Chapter 3 The Crisis

Lucy froze three blocks from her apartment building when she saw the cluster of photographers camped outside her front door.

How the hell did they find her?

She ducked behind a parked car, heart hammering as she watched strangers with telephoto lenses loitering on her stoop. Her phone was buzzing nonstop with unknown numbers, but she was too scared to answer.

"This can't be happening," she whispered to herself.

A text from Tiana popped up: "Girl, there are creepy men with cameras outside our building. Where are you???"

Lucy typed back quickly: "Don't come outside. I'm three blocks away. What do they want?"

"They keep asking about your audition at Sinclair Studios. How do they even know about that???"

Lucy's blood ran cold. Her audition was supposed to be confidential. The only people who knew were her, Tiana, and the studio. Unless someone had leaked it deliberately.

Her phone rang. Jennifer Walsh.

"Lucy, where are you right now?" The casting director sounded panicked.

"Hiding behind a car watching photographers stalk my apartment. What is going on?"

"Someone tipped off the press that you're being considered for a major role. We don't know who, but this has never happened with a callback before."

"Are they going to cancel my audition because of this?"

"We're handling it. But Lucy, you need somewhere safe to stay tonight. These photographers won't leave until they get their story."

After hanging up, Lucy slumped against the car. This morning she'd been worried about a mysterious text. Now her address was apparently public knowledge and her face would be in tomorrow's tabloids.

Her phone buzzed with another message from her anonymous tormentor:

"Told you to watch your back. This is just the beginning. Drop out now or it gets worse."

Thirty floors above the city, Caleb paced his office like a caged animal. His security team was already investigating the leak, but the damage was done. Lucy Martinez's name was trending on social media, her photo from this morning's audition somehow obtained and plastered across entertainment blogs.

"Sir, we've traced the leak," his head of security announced. "It came from inside the building. Someone in casting sent an anonymous tip to TMZ an hour after Miss Martinez left."

"Who?"

"We're narrowing it down. But sir, there's something else. The photographers aren't just outside her apartment. Someone also gave them her work schedule. They're waiting at her restaurant too."

Caleb's jaw clenched. This wasn't just about scaring Lucy away from a role anymore. Someone was trying to destroy her life entirely.

He made a decision that would have surprised anyone who knew his usual hands-off approach.

"Send a car to pick her up. Bring her here."

"Sir?"

"She needs somewhere safe. The studio has executive suites for situations like this."

It was a lie. The executive suites were for A-list actors having affairs or hiding from scandals. They'd never been used to protect an unknown actress from harassment. But Caleb couldn't stand the thought of Lucy hiding behind cars, scared and alone.

His phone buzzed with a text from Theresa: "Boarding my flight to New York. Won't have signal for a while. Love you."

He stared at the message, feeling the familiar pang of longing. She was always leaving, always moving toward the next opportunity. He loved her completely, but sometimes it felt like loving someone who lived in a different world.

His assistant's voice came through the intercom. "Sir, the car has picked up Miss Martinez and her roommate. They'll be here in ten minutes."

"Good. Have them brought directly to the executive suite on twenty-eight. Make sure they have everything they need."

Caleb found himself looking forward to seeing Lucy again, which should have bothered him more than it did. He told himself it was simple human decency, protecting someone who was being targeted unfairly.

But deep down, he knew it was becoming something else.

Twenty minutes later, Caleb stood outside the executive suite, trying to convince himself he was just checking on a studio investment. He knocked softly.

Lucy opened the door, and the relief in her eyes when she saw him was like a physical blow.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "I don't know how to repay you for this."

"You don't need to repay anything. This shouldn't have happened."

Behind her, he could see a young woman with curly hair and suspicious eyes. Tiana, presumably.

"Is it safe here?" Lucy asked.

"Completely. This floor has its own security, private elevators. No one gets up here without authorization."

"Who would do this to her?" Tiana demanded, stepping forward protectively. "Lucy's the kindest person alive. She doesn't have enemies."

"Someone who wants the role you're up for badly enough to destroy you over it," Caleb said grimly.

Lucy wrapped her arms around herself. "Maybe I should just withdraw from consideration. This isn't worth ruining my life."

"Don't you dare," Caleb said with more intensity than he'd intended. Both women stared at him in surprise. "Whoever did this is counting on you giving up. If you do, they win."

"But what if it gets worse?"

Caleb stepped closer, close enough to see the gold flecks in her brown eyes. "Then I'll make sure you're protected. You have my word."

The promise hung in the air between them, loaded with implications he wasn't ready to examine.

His phone rang, breaking the moment. His assistant.

"Sir, there's been a development. Someone hacked into Miss Montenegro's social media accounts while she was in the air. They've posted some very compromising fake messages."

Caleb's blood turned to ice. "What kind of messages?"

"Messages that make it look like she's been having an affair with her co-star. And sir, they've also posted what appears to be Miss Montenegro's flight information and hotel details in New York."

The pieces clicked into place with horrifying clarity. This wasn't just about Lucy's role anymore. Someone was systematically targeting everyone close to him.