The backlot of Studio 4 was a maze of trailers, tangled cables, and PAs smoking cigarettes with the thousand-yard stare of war veterans.
Aria walked toward the exit, phone pressed to her ear.
"No," she said into the receiver. "I’m not going to the wrap party. I’m coming ho. We still have half the Delta list to get through, and my eyes are already crossing."
"You don’t have to punish yourself," Damien’s voice rumbled on the other end, warm and low. "Take the night off. Celebrate. You just wrapped a hit."
"I’ll celebrate when we find the thief," Aria countered, stepping over a coil of thick black wire. "Besides, The Rusty Anchor slls like stale beer and bad decisions. I’d rather have takeout on your office floor again."
Damien chuckled. "I can arrange that. I’ll see you in twenty—"
A shrill, familiar scream echoed off the aluminum siding of the star wagons, cutting him off.
Aria froze. It wasn’t acting. It lacked the polish. This was raw, ssy, unscripted drama.
"Aria?" Damien asked sharply. "What was that?"
"Hold on," Aria whispered, moving toward a stack of lighting equipnt. She peered around the corner. "I think the circus is still in town. I have to go."
"Aria—"
She hung up, sliding the phone into her pocket but keeping her hand on it.
Tucked in the narrow, shadowed alley between two massive trailers were Lucas and Bella.
Bella looked deranged. Her "Saintess" mask was gone, replaced by the blotchy, red-faced fury of a woman scorned. She was shoving Lucas, her hands smacking against his chest with ineffectual rage.
"Don’t lie to !" Bella screeched, her voice cracking. "I tracked your location! I know you weren’t at the gym! You think I’m stupid?"
"You’re being crazy," Lucas hissed, grabbing her wrists to stop the assault. He looked around frantically, his eyes wide with panic. "Keep your voice down. The press is everywhere. Do you want to end up on TMZ?"
Aria grinned. ’Yes, she does,’ she thought.
She pulled out her phone again. She opened the cara app, switched to video, and zood in.
’Content,’ she mused, hitting record.
This was gold. She imagined the press tour for the movie—sitting between them on interview panels while they despised each other, the awkward photos, the forced smiles. It was going to be the most entertaining marketing campaign in history.
She planned to post this on a burner TikTok account later. ’Exclusive: The Emperor and the Saintess breakup. #Drama #Karma.’
She was about to stop recording—it was just the usual "you don’t love anymore" drivel—when Bella dropped the bomb.
"I know you’re fucking her!" Bella yelled, tearing her hands free and stomping her foot. "That whore from The Velvet Room! The redhead!"
Aria went still. Her thumb hovered over the stop button.
The Velvet Room.
"It’s not what you think!" Lucas argued, looking sweaty. "It’s business! She’s... she’s helping with sothing!"
"Helping you with what?" Bella laughed, a cruel, mocking sound that grated on the ears. "Helping you be a loser? Helping you spend the money you don’t have? I saw you, Lucas! I followed you two days ago! You t her in that dark alley on 5th Street!"
"Stop following !"
"I saw you hand her that envelope!" Bella scread, poking him in the chest. "What was in it? Cash? Jewelry? Did you give her the bracelet you promised ?"
"It was... private!" Lucas shouted back. "And she listens to ! She doesn’t treat like an accessory! She respects !"
"She’s a hooker, Lucas! She’s paid to respect you!" Bella shrieked. "She treats you like a mark! I saw her laughing as she walked away!"
Aria lowered the phone slightly, her mind racing.
Two days ago. That was the night the ledger was stolen from Julian’s apartnt. And Lucas was eting a redhead from The Velvet Room in an alleyway to hand off an envelope.
It was suspicious. Highly suspicious.
But was it proof?
There were plenty of redheads in the city. And sex workers wore wigs all the ti. Just because Lucas was cheating with a redhead didn’t an it was the redhead of the three won who robbed Julian. It could just be Lucas being his usual, sleazy self, paying for attention he couldn’t get at ho.
"So what?" Lucas sneered, fixing his jacket. "You’re jealous. It’s pathetic."
"Jealous?" Bella whipped her phone out of her pocket. "I’m not jealous. I’m ard. I recorded you! I have video of you with her! I have her face! I have you handing over the envelope! If you try to dump , I will leak it! I will ruin you!"
Aria’s heart hamred against her ribs.
Video.
Bella had a video. A clear shot of the woman. If Aria could see that face, she could verify if the woman was one of the three suspects.
"You’re psycho," Lucas spat, backing away, his face pale. "Do whatever you want. I’m done. We’re done."
He turned and stord off toward the parking lot, leaving Bella screaming obscenities at his back.
"I hate you!" Bella howled. "I hope you die alone!"
Aria ended the recording on her own phone.
She watched Bella, who was now sobbing and furiously typing on her screen—probably threatening him via text.
Aria stepped back into the shadows, thinking.
She needed to see that video. But stealing the phone was ssy. Bella would scream theft, make a scene, maybe even involve the police. And Aria didn’t want to get her hands dirty if she didn’t have to.
No. There was a better way.
Bella was angry. She was humiliated. She wanted to hurt Lucas. She just needed a little... encouragent. A little nudge to pull the trigger.
"The Wrap Party," Aria whispered to herself.
The Director had said drinks were at The Rusty Anchor. Everyone would be there. Alcohol would be flowing. Bella would be there, looking for sympathy and revenge.
Aria pulled up Damien’s contact again.
[Aria: Change of plans. I’m going to the wrap party. Don’t wait up.]
She hit send.
A slow, predatory smile curved her lips. She didn’t need to be a thief tonight. She just needed to be a very supportive sister.
She opened a new ssage thread.
[Aria: Are you busy? I’m moving our night out up. Wrap party at The Rusty Anchor.]
[Zoe: Ugh, I’m stuck in a zoom call with a potential client who thinks ’brand synergy’ ans matching socks. Give an hour. I’ll et you there. I need to network anyway; I hear the Director is looking for new rep.]
[Aria: Perfect. Bring maybe a tissue for Bella?]
[Zoe: Ooooh. Drama. I’ll Uber over as soon as I escape.]
Aria grinned, smoothing her shirt and walking toward the black SUV where her driver was waiting.
Reviews
All reviews (0)