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“I need to be in the zone, and your presence is throwing me off.” Timothy looked down at me with a cold and unfamiliar gaze, the disgust clear in his eyes. It was a far cry from the flirtatious and sexual looks he’d given me in the past.
“I’m sorry,” I said, my voice quivering as I tried to sound apologetic. “Can we go over our scene together?”
“I need an actor who is fully invested and focused on the performance,” he replied, turning his attention away from me and towards Tomma. “Tomma, you’re ready, aren’t you?”
She smiled seductively, tossing her hazelnut-colored hair as she fluttered her lashes at him. “Of course, always ready for you, Timmy.”
My heart sank as I watched the exchange. I knew dating Spencer, the producer, would cause some whispers, but I never expected it to affect my relationship with Timothy.
Mercedes, sensing my distress, came to my side. “Do you need help with your mic?” she asked softly.
“Yes, please,” I said, gratefully accepting her offer. I took a deep breath, trying to push aside my worries and focus on the performance. If I didn’t bring my A-game tonight, all my hard work would be for nothing.
* * *
It could have been a disaster,but thankfully it wasn’t. The audience seemed oblivious to any issues, judging by the enthusiastic applause. I wasn’t sure if anyone in the cast had noticed, but I wasn’t about to bring it to their attention.
After a quick change in the dressing room, I emerged to find that the backstage crowd had thinned. Spencer was waiting for me, as promised, but he looked just as preoccupied as he had all night.
“Thanks for sticking around,” I said, kissing his cheek. “I’m more than ready to head home.”
“Our car is waiting,” he replied.
As we made our way towards the exit, I couldn’t help asking, “Was it that terrible?”
“What are you referring to?” he asked.
“The performance between Timothy and me. It felt stilted and awkward.”
Spencer frowned and gazed down at me. “Really?”
“You can’t tell me you didn’t notice,” I said. “It’s been bothering you all night.”
“From where I was sitting, everything looked fine,” he said, sounding genuinely surprised.
His sincere tone made it difficult for me to doubt him. If he had noticed nothing amiss, then something else must have been weighing on his mind.
“So, what’s been bothering you?” I asked, taking his hand. I tried to keep my voice light, but I must have conveyed some concern because he forced a smile when he looked at me.
“I spoke with my father last night,” he admitted. “He was making demands, but it’s nothing for you to worry about.”
I could tell he didn’t want me to ask for details, which made me want to ask even more, but I didn’t. Despite Spencer’s reassurances, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He was hiding something, and it was worrying me. I didn’t want anything to be troubling him, especially not something as serious as his father making demands. I took his hand and looked up at him, my concern for him clear in my eyes. I didn’t want to push him, but I couldn’t ignore my instincts. I squeezed his hand, silently letting him know I was there for him, no matter what.
THIRTY-ONE
SPENCER
This was certainly turningout to be a week full of surprises. A text message from my twin, Anne, jolted me awake this morning. She and Gabriella would land at JFK and I should come to the airport to pick them up. This was more of a shock than anything else. Although my sisters had been to see my show on the West End, I had never expected any member of my family to visit the States to see the performance.
So, I summoned the car service I’d been using since I arrived in New York and made my way to JFK. As I waited for their private plane to touch down, I quickly tapped out a message to London.
“Two of my sisters have decided to pay me a visit. Would you be interested in meeting us for lunch? I’m sure Anne and Gabriella would love to meet you,” I wrote.
London was quick to respond. “That sounds good. Want me to make a reservation?”
I sent her a quick message, thanking her and asking for the restaurant’s name and when we should meet. Just as I finished my response, my sisters emerged from the plane, both looking far too fresh and radiant for having spent almost ten hours on a plane.
“Surprise!” Anne exclaimed as she hugged me tightly.
