you understand your part.”
“I shouldn’t have to remind you that I played Darby Shultz inThe Mafia King.”Mary wags her finger in front of him. “Sasha Petrov is nothing compared to Darby.”
Park leans down, placing his hands on the table. He looks into Mary’s eyes, and a kind smile moves across his lips. “I have all the confidence in the world that you’ll be amazing.”
Mary blushes at his compliment. Not like a woman flattered by Park’s charms but as a woman beaming with pride from his faith in her. My heart warms, and this moment is just more proof that Park’s a good guy. The type of guy a woman would want to spend every Christmas with for the rest of her life. Too bad he doesn’t want that with me.
“Are you ready to give the performance of your lifetime?” he asks.
Mary lifts her chin. “I was born for this role.”
I don’t actually think she wasbornto play the part of a Russian weapons dealer, but I appreciate her enthusiasm for the project.
“Improvisation is the name of the game. Just roll with whatever Todd says, but most importantly, get him to mention something about being a double agent and get the computer chips. If you do all of that, I’m positive the director will cast you in the movie.”
Mary rolls her shoulders back. “He’d be a fool not to.”
