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Chapter 8: Let the Games Begin

Waiting for his wife to get back from a date was the most unnerving experience of Rome’s life. Well, maybe not quite. Being locked in his parents’ house in Verona, and then in their apartment in Milan, had been pretty unnerving, especially when he’d been told Ella had killed herself. Also, witnessing Mark’s murder and Tim’s drowning had also been unnerving. But other than those tragic incidents… sitting on the sofa in the living room, waiting for Ella to come through the door, was more difficult than anything he’d ever done.

She’d sent him a text about twenty minutes ago that she was on her way home but that she wanted to wait until she got there to talk to him. He wasn’t sure if that was because she wasn't alone in the car, what with Charles being with her, or if it was because she needed some time to decompress, but he couldn’t blame her for wanting a few moments before she was bombarded with a million questions from him. He wished there was something he could do to eat up the time, but turning on the TV had been useless, and having his phone in his hand just made him want to call her.

Finally, a few minutes after he’d given in to pacing behind the couch, lights shown through the front windows. She was home. He couldn’t help but run to the door to greet her.

Ella got out of the car, not looking like herself at all. It was strange; even though he had watched this transformation take effect, he was still startled to see her look more like the imagined Juliet Montague than Ella Verona. She even carried herself differently when she was this other woman.

The facade seemed to melt away the closer she got to him, but she still didn’t have the long dark hair he’d fallen in love with, or the soft curves. She was hardened muscle, with a severe haircut in a bright red. He still loved her just the same, because, ultimately, she was the same person, but the more Juliet became a part of their lives, the more Ella seemed to be slipping away.

“I’m glad you’re home,” she said, which was exactly what he was thinking. She wrapped her arms around him, and he kissed her. He immediately wondered if perhaps Henry Caron had done the same and felt his stomach constrict. She smelled like a club--like smoke and spilled drinks and that mass of body odor that conglomerates and seems to wind its way into everything, even when the person in question hasn’t been dancing and doesn’t have BO themselves. Her perfume hid it well. But there, in the background, there was a note of cologne. Male cologne. French cologne. It turned his stomach.

Remembering her comment, Rome led her to the porch swing. “I left the set early. They’re having problems with that stupid robot again.” He couldn’t help but sigh. This movie was such a waste of time. He’d give anything to just walk away. But he couldn’t do that, not if he wanted his parents to be able to enjoy their retirement. He shouldn’t even care, but he’d made his mother a promise.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here. That was the worst hour and a half of my life.” She rolled her eyes when she said it, but then similar thoughts to the ones he’d had earlier must’ve hit and she amended her statement. “One of them anyway.”

“So… how was it? Did he say anything about… Ella?”

“You mean about me?” She poked him in the leg and smiled. “I am still Ella, you know?”

“I know, but when you’re dressed like that and look like that, it’s hard to remember not to separate the two of you.”

She nodded in understanding. “He did. He said I reminded him of her, which scared the crap out of me. But I told him I didn’t see it, and by the end, he was asking me a lot of questions about Juliet’s background. So I told him the elaborate backstory we’d come up with. I think he bought it.”

“That’s good. I’m sure it was clear to see he was interested in getting to know you--Juliet--better?”

“I think so.” She looked a little sick to her stomach herself. “We’re going out again next Thursday. To some swanky restaurant he’s always wanted to try.”

Rome couldn’t manage to get the words out to express his feelings about that. All he managed was, “Okay.” He knew she didn’t like it any better than he did.

The true burning question, the one he wanted to ask more than anything else, and yet, still didn’t want to know, was, had he kissed her? He’d hoped she’d tell him without him having to ask, but when she didn’t, he debated about whether or not to ask.

Eventually, she said, “I got out of there this time with a kiss on the cheek. I turned my head at the last moment. I probably won’t be able to keep doing that.”

Rome nodded in agreement. Probably not. The queasiness in his gullet began to take over again. If he opened his mouth now, he might be sick all over the porch.

“He did make some interesting comments about the movie you’re working on, though.”

She certainly had his full attention with that remark. “What’s that?”

“Well, he said he knew it was going to do terribly at the box office. It did seem like he was trying to ruin your career from what I could tell.” Rome’s hands fisted at his sides, but he tried to fight the anger so he could listen. “I let him know I wasn’t a big fan of yours, that I thought you were fake about your wife’s death and that I thought it was gross that you’re dating so many other women.”

“Oh, yes. I’m out on a couple of dates right now. At the same time.” He shook his head slowly. Knowing she had to bad mouth him, to make things up, in order for their plot to work didn’t make it any easier to hear.

Ella put her hand on his arm. “You know I don’t like saying any more than you like hearing it.” He nodded, trying to keep calm. “Anyway, he said he was spending a lot of money on that stupid movie, and it was going to be a waste. He said he’d have to do that nine more times, and he hoped he could continue to make enough good movies to keep afloat while he made the bad ones.”

“Well, that sounds like a perfect opening for you to bring up your suggestion.”

“I couldn’t move too fast. I needed it to seem genuine. I planted a seed, but then I also asked him if he thought your parents would be willing to buy the business back. That wouldn’t be the best plan, but it would be quicker.”

Rome raised an eyebrow. “I doubt they would.”

“Even after your mom’s tears at putting you in this position?”

Shrugging, he said, “My mom cries a lot. Most of the time, my dad doesn’t give a damn.”

“We could always buy it back from them as soon as the transaction goes through. Anyway, it was just a thought, one he seemed to consider. At least we have him thinking about getting out from under it. And… he admitted that he’s doing this to you on purpose, to ruin your career.”

Rome had already figured that much out. “Ella, I’d love to just buy the company from him, but I don’t have that kind of money. And neither do you.”

“Yet.” She raised both eyebrows and stared him in the eye for a moment. “Montage is doing very well. We’ve got another show coming up soon, one where we are sure to make millions in profits. It will happen.”

Rome studied her face for a moment. The sweet girl he’d met who lived in an attic would’ve never said something like that. She would’ve never had that sort of determination or self-confidence. It wasn’t that he didn’t like it or think it wasn’t a change for the positive, it scared him a little. What if, by the end of this, she wasn’t his sweet Ella anymore at all?

“We’ll sort it out,” Rome said, and she nodded. He was tired of talking about Henry Caron, tired of the elaborate hoax and all of the games. For once, he was home before she went to bed, and he wanted to take advantage of it. “Now, let’s get you in the shower,” he said, leaning in for another kiss.

She didn’t protest at all. Rome swept her up in his arms and kissed her with a purpose that couldn’t be missed, one that wouldn’t hide behind a mask or a new face or any sort of pretend games. He wanted her more than anything else, and as she kissed him back, it became clear that that part of Ella, the part that loved him with all of her heart, hadn’t changed one bit.

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