I take a deep breath. I can’t tell them about the PR contract, or Liam’s dyslexia, or that he and I are in love. None of those things are my secrets to tell, and I don’t want them to think our stars are anything but what they appear to be. “In our second week of rehearsals, Mr. Quinn admitted he was having trouble learning his lines. He requested I run lines with him each night to prepare for the following day. I agreed.”
Marco nods. “I can attest that Liam was having trouble with his lines. After Elissa intervened, he seemed much more at ease.”
“Why would he need you to run lines?” Ava asks. “Surely he has an assistant for that sort of thing.”
I clasp my hands together so hard, my knuckles crack. “His assistant had to return to England unexpectedly. Sick father. Mr. Quinn asked me to help in David’s absence.”
Mary breathes a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank God. I thought for a minute we were in trouble. I’m sorry, Elissa. I should have known better than to doubt you.”
Ava cocks her head. “I still don’t understand why you had to undertake a task that any number of people could have done.”
“Mr. Quinn has worked with me before. I guess he felt comfortable around me. I was hesitant to agree because I knew it would look bad, but Marco advised us to keep our stars happy at all costs, so I didn’t feel refusing would be appropriate.”
“And that’s all you did? Worked on lines? There was nothing else going on?” I feel like Ava is trying to see into my soul.
I keep my face passive. “I tried very hard to keep our sessions as short and professional as possible.”
“And did you succeed?”
I swallow. My face is hot. I can’t sit here and lie to these people. I really can’t. I’d never be able to live with myself.
“No. I didn’t.”
Marco’s shock is audible. So is Mary’s.
Ava seems satisfied that I just admitted something she already knew. “Thank you for being honest, Elissa. I should mention that the e-mail came with this attachment.”
She holds up an iPad and presses “play.” Footage of Liam and me kissing in the rain comes into focus. It looks like it was taken from across the street, but whatever device recorded it had a mighty zoom. The footage goes from a wide shot to a close-up in seconds, and if there was any doubt about the identity of the “nameless brunette” in the magazine pictures, there isn’t anymore. There’s my face, clear as day. When Liam picks me up and presses me against the wall, Marco drops his head and rubs his eyes.
Mary utters a quiet, “Shit,” and shakes her head.
“What possessed you to do something like this, Elissa?” Ava asks, incredulous. “With an engaged man? On a show you’re running? I’ve never known you to behave in such a reckless and unprofessional manner.”
I look at the floor and shake my head. Even if I could tell them the truth, it wouldn’t excuse what I’ve done. I’ve broken every one of my professional rules of conduct, and now I’m paying the price.
“I’m sorry.” I hate that I can feel the force of their disapproval hanging in the air. “I’ve behaved shamefully, and I apologize unreservedly for my actions. You all put your faith in me and I’ve let you down.”
Ava nods. “I appreciate your apology, but given the circumstances, I’m afraid you can’t continue working on this production. You’re fired.”
Marco flinches. “Ava, no. I need Elissa. Despite her admission, she’s still the best stage manager around.”
“We have no choice,” Ava says. “The threat in the e-mail is to fire her or the film clip will be made public. You tell me, which one is going to be more damaging to our show?”
“So we’re going to give in to anonymous threats now?”
“How would you suggest we handle it, Marco? Ignore it and hope it doesn’t happen? Liam will be reviled if it comes to light that this wasn’t an isolated incident. He’s been carrying on with Elissa behind Angel’s back for weeks. All those tickets we sold because people wanted to see a changed man back with his one true love will be canceled in the blink of an eye. People will stay away in droves and our show will close. You know it as well as I do.”
My throat is tight and my breathing is shallow, but I refuse to cry. I made my bed, and now I have to have the grace to lie in it without becoming a whiny little bitch.
I put my hand on Marco’s arm. “The show will be fine without me. I’ll make sure Josh is up to speed on everything, and Denise can step in as his assistant. He won’t let you down, I promise.”
Marco doesn’t say anything. He just clenches his jaw and nods. I hate seeing him so upset. “I’m sorry, Marco.”
“As am I, dear girl. You will be missed.”
I give his arm a squeeze, and stand. “I’ll need an hour or so to wrap things up and hand over the reins to Josh, then I’ll leave. I have no doubt you’ll have an amazing season. It’s a wonderful show. You should all be proud.”
As I head to the door, Ava says something about a severance package, but I barely hear her. I wander backstage in a daze until I find Josh.
“Hey. We need to talk.”
After I explain the situation, he reacts precisely as I would have predicted.