Chapter 2

"You know what, it's a little early to get ready, I'll go for a smoke first, but when I get back, I need the whole team to be in here, I need to be perfect; we have royal guests tonight," Melanie said proudly.

"Sure, but are you going out with your robe?"

"Yes, I am. I'll be back in no time."

Melanie walked out of her room down the corridor till she reached the fire escape door, she opened it and walked to the stairs only to find she wasn't the only one having a rough day in need of a smoke, Owen already proceeded her."

"So what brings you to the most depressing place on set?" she asked as she approached, sat on the stairs and grabbed out a cigarette.

"Love, is there anything more depressing? Ha?"

"Light me up please." He got a matchbox out of his pocket and lit her cigarette. She inhaled deeply then slowly exhaled turning to face him "Love is happiness if what you're feeling are sadness and depression" she inhaled a second time "then definitely it does not love."

"Okay, Aristotle what's bringing you here then?"

"Worry" She laughed "did you forget it's opening night?"

"Why would you even need to worry? You're not like us, you're Melanie Franco, all the magazines, and all the papers, everyone is talking about how you're going to kill the performance tonight and earn your 3rd Tony." A voice came from the lower floor.

"Clair is that you? For a moment you scared me. You better come up here."

Melanie couldn't tell them, or in fact anyone, the real reason behind her worries, because she doesn't want to doubt anyone in her husband's performance.

"I know you think because I'm famous, I'm not supposed to worry, but of course I do, I have to be up to my fans' expectations, and you must be great as well tonight, because the papers didn't write about you today only because they don't know you yet, but after tonight's performance, you're all going to be stars I'm sure; starting tomorrow your faces will be everywhere."

"Thank you, Melanie, I really can't believe I'm finally performing with my idol," Clair said

"I'm honored" Melanie smiled at her "Now Clair, Owen I need to go get ready and so do you."

On her way back to her room, Melanie decided to go pay Neil a visit. Before entering his room, she made sure no one saw her then she opened the door and there was Rachel on her way out.

"Oh, so you're here now even though you are MY assistant. I waited for 15 minutes this morning, this is getting way out of hand; last week you ruined my new Dior dress, you keep disappearing all the time and now this, I finally know where you go when you're supposed to be working." she turned to Neil "First of all, put something on other than that boxer and please find someone else other than my assistant."

"Mrs. Franco it's not what it looks like, I was just dropping off his coffee and I really apologize for this morning. I was sick, so we went back to the set, I was going to send the driver back to the studio to pick you up, but he didn't make it on time."

"I'm the one who's sick of all of your excuses, just leave now, please."

Rachel left closing the door behind and Neil walked over to Melanie "Mely please it's not what it looks like"

"Don't call me that and I told you to put something on first. For your information, I genuinely don't care who you're with I just care that me workers are there on time when I need them."

"Are you sure you want me to wear something? I mean you used to like that before." He smirked.

"Neil, you're disgusting, I don't want to see your boxers or receive any more flowers or love notes. Tiffany now knows and I don't want anyone else to know, I am a married woman and I love my husband so much, you can't even imagine. What we used to have ended so long ago and now I'm a totally different person, so please respect that and just let me be."

"I was stupid to leave you, all I cared about was fame; I guess that's a mistake that I'll regret forever."

"I have to admit it was painful back then, but I'm thankful now for it because I go to meet Daniel and win a Tony, a couple actually and now I'm going to get my 3rd"

She walked to the door and turned to him "You used to date Mely Stewart more than 8 years ago, but she's gone and now I'm Melanie Franco and we're just co-workers in here." she left the room and walked out only to find Daniel in the corridor.

"What are you doing in his room? In your robe?"

"Nothing darling, I was just wishing everyone good luck before the big opening."

He looked disturbed "It's not like I don't trust you, I do, that's why I will ask you honestly." he paused for a moment "Is seeing him again on set bringing back old memories?"

"Dan honey, all of my memories with him were bad memories and you know that, so believe me when I say you have nothing to worry about because I also have eyes for 1 guy and I'm looking right into him."

"You stole my line." he laughed

"Well, you stole my heart. Anyways, where are you headed?"

"To meet up with George."

"Why? Is everything alright?" She sounded worried although she tried to hide it. She was afraid Thomas would do some crazy publicity stunt by firing Daniel just hours before the opening.

"Don't be worried, it's no big deal. I'll tell you all about it over dinner tonight."

"Okay, I'm going to my room. good luck."

