The Director Dilemma (Pemberley Productions #1)

Chapter 36

Thirty-Si x

HENRY

Christmas morning comes just as it always does with a delightful breakfast of freshly made pancakes, a tradition I started when the boys were young. Now we continue it while everyone stays in their pj’s. Except this year, something is missing…no, someone is missing.

It’s been roughly three months since meeting Lucy, but this group of five doesn’t feel right anymore without our sixth.

By mid-afternoon, everyone is in their rooms, getting ready for their travels, and I sit in my office to complete the next of my Christmas Day traditions, calling Max.

He answers with a joyous tone, “Merry Christmas, Henry!” Nothing makes Max happier than spending time with his daughters. Now that they are older and have busy lives of their own, he spends the entire year waiting to have them home to enjoy the holidays together.

“Merry Christmas, Max! How are the girls doing? ”

“Wonderful as always. And the boys? Are they enjoying their holiday? Oh, and Hannah and Mia too?”

I fill him in on all the major events but am careful to leave out the proposal preparations just in case Hannah is walking by my office. I told him about it not long after Oliver told me, but I don’t think his girls know either.

Next, Max asks about Lucy. I go over what has taken place since her arrival on Saturday, only leaving out the more torrid details.

“I haven’t spoken to her since she left and yesterday it was just a few brief texts and a voice message.” I can hear the stress building in my own voice. “I’m thinking of driving back to London after everyone leaves.”

“Hmm,” Max replies.

“All right, out with it.” I need his opinion—I’m too in my head over this. “You don’t think I should go?”

“I think this sounds like something she had made it very clear she wants to settle on her own. She’ll let you know if she needs you.”

“Well, that’s the issue, without a charger, she has no way to reach me.” I’m beginning to hear the desperation in my voice. “I can bring her the charger she left here. I’m certain she won’t be able to find one with all the shops closed on Christmas Day.”

Max pauses for just a moment, then gives me one of his hypothetical questions. “You seem to know her pretty well at this point. If she at all sensed things were taking a turn for the worst, would she have told you yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“And did she sound confident in her message last night that everything is fine?” he asks .

“Yes.” He’s right. “But what do I do until then?”

“Henry, you’ve been on your own for a long time…entertain yourself. I’m sure you’ll hear from her soon.”

“Thanks, Max.” We then continue our conversation. Max tells me about the new recipes he’s trying out for the holidays. I thank him for the ones he’s shared with me. We speak briefly about the movie and when production will start.

“I’ve already begun practicing my lines, ‘ For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn ?’” Max says in his British accent. He continues, back in his natural American accent, “I’m looking forward to working with you again, Henry. I think it will be your greatest work yet.”

“Thank you, Max. The feeling is certainly mutual. “

We say our goodbyes and a notification for an email appears on my phone screen.

From: Mark Hill [email protected]

Subject: P [email protected]

Subject: Re: P [email protected]

Subject: Re: P [email protected]

Subject: Re: P&P - Meeting /Social Media Promotion

If you’re in the office, I can meet you there. You can expect me to be there at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow.

Also, It’s Christmas Day. Put your phone down and enjoy the day with your family.

-Henry

If this week had gone as I originally planned and Lucy had been with me, I’d have told Mark not to expect me until January. But he just gave me the perfect excuse to head back to London. With Max’s advice in mind, I won’t call Lucy until tomorrow morning and ask her to attend the meeting with me.

With a new sense of hope, I make my way out of my office just as everyone else is bringing their bags to the back door.

“All set?” I ask.

“I think we are,” Oliver answers.

“One more thing before you leave, I’ve got a meeting with my agent in London tomorrow. Is it all right if I head to the townhouse tonight?” I ask.

Smiles grow on each of their faces—all but Finn tries to be discreet about it. “Oh, a meeting with your agent? No need to make up meetings, Pop. Just say you’re off to see Lucy. That you can’t bear to be apart from her for another moment.”

“All right, that’s enough.” No use arguing with him. “Off you go. Safe travels to you all. And don’t forget to let me know when you arrive.”

I help them get their bags into the cars, but before they get in, I have another request.

“Don’t mention my being in London in the group chat…” They start cheering and clapping before pulling out of the driveway and heading on their way.

Just as I’m walking back into the house, my phone buzzes. It’s a text from Lucy saying she found a charger and will call later.

Wanting to get a head start on my trip as soon as possible, I can’t risk her calling while I’m in the car. I text back, telling her to get some rest and that we will catch up tomorrow.

I move quickly to my room to pack a couple of days’ worth of clothes to be sure. I remember to bring my charger and put her e-reader and its charger in my bag too. She must be missing it terribly. Locking up the house behind me, I jump in the car and head to London.

I wake thirty minutes before my alarm is scheduled to go off. I try to lay in bed a little longer but my body thrums with energy, forcing me to move and start my day. Quickly showering and dressing for the day, I check my phone for any messages from Lucy, but nothing yet. I don’t want to arrive while she’s sleeping, so I text to make sure she’s awake.

