Monday morning meant it was time for the office again. Lexi was there. Chloe and Noah, had also arrived, locked inside Chloe's office, discussing.
That early in the morning?
Was there an urgency? She couldn't help herself. After settling down she asked Lexi: "So what do you think they're talking about?"
"To tell you the truth I have absolutely no idea. And I don't want to know."
That was not like her. "Come on... You know everything!" Noelle said trying to entice her.
Lexi looked at Noelle and heaved a dramatic sigh. "It's time for you to learn something. These three have a lot of secrets. I don't know what they talk about when they close that door. I'm not in their inner circle and I like to stay out. The bigger the secret, the more dangerous it is."
Noelle looked at her in disbelief. Lexi had a vivid imagination and was always jumping to conclusions without proof. What big secrets could they have?
When their meeting finished, Noah came out and offered a cold 'good morning' to her, while Chloe waved at her from her office. Noah rightfully deserved the title of Ice King, which Noelle had given him in her head. Even though he was so incredibly handsome and composed, he gave her absolute chills. There was no possible way she could connect with him. Even though he sat at the desk directly across from her, their communication was limited to the bare minimum, usually limited to greetings. Noelle wondered how he could be friends with someone like Luca.
No matter how crazy he might be, he is at least intense and full of energy.
As always, she started doing her assignments. Around noon she heard Chloe calling her: "Noelle, could you come here for a moment please?"
Noelle got in her office and sat on the chair. "Thank you, Noelle. I have an idea, which I hope you will like. You should have the opportunity to learn more about the business and the industry during your time here. I know that things started a bit rough, but now everything seems smooth. I believe it's time for you to visit the set!"
Noelle was staring speechless.
What is she talking about? Didn't Chloe ban him from the office so we wouldn't meet each other?
"I know you might think this is difficult or even provocative, but I have confirmed with everybody that Luca is no longer concerned about you. He's actually totally focused on his work now. He's trying to prove to me that I shouldn't be worried about him, so there's no need for you to be afraid that things will get out of hand again," Chloe added.
Noelle was still speechless.
How can the Luca I met not be concerned about me any longer?
He seemed so determined to kick her out. Lexi had said it took him seven whole months to accept her. That was way too soon for him to move on.
Still, Noelle wasn't ready to turn down the proposition. When—if ever—would she get another chance to be on a set?
"Remember, you never would have met Luca if not for that coincidence. But now that everything is out in the open, I think it's a good opportunity for you to get to know him better and see what he is up against.
"Go to the set. See how films are shot and the kind of pressure he deals with daily. The countless hours, the repetition, the intensity... Next week, I'll be on a business trip and won't be able to give you the next pack of information for your paper. So, get out of this office and learn a thing or two about this business firsthand" Chloe continued, pitching her proposal.
Noelle kept smiling like a child caught without her homework and was struggling to find an excuse. She nodded unsure if she should accept.
But Chloe hasn't finished. Her eyes were glimmering, being ready to pour out her next brilliant idea.
"And something else… His true talent is singing," Chloe began.
It is indeed. I won't deny that. I just don't give a shit!
"It might sound… bolder, but it is the perfect opportunity to listen to his live performance," Chloe concluded.
Oh no... Even my rock has lost her marbles...
"Watching him perform live could give you a completely new perspective for your paper. It might affect you deeply, even touch you... He doesn't sing as much as he used to, and this pop-up show is a rare opportunity," Chloe said.
That fucking show they were talking about the day his lunatic girlfriend attacked me.
She hated the idea of that show! And she didn't need to be affected by him. He had affected her already too much.
"Thank you, Chloe, for the opportunity. But I think that Ms Bosi will be terribly upset if she sees me around during their performance. I fear how she will react," Noelle kindly let her down.
"I knew it was too much," Chloe said, apparently afraid also for Isabella's reaction. "What about a rehearsal then?" she suggested.
"Mr West would definitely disapprove."
"Isabella is not rehearsing with him. He has scheduled a private session today. As for... Mr. West, we don't need his approval for anything. I believe I must remind him who runs this business," Chloe said.
Oh! So that's what it's all about.
Noelle was being a pawn in their power games. If she was to leave, Luca West would win. If she was to stay and do more than she was supposed to, Chloe was keeping her supremacy.
Fuck…
It was time for a decision. She was trying so hard to stay away from him, for her wellbeing. But she wanted to experience those opportunities. And now she had to help Chloe win the 'fight'.
She was her boss after all and she needed a good reference letter. She didn't want to appear weak or a coward. Taking up challenges and exploiting new opportunities would look good on her resume.
"You are right, it's something that I shouldn't miss. I will be very discreet. I promise," Noelle confirmed.
"Nice choice! No need for discretion though! Go to schedule everything."
She was happy because she had won. Chloe would prove to Luca that she didn't care about his opinion.
How the hell am I getting myself into deeper trouble every time?
Back on her desk, she quickly explained to Lexi what needed to be done. Lexi was staring with eyes wide open. She slowly turned to her screen, obediently checking the calendars to find the best slot.
"Well, you can come to the set with me the day after tomorrow. He'll be filming until late July. This series has a lot of outdoor scenes. If only the permits had been issued on time! But everything was pushed back because of that urgent maintenance order for the set in the woods. Now we're stuck filming outdoors in the heart of summer!" she continued, talking to herself. She was so pissed that she had to go to the park once or twice a week in this heat.
"You can always choose another day later on if you prefer," Lexi finally proposed.
"Let me think about it," Noelle said as she wasn't so eager to get the job done so soon.
"Regarding the rehearsal... Oh! You can go today! He has training in half an hour in studio two!" Lexi said triumphantly.
Oh no! No no no!!
She wasn't ready! Noelle was hardly ready for the day after tomorrow. She could not find the strength to get on her feet and go in thirty minutes to watch his rehearsal. "Couldn't we pick another day for that too?" she counter proposed.
"Sweetie, I don't think it's possible. After today he has a solo training on Friday evening and then he is having his final rehearsals with Isabella."
It was a dead end. She felt trapped, and a wave of panic began to engulf her. She'd never had a panic attack before but had read about the symptoms. Now, she was experiencing them: lightheadedness, a cold sweat, a dry mouth, accelerated heart rate..
She took a deep, steadying breath.
I have to prove myself to Chloe.
"Okay... let's go today, then," she said, her lips forcing a smile.
She then turned to Lexi with a practical concern that was making her anxious. "How am I supposed to watch the rehearsal?"
She remembered the studios she had seen days before, when showing her around. From what she'd seen, there was no way she could stay unnoticed.
"I'll join you. I'm on babysitting duty today anyway. Luca will be in the recording booth and we will be in the control room, listening through the headsets," Lexi replied casually.
"But then..." Noelle started saying, but stopped herself before sounding like such a chicken.
"Then? What's up?" Lexi asked as she couldn't understand.
"She doesn't want to be seen," came an unexpected voice from across. Noah was sitting there the whole time, working on his computer, but apparently had heard everything. And he had read through Noelle's hesitation.
"The window in studio two is relatively small. There is a yellow sofa, on your right when you enter. If you sit there nobody will be able to see you, unless they squeeze their face on the window," Noah told her, without bothering looking at her.
"Oh, thanks," Noelle responded as she had manners.
"You know everything, from the old days, huh?" Lexi asked him casually, since she was more close to him. Not close. Just closer.
"Luca used to hide there to scare me. That's how I know it," he replied. Noelle thought how funny that was. The solution to her problem was offered by the same person she was avoiding.
Now, all I gotta do is get through this with my head still on my neck.
She was a pawn about to make her first move.