"You too beautiful."

'I really hope you prove them all wrong tonight.' she said to herself

Back in Melanie's room sat her team ready waiting for her including Rachel and Tiffany.

"I really can't take it any longer, she's always treating me like rubbish," Rachel told Tiffany

"Melanie is a sweetheart, she just takes a little longer time to get used to people. Last Christmas she thought I was exhausted, so she gave me a 2-week vacation in Paris as a gift, I literally paid nothing."

"I don't want any of her fancy gifts, I just want her to treat me good for once."

"She will soon enough, once you get used to her and so does she, you'll realize how genuine she really is."

"Let's hope I survive till that day. Speaking of the devil."

The door opened and Melanie came in and walked to the dresser to have her hair and makeup done.

"Tiffany, where's my dress for the first scene?"

"I wanted to give it to you myself and wish you good luck." Stephanie came from behind.

"My apologies, I didn't notice you here earlier, my mind is full right now. Thank you, but you shouldn't have come all the way just to give me the dress."

"I wanted to thank you for the kind words in your interview, plus I wanted to see my work in use."

"It's true, you're very talented and I know I didn't have to bring our differences to the world. I mean of course we're going to always have the same problem since you are my husband's ex and I'm your ex's wife, but we'll work through it because we're professionals."

'I agree."

Melanie walked to her caravan and got dressed for the 1st act, the dinner party announcement.

"Oh, you look stunning," Stephanie said

"Only thanks to you."

"Well, my work here is done, I'll go check on the rest of the cast. Good luck tonight."

Soon enough Melanie was finally done with her hair and makeup and demanded her sacred free time before the stage and so did all the cast in order to get into their roles. Everyone left her room, but Rachel stayed behind.

"Mrs. Franco, I need to talk to you."

"Sure, but hurry, I need my free time."

"I'll be quick, your husband isn't who you think he is, he...."

Melanie cut in "How dare you to speak an unpleasant word about my husband. Your behavior is getting way out of hand, I can't stand it any longer; after tonight you're fired, Rachel. Get out!"

"I warned you." Rachel said as she got out of the room slamming the door behind her.

In less than a couple of hours, the show will start; everyone is ready and dressed, the audience are in their seats or waiting in front of the gate regretting being late, the productions of the stage are already set and the lights are adjusted ready to be lit, the only thing left is time.

Melanie sat in her room praying that everything goes well "Please lord, make tonight a success."

Daniel was in his room thinking how this performance can be life changing "Finally it's my breakout role."

Joe was at the fire escape smoking to calm his nerves and so was Owen from the other side of the building.

Tom was in his room reading all the papers that came out today, reading and rereading every single line written about the play, worrying whether his cast would disappoint him and pour dirt all over his pristine reputation or would everything actually turn out as planned "Maybe a glass of wine to calm my nerves wouldn't be so bad after all."

George was in his room counting the tons of money he's receiving "Maybe this was actually worth it, fresh money smells great."

"This has been your dream for so long, you're going to be okay, more than okay even," Clair said to herself in the mirror as she stood shaking.

She wasn't the only one giving herself pep talks, Neil stood in front of his mirror trying to convince his reflection that he's going to blow everyone's mind and win her back.

And so did Leah "You're going to be great, at least for him, prove to him that he made the right choice by choosing you."

Rachel spent her free time ashamed in the bathroom so she wouldn't meet anyone and so did James, Daniel's understudy, in the men's bathroom.

Stephanie was reorganizing the clothes to make sure everyone's costumes are there on time for every scene, her OCD gets worse by pressure.

Tiffany was in the kitchen eating her lunch since she hasn't eaten in a while, helping Melanie.

Finally, Adam, George's assistant was freaking out wondering all around the set; he felt as if there's something that he forgot before his first big opening, and indeed he did.

Time is crazy, it speeds up the most in the best moments until it's up, but it passes by so slowly when someone is anxiously waiting for something and that's exactly how every single one of the cast and crew felt, until it was only 45 minutes till curtains open and it was time to get out of the rooms.

Everyone got out of their rooms and met for good lucks except for Daniel so they all gathered and went to his room; it was locked from inside, so they had to break the door and there he was, Daniel laying in his costume on the floor drowning in his own blood. Everyone was screaming and in shock of what their eyes are telling them, but their brains can't yet understand. They all turned to Melanie as they heard her fall to the floor fainting.

Hey everyone :) So what do think until now? Hope you're enjoying the story.