Page 80 of House of Deceit

“Sir, today the chef has prepared a delicious Wagyu steak with—”

“Yes, please. Whatever he has prepared is fine. Please serve the wine,” he interrupts.

“Yes, sir. Excuse me, sir.”

Each bite of the exquisite meal sits like lead in my stomach as the thought rises of Charlie eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or something equally as pitiful that I know production has planned.

Cochran’s staff invisibly bustle around us. Never once do we want for anything; you’d think our plates and cups were self-filling. The food is delicious and yet it tastes like dirt in my mouth, the steak from last night infinitely better. But that might have more to do with the company I had.

My suit feels like sandpaper against my body as I chafe at the desire to hop back in the helicopter and sprint away. Tom regales me with stories of directing Hollywood blockbusters, leading actor squabbles, and the joys of watching the product of your blood, sweat, and tears win awards.

“Let’s talk about how you want to be a director. Where did the desire come from?” he asks, the first real question of the interview.

I sit up. “My mom. She showed me the world of storytelling and I’ve been in love ever since. To have a vision and to make something exactly as imagined…” I trail off. “It’s art. It’s moving art and I just want a chance to be the artist.”

“My boy, I couldn’t have put it better myself. It’ll be a lot of long days. Time away. Are you ready for that? It can make life difficult.”

Charlie’s smile enters my mind, but still, I say, “I’m positive.”

I feel each grain of sand as it falls in the hourglass of my life. Each moment, excruciating. Every rotation of the blades above my head, I change my mind on whether I should tell Charlie about my interview. I promised her it was us in this together, but I don’t want her to think I’m using her.

After an eternity, the mansion comes into view and my heart squeezes at being so close to her once again. The second I’m given the signal, I jump out and hustle into the mansion, my red tie flapping in the wind.

My jacket hits the ground as I walk into my office. This job is the chance I’ve been looking for and yet, I’m not as excited as I thought I’d be now that it’s here.

Loosening my tie, I toe off my shoes, my only thought on catching a glimpse of the woman that consumes my every thought, even when my dream might become a reality. Before I can log onto my computer to check on Charlie, my phone vibrates with Sheila’s name popping up on the screen. Opening the message, I see Charlie will have to wait.

Answering the summons, I make my way to Sheila’s office, taking a moment to put my shoes back on. She wouldn’t find my shoeless state funny. Her door is open, so I walk in without bothering to knock.

“You’re here late,” I say to her, sitting down in my usual chair.

“I had a few things to finish up and I wanted to talk to you about your meeting with Tom. How did it go?”

“It went well. He offered me the job.”

“I knew he would. He would be a fool not to, though it’s a loss for us. When do you start?”

“He starts casting meetings in two weeks, but I mentioned to him my contract with House of Deceit isn’t complete for another few weeks. I told him I’d need to check with you before committing. He said I can take the weekend.”

“Don’t worry about that,” she says, waving away my concern. “We’ll find someone to replace you with Price, if that’s what you’re worried about. She would still be taken care of. Getting in on the ground level, from the first moment, is a big deal,” she tells me. “I can give her to the wrangler of the person that leaves this week.”

“She and I are in a good rhythm. I would hate to mess up her chances.”

For the first time in the ten years I’ve known Sheila, her voice softens.

“Alec,” she says, clasping her hands on her desk in front of her. “I have talked to every contact I have. Raved about you to anyone who would listen. This is your shot. I know you take your job seriously, it’s why you’re so important to me and losing you will be a huge pain in my ass, but you may never get another chance like this.

“Take the few days, but Alec, you will hate yourself if you don’t take it. I promise.”

I nod, knowing she’s right. But maybe this dream isn’t the thing that matters anymore.

“I understand. I’ll let you know what I decide. And I just want to say thank you, for being my mentor for all these years,” I say, feeling oddly emotional that she cares so much about my career progression.

“All right, well, sounds good. Now get out of my office.”

Without further prompting, I leave and head back to my significantly smaller office and pull up the live feed. Charlie is reading in the library, a robe loosely tied around her. I’m surprised she’s not asleep, but glad I get a moment to watch her relax.

Cain comes in on a tear. They begin shouting at each other, seeming to be resuming a previous fight. Confused, I try to pull up footage from earlier in the day to determine what the issue was, but Charlie stands from her chair, her book falling to the ground. Both fuming, they stand there staring at each other, until they aren’t.

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