“This isn’t a classroom, Mr. Wilder. You don’t need to raise your hand,” Victoria says, her voice stern.
Wow. Sheisscary. I think Luke might be the first to be offed.
“Sorry,” he says. “Ms. Archer and I have been working on a plan.”
Why would he say this? She might ask what the plan is, and we don’t have one. I think we were both so shell shocked when we found out about this meeting that we couldn’t really focus on anything beyond that. We spent the next hour at Common Ground, trying to predict what they might say today, before leaving and going back to our offices with nothing solved.
She stares at him for what feels like an eternity, but is probably just a few seconds, and I wonder if this is, in fact, how he dies.
“While we appreciate the effort that’s been made so far, going forward, we’ll be taking a more active role in strategy,” Victoria says.
Translation: Everything you’ve done has been a disaster, and you’re no longer trusted to handle this alone.
Luke catches the context because he gives me a quick little side-eye glance, and I keep my face very still. I should probably try to remember how to breathe, though. It’s taking actual effort.
Victoria puts on a pair of glasses that were sitting on the table before picking up a piece of paper and holding it in front of her. “First, we would like a joint statement from Mr. Rhodes and Ms. Lockhart that will be released by the studio by Sunday. Ms. Archer and Mr. Wilder will draft it and have our legal team review it before releasing it. It needs to be coordinated, professional, and focused entirely on their dedication to the show.”
Forced to work with Luke over the weekend. Fabulous.
I look to Bailey first and then to Kara for approval before nodding in agreement. Across the table, Luke and James agree, while River looks at his hands.
“Next, Mr. Rhodes and Ms. Lockhart will coordinate social media posts showing they’re united for the show. This will also go through our legal team before posting.”
Luke raises his hand before quickly lowering it when Victoria gives him a scowl.
“Wouldn’t that look too staged after . . . everything?” he asks, skirting around the FableCon disaster.
That’s two comments from Luke. Meanwhile I’ve been a nodding mute over on my side of the table.
Get it together, Claire.
“Mr. Wilder,” Victoria says, peering over her paper at him, “everything in this industry is staged. The difference is whether it’s stagedwell.”
I take it back. Luke can make all the comments. I’ll stay silent.
“Moving on,” she says, looking back at her notes. “We will need both Mr. Rhodes and Ms. Lockhart to make a public appearance together before filming starts. At an event of our choosing and our scheduling.”
“And wha—” I say, the words coming out frog-like as I attempt to contribute to the meeting. I clear my throat, my heart thumping in my chest. “And what would you anticipate that being?”
Good one, Claire. You sound like a teenage boy going through puberty. Well done.
“That’s to be decided and at our discretion,” she says firmly.
Translation: Shut up, Claire.
“We’ll require weekly check-ins with the studio during filming. We’ll want updates on client morale, any potential issues on set, and your current strategy. Only crisis management and actors will be needed for that.”
It could be in my head, but I swear Kara lets out a relieved breath after hearing that. For my part, I feel like barfing. A weekly meeting with Victoria sounds absolutely terrible.
“Both Mr. Rhodes and Ms. Lockhart will have PR blackouts—no personal posts about each other without approval. That includes your dog, Mr. Rhodes,” she says, looking pointedly at River.
River looks down at his lap like a petulant child. Bailey, for her part, looks straight ahead at nothing. I notice she doesn’t look satisfied by this. She just looks tired.
“What about partnership posts?” Kara asks.
Victoria stares at her as if she’s slow, and Kara swallows audibly. “Those are allowed,” Victoria says before going back to her notes.
It’s quiet in the room while she scans the paper. You could probably hear a pin drop. Or perhaps Kara’s soul leaving her body.
