Page 116 of Rebel Romeo

I run out of my dressing room and rush for the stage, nearly skidding to a halt when I find Holden standing center stage next to his father, but Ellis is nowhere in sight.

“Hey,” I slow down as I cross to Holden, offering him a smile that I hope isn’t shaky. “Is everything okay?”

“Katherine, we have some ch?—”

“There’s been a change,” Erik Dorsey booms. My smile fades and I glance at the senator, unable to rearrange my face out of the scowl. “It was clear when I saw rehearsal yesterday that Ellis is not ready to step into Nolan’s role.”

Confused, I look between Holden and his dad. “You fired Ellis?”

“I didn’t do anything,” Holden sneers, a look of disdain washing over his face.

“I fired Ellis,” Erik states simply.

“Wow.” I cross my arms over my chest and take a step into Erik. I refuse to be afraid of this man anymore. “Ellis and Missy in less than twenty-four hours. Who’s next?”

Other than a jump at his jaw muscle, Erik doesn’t take my bait. “Test me and find out,” he states simply.

“So what now? We have less than two weeks until previews and reviewers sit in that audience and expect a show and now we’re down another leading man.”

“We’re not down a leading man,” Erik says.

“We’re not?” I ask.

“No.” Erik’s hand falls heavily on Holden’s shoulders. “We’re not.”

Holden looks up at me and for the first time I see the dark bluish bags beneath his eyes. The stress creasing the corners of his mouth.

“You want Holden to take Nolan’s part,” I whisper.

“That’s right,” Erik says. “I saw him do the scene with you yesterday when Ellis wasn’t getting it. Nolan was good, don’t get me wrong. But we all know that you on stage with my son is explosive. It’s the best option for the show.”

“You’re right.” I whisper. Both Erik and Holden’s gazes snap to me in shock, but I simply shrug, a little smile spreading on my face. “Well, he is. Holden, you can’t honestly tell me that Ellis and I were good together this last week.”

Holden sighs and fidgets with his grandfather’s spinner ring, now back on his finger. I might have smiled to myself at the movement, except I can’t understand why Holden seems so bothered by this. Erik is right. It’s clearly the right move for the show.

My heart sinks. “Do you not want to act with me?”

“No,” Holden answers quickly. “It’s not that. The problem is, I can’t act and direct the show all at once. This isn’t a movie where I can rewatch a scene we just filmed.”

Erik rolls his eyes. “You are so dramatic. You will still be the director. We’re simply bringing in a proxy to be your eyes and ears for these last two weeks. Your name is still on the marquis as the director.”

Holden whips around stepping to get into his father’s face. They’re roughly the same height, although Holden has about forty pounds of muscle on his dad. “I’m not being dramatic!” he shouts. “This show was supposed to be me stepping out of the spotlight finally. And now you want to bring in?—”

“This show is being bankrolled by me!” His dad shouted back. “And while I’m willing to lose a little money for you to follow your dreams, I’m not willing to see this go down the tubes because you’re too proud to accept help!”

“Holden!” I cry. “Stop!” I place my hands on his shoulders where the muscles are so tensed, they’re like granite. “Stop,” I repeat. “Your dad’s right this time. You’re going to be phenomenal in this part. And so what? Someone comes in to help assist you. You’re still the director. It’s still your vision being brought to life onstage. And you’ll still have final say, right Mr. Dorsey?”

“Mostly, yes.”

“Mostly,” Holden snorts. “Great.”

I cup Holden’s jaw, brushing my thumbs across the rasp of his five o’clock shadow. “I don’t understand the problem. What am I missing?”

Holden sighs. “I don’t think my Dad’s choice for assistant director is capable of letting me have final say. Or any say whatsoever.”

Oh, God. Please don’t tell me it’s Missy. How could he have just fired her to bring her right back? That would be crazy, right?

Behind me, heels click across the stage in slow, calculating footsteps. The gait is calm and collected and I know that walk. I know the sound of those footsteps in my bones.

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