“For what it’s worth, I would’ve shot it exactly how you wrote it. We don’t need any more male gaze on this story of female empowerment.”

“Thank you, and the studio came down on our side. They want to send an intimacy coordinator up from London this afternoon.”

“That’s great. We can get back to work.”

“If only.” Talia sighed heavily. “Last I heard from Brian he was still refusing, and now he’s not even answering his phone, which makes me worry he’s gone on a bender.”

Sophia pinched the bridge of her nose. “This morning keeps getting better and better.”

“No joke.” Talia shoved the remainder of the scone in her mouth and picked up another one, leaving Sophia to suspect she might be starting a bender of her own, only with carbs instead of booze. “Right? Like it wasn’t bad enough juggling the estate reps and the studio reps, but then about 4 a.m., I started to get calls and texts from the PR reps saying they were fielding reports about you having gone on a date with a local woman.”

Sophia swore under her breath. “So, someone did see us?”

“Yeah, that was my first thought, but something didn’t quite add up because no one mentioned Vic. Only you.”

“Emma actually said the same thing this morning. Even though they found Vic’s car at her house, the press kept asking about me.”

“I didn’t realise they found Vic’s car. How did you two get back? No, wait, the less I know the better, but surely if they were looking for you and found her, someone is going to do the math.”

Sophia felt a little woozy. “But you don’t think they’ve figured it out yet?”

Talia shook her head. “No, that’s actually one of the weirdest parts in an overwhelmingly off-kilter couple of days. All the requests for comments or confirmation were almost stupidly vague. Things like you went on a date, or you were spotted leaving the castle with someone, or maybe you spent the night somewhere away from the set.”

“That hardly seems newsworthy, given my history and the public perception.”

“I agree. So, the last time I got a call I pushed back a little, and it turns out the lead was so shallow it probably wouldn’t have gotten any traction at all if not for the credibility of its origin point.”

The dull ache at the base of Sophia’s skull suggested she wasn’t going to like this part at all. “Brian called the press as some sort of payback?”

Talia shook her head. “That would make sense given how mad Vic made him, but he would’ve thrown you both under the bus, and I’m not sure the locals would’ve given him the time of day.”

Sophia’s jaw tightened “Who then?”