Henry

Good morning.

Lucy

Good morning! Do you have time for a call?

Henry

I’m a little tied up at the moment. How about in about 45 minutes/hour?

Lucy

Sure, that works for me.

After stopping at the florist, I arrive at her apartment in exactly forty-five minutes. I move to stand next to her building and call her. She answers on the first ring. “ Hello.” Her voice is music to my ears. I don’t think I ever want to go that long without hearing it again.

“Hello, there,” I reply, trying to play it cool.

“How was your holiday?” she asks.

As I reply, I ring her doorbell. “Better than yours, I assume.”

“Oh, can you hold on one moment? Someone’s ringing the doorbell.” She sounds frustrated at the interruption.

“We really can’t catch a break, huh? Tell them to go away. I’ve been waiting days to speak with you,” I tell her, smiling like an idiot outside her front door.

“Oh, it will only take a moment.” She speaks into her phone, and then the intercom buzzes and as her voice comes through, “Hello?” I let it echo through the phone.

“Special delivery for Miss Taylor” I say into both the intercom and phone.

“Very cute,” she says into the phone while she unlocks the front door and I make my way up the first flight of stairs.

Her apartment door is open with her mobile still in her hand. I rush to her and pull her into my arms as I kick the door shut with my foot. Resting my head in the crook of her neck, I hold on tight.

Reluctantly, pulling away, “These are for you,” I say, as I bring the flowers from behind her back. “I missed you…quite a lot.”

She closes her eyes and smiles while breathing in the scent of the roses in her hands. “I missed you too.” She looks up at me and asks, “Have you eaten?”

“Actually, I was going to ask if you’d be interested in going out to grab something to eat, but first, we have a meeting to get to.”

“A meeting? We have a meeting?” she asks with wide eyes.

“Yes, Mark?—”

“Your agent,” she interjects with a coy smile.

“Yes, that Mark reached out to meet with me today about the social media accounts and some requests the production company has for them. As you are the mastermind behind my new public persona, I thought you should be included. That’s if you’d like to be.” I’m not letting her out of my sight today. Even if this meeting was regarding another matter, she’d be coming with me.

“All right, let’s head to the meeting.”

Just as I had planned, the car I ordered with my usual driver is waiting outside her apartment. Lucy gets in and speaks with the driver. “Hi Tom, how was your Christmas?”

“Great, thank you, Lucy. And yours?”

“Better now that Mr. Brooks is in town.” She squeezes my hand and smiles.

Tom addresses me, “Good to see you again, Mr. Brooks.”

“Yes, and you too, Tom.” I look between the two before remembering that it was Tom who picked up Lucy and John on Christmas Eve morning to bring them back to the city.

The car makes it through the busy streets of London to Mark’s office. Lucy continues to hold my hand as we walk into the building. I can’t recall if I’ve ever held hands with someone for this long before, but I never want it to end. As we enter the lobby, I notice the front desk is empty.

Mark shouts and waves to us from his glass-wall office. “Come on back, Mary is off for the holidays.”

“As you should be, Mark. Is a quiet office really enough to come in on Boxing Day?” I ask.

“If you must know, I plan to take some time off, and my flight leaves tomorrow,” he shares, looking at his monitor. “So, I wanted to tie up some loose ends before I go.”

“That’s great, where to?” I ask.

Still not making any attempt to look up from his computer, “Somewhere warm.”

Fine, I suppose it’s his personal business. I clear my throat for his attention, “Mark, this is Lucy Taylor.”

Mark begins to look a little uncomfortable. “Nice to meet you, Lucy.” He finally looks up at her and asks, “Do you plan on staying for the meeting?”

I interject, “Mark, you mentioned this meeting is about my social media accounts. Lucy is the one behind all of them—she has been since the first post. Anything you have to say can be said in front of her.”

Mark stands and takes a deep breath, “Viewmont Productions marketing department called. They love what you’ve done with the accounts and how much you’ve engaged the audience before filming has even begun.”

“That’s great,” I say, but it’s clear there’s more as he’s looking everywhere but at Lucy.

“They are suggesting we use your accounts and popularity to make the fans part of the production experience. The idea isn’t just for you but also for the actor playing Mr. Darcy.” He pauses, his stalling is wearing on my nerves.

“What’s this idea?”

“With your new reputation as a romantic man, the production company wants to give fans a chance to win first-hand experiences in the world of Pride and Prejudice , even bringing them onto the sets…” He takes a deep breath.

Then, he rushes to get the next words out of his mouth as quickly as possible. “Contests to win a date with the leading man and the director of the movie, but for that to feel believable, they suggested it would be better if you were single or appear to be unattached and looking for a new leading lady. It would give the viewers the idea that they could become that leading lady themselves.” He finally peeks at Lucy from under his bowed head.

I turn to her and see that the color has already left her face.