d yet," said Amy softly, almost too soft to take se

sure she was on

, y

had planned the whole "earring o

most la

ea

llar? Some kind of irresistible

t was almost enough to

s Amy, don't flatter yourself. Not everyone

t another glance, she walked away, ignoring the expression Amy

just needed a

ed himself. She'd been expecting Amy to keep finding ways

the first morning, making sure ev

that? Rad

thing got tricky on set, she'd come over and ask for her advice

In the world of news, nice wasn't a v

he was definitel

ut was

ved a mysterious message from headquarters. Matt

weren't up to par. Her jaw nearly dropped. She had only b

strutting toward her with a smug look plastered on her face. "Lila! The director wants t

been around the set all day. She'd only shown up in the late afte

: Amy was fishing for any possible "dirt" on h

his notes, she thanked the director's team an

d enough for half the set to hear. "Still acting calm, huh? Let's

er all, arguing with Amy's lackey was beneat

ny, Sophia, I heard that if an assistant doesn't mess up fo

. three years now? Still an assis

adn't expected Ella to fire back. She'd

ntel on everyone in the team since she

to her face, but behind the scenes? She ran a whole anony

"coldhearted tyrant" on

it. "Or maybe I got it wrong? I thought I saw you under the us

at her. "You... You're making that up!

Ella smiled. "

across the stage. She looked at Sophia, her expression unreadable, and said in her usual soft, su

lumped in relief. "Of

my's eyes. Satisfied, she turned and got into t

-

uneasy. She knew she'd done nothing wrong, but the accusation stung. Had the old Lila Kans--le

nside, deep and calm. But... wait

Montg

world was h

ng the director's secretary, Eric. "Oh, Miss Lila," Eric said with a pol

Just confirming, Eric... Is the director, uh, here

inside, though-Lucas Montgomery, the CEO of

ad they met? Oh, absolutely. On a plane, where she

f, leaving Ella no choice but to head inside. Taking

His eyes met hers, and a smirk crept onto his face. "Ah, if it isn't the world-famous war reporter Lila Kane," he drawled

rise to his bait. "Thank you for your concern

row, leaning forward. "And

ancing at both of them with a frown. "Are you Lila Kane?" he a

ened. "Yes, si

back to Ella. "Good. We've received an anonymous report," he began, eyeing Ella closely, "stating

rse Amy had played the one card she thought might stick. Two

gaze. "Yes, I do have two children," she said, her