CHAPTER 4

Rachel stops in front of the restaurant, the midday heat wrapping around her, but she doesn't care. Her gaze is fixed on her phone screen, scrolling down to check one last time for a message. None. Nothing with the power to cancel the lunch. No last-minute changes, like before. She takes a deep breath, puts her phone away, and goes inside.

As she walks through the door, she frowns, searching for Thomas. He isn't in his usual spot, the two-seater corner where they invariably argued about work. Her eyes sweep across the room until she spots him in a more secluded corner. A table with three chairs is occupied. Two glasses of water on the table signal that this won't be a lunch just between the two of them, and that the third person is already there.

— What is this? A new actress? Are you going to ask me to convince her to join your show, or do you want me to prepare her test costumes ahead of time? — Rachel's voice sounds undisturbed, yet sarcastic, almost defiant.

He is reclined, elbow resting on the neighboring chair, hand supporting his head as he bursts into an outrageous laugh. Rachel feels the tension rise, her eyes narrowing.

— Almost nailed it, darling! — Thomas says, without losing the cynical smile on his face. — But this time you won't need to convince anyone. We've already talked and signed the contract. Actually, this lunch is to celebrate.

Rachel looks around, still incredulous, arms crossed over her chest, a look of suspicion forming.

— So you called me here just to introduce your new actress? — She tries to control the anger starting to boil, her voice lower, but heavy.

— Well, that's it... but not just that. Oh, and it's not an actress, it's actually an actor. Remember how I was looking for a lead and none of the auditioned actors fit the part? — Thomas says with enthusiasm, as if speaking about a major discovery.

Rachel presses her lips together, trying to stay calm.

— Yes, how could I not remember? You made me spend two hours analyzing profiles to see if they matched the style you wanted. — She pulls out a chair and sits down with a certain stiffness, yet without losing her elegance, looking directly at him.

Thomas laughs, showing no sign of remorse, but the excitement in his voice doesn't wane.

— Yeah, that's true. But it turns out I finally found someone perfect for the part. You need to see him act. — He gestures, as if already visualizing the success. — This movie is definitely going to be a cinematic phenomenon.

Rachel lets out a muffled sigh.

— Right... but so where is your great, talented actor? — She is starting to lose her patience, her voice harsher.

Thomas doesn't rush to answer, shrugging. After all, Rachel's time doesn't seem to matter. And she's with him, her husband, so there's no reason to rush.

— He went to the washroom to wash his hands, should be back any minute. In the meantime, why don't we order? — He picks up the menu with a smile, as if the conversation were already over.

Rachel gestures to the waitress, who quickly approaches.

— I'll have the chef's special, please. — She says, with her habitual gentleness, but her expression holds no pleasure. She is keeping a growing annoyance in check.

Thomas smiles, unsurprised by his wife's choice, since whenever they come to this restaurant Rachel makes the exact same request. It was as if he already knew she would do it.

— Predictable as ever. But this time I think I'll have what you're having. — He puts the menu back on the table, still smiling and gesturing for the waitress to leave.

Rachel watches, letting nothing show, but her irritation is instant.

— Well, since that's the case, then I want the same thing too. — A deep voice approaches, interrupting the conversation.

Lohan, who had arrived silently, pulls out a chair and settles between her and Thomas as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Rachel watches in silence, with an incredulous and uncomfortable look, but something in her chest tightens inexplicably. She can't take her eyes off Lohan, though she forces herself to stay calm.

Lohan seems to understand that the atmosphere at the table is far from friendly, having watched Rachel with his eyes ever since she walked into the restaurant and witnessed the hostile conversation the couple was having up to that point. He had even thought about leaving without warning, but noticing Rachel's growing restlessness and Thomas's disguised harshness toward his wife, he decides to stay and refrains from making any smart remarks—something he would usually do without a second thought.

— I believe the situation dispenses with introductions, right? — Thomas notices Rachel's discomfort and drops the line, remembering what happened during breakfast that morning.

Rachel stares at Thomas, her gaze piercing, unable to believe what she was hearing.

— You said it was an actor. — She interrupts him firmly.

Thomas lets out a low, cold laugh, dropping his smile and replacing it with a more serious expression.

— Oh, Rachel, please! — He speaks in a graver tone. — You know, better than anyone, that no one is born being something, you become something over time...

Rachel stares at him, her expression serious, her heart racing with the awkwardness of the situation. Her inner self begs for a way out.

— But technically, I am an actor. — Lohan interrupts, his gaze fixed on Rachel. He speaks with the calm of someone in total control of the situation, though deep down he just wants to ease the tension. — During my stay abroad, I did a little bit of everything... and among that little bit, I took some high school drama classes, participated in a few plays, and even collaborated on a fast-food chain commercial.

Rachel stays quiet for a moment, absorbing the information. Lohan speaks with such fluidity that she cannot help but be impressed. The lightness with which he handles the awkwardness of the situation is something she is still trying to figure out. But her eyes never leave Thomas, noting how he watches everything with an unsettling intensity.

— Fine. He's your new lead, so what? What does that have to do with me? — Impatience finally shows in Rachel's voice.

She hates letting her unease show in front of Lohan, because this image of a fragile woman doesn't suit her, but she needs to get out of that place as fast as possible. She hates her husband's narcissistic games and feels she has just fallen into yet another one of his traps. She rummages through her bag with urgency and finds her phone. Desperate for a way out, she discreetly types: "Call me now!" and sends it to Laura.

— Oh, dear! Talking like that is going to give our guest the wrong impression... — Thomas tries to soften it, but his expression gives away the sarcasm.

Rachel only thinks:

"Our guest? Not mine! Yours! As far as I can remember, I didn't invite anyone to come here." She rolls her eyes mentally.

— ...I just wanted to introduce him formally as our production company's new actor.

Rachel glares at him distrustfully, not believing what she hears. He has never valued her this way. He always did whatever he wanted, without consulting or considering her opinion. Now, he's saying it's just a formality?

At that moment, the waitress interrupts the conversation, placing the plates on the table.

— The chef hopes you enjoy his recommendation and have a good appetite. — the waitress says before withdrawing while Rachel fakes a grateful smile to the young woman.

The following minutes are consumed by silence; the meal shared by the three of them is marked only by the sound of silverware against plates until the vibration of Rachel's cell phone breaks the tension. Laura has likely read the message and is calling. To Rachel, it was her only chance to escape the situation.

She answers the phone with a relieved sigh.

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