Valerie looked at each other, a little surprised. “Wow,” Dane said. “That’s
unusual, but I’ll take it. Adele gives me the creeps.”
“Well,
we’ll see if that changes, but that’s what Sergio told me before Adele was
back.”
Dane
raised an eyebrow. ”So, how much have you been talking with Sergio? I hadn’t
heard about any communication past Saturday night except for last night when
they said they wanted their food stylist. What’s up, Bridget?”
“Nothing!
We’ve talked a couple of times, and I think he’s a great guy.” Dane didn’t
pursue it any further. He was suspicious that something was going on with
Sergio. I would have to be more mindful of what I said around him.
We
cranked on the to-do list and timeline for another hour. It was almost five-thirty,
and we’d all been there since the crack of dawn. Dane suggested we break it up
early. When the contract arrived, we’d have to make sure we were in sync with
Sergio and Adele, and that would take some serious brain power.
Checking
my phone, Sergio had texted back: 8:30 @ Buena Comida. C u there. Kisses.
I
confirmed: C U then. XO
I
knew I would have to talk to Sergio about how we were going to work so closely
together and not get distracted by our strong attraction to each other. Probably
better to confront it sooner than later. The last thing I wanted to do was to
jeopardize my job or disappoint Dane. I wasn’t ready to lose another “family.”
**
On
my way home, I returned Sally’s call.
“Hi,
Bridget!” she answered warmly. “How are you?”
“Hey,
there. It’s good to hear your voice. I’m doing fine. How’re you?”
“Same
ol’, same ol’,” she said, very matter-of-factly. “So, tell me about the project
with Sergio Ramirez. It sounds very exciting.”
“Oh,
it is. We’ll be shooting the food for his new book. It’s going to be very
upscale with recipes from Buena Comida. We’ll begin the whole thing right after
New Year’s.”
“Will
you have an opportunity to meet Sergio?”
“Actually,
we’ve already met. He came to the studio last week with his culinary director. They’re
really nice and very professional. Sergio has even cooked dinner for me. He’s
an amazing chef.”
“I
was afraid you were going to say that. Bridget, I have to caution you. Sergio’s
a very high-profile guy. If you’re photographed with him, your identity could
be compromised. It hasn’t been very long since you disappeared from New York. Those
guys don’t just quit looking. Even though we publicized that you were killed in
a car accident, they know there’s a chance you’ve been relocated. If they
recognize you, you could be in danger all over again, and so could he.”
That
thought had never even crossed my mind. “Oh, Sally, does this nightmare ever
end? Will I ever have a life where I’m not looking over my shoulder all the
time?”
“You
just have to be careful and not take risks. If you were simply working with
Dane and shooting beautiful food, chances are no one would ever be the wiser.
But now you’ve involved a celebrity, and if you work closely with him, your
picture could easily end up in the press. Just stay at arm’s length, and don’t
go out in public with him. It’ll be fine.”
“I
can’t tell him about any of this, can I?” I asked nervously.
“I
wouldn’t if I were you. The fewer people who know your true identity, the
better.”
“What
if I just tell him I’m in witness protection but don’t give him the details? I
don’t know how I’m going to work with him and never see him outside of the
office.”
“Again,
I wouldn’t take a chance. Look, the project isn’t starting for a few weeks. Why
don’t we get together next week and talk about it? That way, by the time things
really get going, you’ll have a strategy for dealing with it.”
My
mind was racing. I didn’t want to tell Sally I was already involved with Sergio.
I would just have to figure something out on my
unusual, but I’ll take it. Adele gives me the creeps.”
“Well,
we’ll see if that changes, but that’s what Sergio told me before Adele was
back.”
Dane
raised an eyebrow. ”So, how much have you been talking with Sergio? I hadn’t
heard about any communication past Saturday night except for last night when
they said they wanted their food stylist. What’s up, Bridget?”
“Nothing!
We’ve talked a couple of times, and I think he’s a great guy.” Dane didn’t
pursue it any further. He was suspicious that something was going on with
Sergio. I would have to be more mindful of what I said around him.
We
cranked on the to-do list and timeline for another hour. It was almost five-thirty,
and we’d all been there since the crack of dawn. Dane suggested we break it up
early. When the contract arrived, we’d have to make sure we were in sync with
Sergio and Adele, and that would take some serious brain power.
Checking
my phone, Sergio had texted back: 8:30 @ Buena Comida. C u there. Kisses.
I
confirmed: C U then. XO
I
knew I would have to talk to Sergio about how we were going to work so closely
together and not get distracted by our strong attraction to each other. Probably
better to confront it sooner than later. The last thing I wanted to do was to
jeopardize my job or disappoint Dane. I wasn’t ready to lose another “family.”
**
On
my way home, I returned Sally’s call.
“Hi,
Bridget!” she answered warmly. “How are you?”
“Hey,
there. It’s good to hear your voice. I’m doing fine. How’re you?”
“Same
ol’, same ol’,” she said, very matter-of-factly. “So, tell me about the project
with Sergio Ramirez. It sounds very exciting.”
“Oh,
it is. We’ll be shooting the food for his new book. It’s going to be very
upscale with recipes from Buena Comida. We’ll begin the whole thing right after
New Year’s.”
“Will
you have an opportunity to meet Sergio?”
“Actually,
we’ve already met. He came to the studio last week with his culinary director. They’re
really nice and very professional. Sergio has even cooked dinner for me. He’s
an amazing chef.”
“I
was afraid you were going to say that. Bridget, I have to caution you. Sergio’s
a very high-profile guy. If you’re photographed with him, your identity could
be compromised. It hasn’t been very long since you disappeared from New York. Those
guys don’t just quit looking. Even though we publicized that you were killed in
a car accident, they know there’s a chance you’ve been relocated. If they
recognize you, you could be in danger all over again, and so could he.”
That
thought had never even crossed my mind. “Oh, Sally, does this nightmare ever
end? Will I ever have a life where I’m not looking over my shoulder all the
time?”
“You
just have to be careful and not take risks. If you were simply working with
Dane and shooting beautiful food, chances are no one would ever be the wiser.
But now you’ve involved a celebrity, and if you work closely with him, your
picture could easily end up in the press. Just stay at arm’s length, and don’t
go out in public with him. It’ll be fine.”
“I
can’t tell him about any of this, can I?” I asked nervously.
“I
wouldn’t if I were you. The fewer people who know your true identity, the
better.”
“What
if I just tell him I’m in witness protection but don’t give him the details? I
don’t know how I’m going to work with him and never see him outside of the
office.”
“Again,
I wouldn’t take a chance. Look, the project isn’t starting for a few weeks. Why
don’t we get together next week and talk about it? That way, by the time things
really get going, you’ll have a strategy for dealing with it.”
My
mind was racing. I didn’t want to tell Sally I was already involved with Sergio.
I would just have to figure something out on my
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