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In my office. Urgent.]
Apparently writing full sentences is a complete waste of her time.
[Alma
Coming. Immediately.]
Not sure she’ll appreciate my attitude.
I make my entrance with as much confidence as I can muster. I know how Kate operates now: the slightest hesitation on my part, a tiny crack in my shell, and she’ll seize on it. The scathing remarks will come thick and fast. Over time, I’ve learned to read her better. The only way to avoid one of her outbursts is to stay one step ahead. Play her game and make your presence known. Never knock on her door when she has used the word “urgent.” Storm into her lair, head held high, gaze steady, ready to handle the crisis.
“I guess you were waiting for me in the conference room?” she asks without looking up from her screen.
“That was the plan, but here I am.”
“Sorry for keeping you waiting.”
Am I dreaming or did she just apologize?
Kate studies me for a moment, her gaze piercing. “That’s a pretty dress. I have one that’s almost the same. Azzaro?”
“If only…” I laugh softly. “Massimo Dutti.”
“Which just goes to show, you don’t need to spend a fortune to make an impression.”
First, my sentimental brother, and now Kate is scaring me, too… Is a drop in blood pressure responsible? Therapy? Meditation and sophrology?
“Was there an emergency?” I ask cautiously, sitting down across from her.
“Yes. I was just trying to take my mind off things for a few seconds, so I wouldn’t explode. Basically, Skylight is at it again. Well, I assume it’s them…”
“What’s the problem this time? I thought the new security measures meant we were untouchable!”
“They’ll always find a way. This time, rather than stealing our scripts and our actors, or sabotaging our premieres, they’ve decided to screw up our shoots.”
“French Kiss?!”
“The studios called me this morning. A good portion of the equipment was destroyed overnight. The sets, too. According to the cinematographer, it’s going to put us at least ten days behind schedule and cost us hundreds of thousands of euros. At the very least.”
I can hear the fury in her voice, but she seems to be keeping it under control. A month ago, such a discovery would have driven her mad with rage and everyone would have gotten an earful, starting with me.
“Did you notify the authorities, or should I take care of it?”
“It’s done, but the police won’t find anything, I’d bet my life on it.” She sighs. “Our competitors are too smart to leave evidence behind.”
“Does Vadim know?”
“Yes, but his schedule was too full for him to go there today. Apparently, he’s heading over tomorrow to assess the damage. But I guess you know that already…?”
I nod, pretending that she’s guessed correctly.
46
Alma
It’s late afternoon, and I’ve been knocking on the door of Vadim’s suite for a while with no response. Finally, it swings open.
“Hi, I’m Manon Demystifies’s assistant. Mr. King is busy, so if you wouldn’t mind waiting…”
