But I have to point out, “You’re blaming him. But I would’ve made that thesis presentation and gotten this job if it weren’t for you.”
A little bit of the self-righteous anger fades from Victor’s face. And after a somber moment, he raises his hands again to sign, “No matter what I did, you earned this job. And I'm truly sorry for my part in you not getting what you deserve. I want you to know that. I’ve changed.”
He radiates sincerity, and it scares me that I’m starting to believe him. So easily. Too easily.
I look down, then back up at him again. “How can I trust that? How can I trust you after everything that's happened?”
Technically I'm asking him this question. But I'm also asking myself.
Now it’s Victor’s turn to look down and back up again. His expression is tortured and guilty.
But then he just signs, “We’ll talk about this after your tour, OK? You shouldn't keep Lucy Marr waiting.”
10
VICTOR
How can I trust you?
Funny, he'd asked himself the same thing about Dawn so often over the last ten years. He’d hated himself for staying addicted to her without knowing the answer. But when the same question was reversed and put to him, he didn't have any good reply.
Actually, he does have one rather convincing argument…
The fact that he hadn't hacked her burner smartphone or forcibly removed her from the Ferraro's residence was evidence enough that he’d turned over a new leaf. That he was willing to return her to her sanctuary instead of simply ordering Phantom to shoot his way out of the Ferraro estate showed exemplary willingness to change in his opinion.
But he doubts she would see things the same way.
Luckily, her tour with Lucy Marr is the perfect excuse for Victor to fall back on to avoid answering her completely valid question.
Dawn looks out the window after he suggests that they put a pin in this topic, as if just now realizing again that they had arrived at Yinz Entertainment.
She hesitates…but then a happy smile splits across her face.
To Victor. It’s like the sun finally coming out after a rainy day. After over two months of rainy days, in fact.
And her next words are a balm for his guilty soul.
“You’re right. I don’t want to keep my new boss waiting.”
She claps her hands even more gleefully than she did at Hello Kitty Land before climbing out of the car.
She closes the door behind her, but Victor opens it again to follow her.
“What are you doing?” she asks, her expression becoming alarmed when he falls into step beside her.
He jogs ahead to the door of the logo-famous firehouse and holds it open with one hand while signing with the other, “I'm taking the tour with you.”
She scrunches her face at him. “But why would you—”
The sudden arrival of Lucy Marr saves him from having to answer. The director of animation looks to be around her early 50s, with glasses and brown curly hair. She’s wearing jeans and a long-sleeved flannel over a T-shirt with a picture of one of the Gundam mobile suits on the front.
“Dawn, Victor! Hi!” she says, enthusiastically coming up to greet the both of them. She shakes Victor's hand first, then Dawn's.
“Are you ready for the tour,” she asks as they all step inside a large and busy open-plan workroom with two glassed-in offices toward the back.
He glances at Dawn to sign, “Actually, I’d like to grab some coffee. Why don't you go by yourself?”
Dawn gives him a confused look before letting Lucy know, “It’s just going to be me taking the tour if that’s okay.”
Lucy appears just as confused as Dawn, but she says, “Of course, that’s okay. I can’t wait to show you around.…”
Victor watches from afar as the two women walk away, talking about Yinz Entertainment in excited tones.
Dawn nods and appears avidly interested as they move from station to station.
Meanwhile, after getting his cup of coffee from a sad little Keurig at the front of the office, Victor observes them from afar. He’s waiting for the big reveal, which is getting closer and closer.
It feels like it takes forever, but eventually, Lucy reaches the two offices at the back of the workroom.
Lucy extends a hand toward the larger of the two offices, and Dawn shakes her head, clearly not understanding.
But then Lucy says something else to her, and Victor can tell precisely when the penny drops because Dawn claps both hands over her mouth.
She looks at the office, then looks back towards Victor, then looks at the office again. And then she comes hurtling toward him in an excited rush.
“You bought Yinz Entertainment?” she asks, stopping in front of him. Her voice is breathless, and her face is the very picture of shock.
“Yes,” he answers, schooling his expression so that he doesn’t seem too smug.