Filming wrapped for the FX team around 5:30. They were loading the van when the director came over and discussed with Rollie the next shot they would need to prepare for. Tyler/FX would not be needed on set until Saturday. Rollie and Angie would do preparation work at the loft until then. Richard Owen winked at Angie before he left. The move was not lost on Rollie.
"You seem to capturing hearts all over today Angie," Rollie teased. Again trying to ignore how his own heart was feeling. He decided to be happy for Angie. After all, he had been a bloody fool; he was beginning to realize that.
Angie smiled. She had to admit she did kind of enjoy the attention she was getting, though she couldn't help wishing the man she was standing next to were the one giving it to her.
"Don't worry, boss. I saw some of the extras over their giving you the eye. It won't be long until you have another Annette throwing herself at you."
"Har har!"
As they got back to the loft and were unloading the equipment Angie's cell phone rang. As Angie answered she paused doing her chores, and moved around to the other side of the van for some privacy.
It's him, Rollie thought, the man who sent Angie the flowers. Rollie busied himself with work. He grabbed his PDA and went over to his workstation.
"Is everything out?" Angie asked.
"Yep," Rollie replied. Rollie's curiosity was killing him. He told himself that he wasn't going to ask Angie about the phone call.
"Well um....I'm going to head out then. I'll see you tomorrow, boss."
As Angie reached the door Rollie called out after her "So....was that the flower guy?"
Angie smiled, "Yes. That was Paul. I'm going to have dinner with him. So, I better get home and change," Angie reached for the doorknob "Rollie?"
Rollie looked up from his PDA, which he was actually just staring at "Yeah, Ange?"
Angie hesitated and then shook her head, "Nothing. Never mind. See you tomorrow."
"Bye, Ange."
Back at her apartment Angie was getting ready for a date she wasn't sure she really wanted to go on. She liked Paul, at least what she knew of him. But her heart ached to be with Rollie. She told herself that she had to stop thinking that way but it wasn't the easiest thing in the world to do. She had loved Rollie since the day she first met him. She had thought he was the most handsome man she had ever met, even though he was only eight years older than her. It was a crush then, she knew that. The thing is, she had never fallen out of that crush. She had dated other guys but they never measured up to Rollie. The problem was that Rollie thought of her as his partner, his friend, his buddy, his little sister. Even after finding out how Loubar had seduced her with Rollie's face hadn't changed how he felt about her. At least he didn't hate her. She had to be grateful for that. She had to be happy with that. They wouldn't be anything other than friends and partners and that was something that she would have to accept. Angie knew that one day Rollie would find someone who would give him what she wanted to. They would marry and have a family. The thought made her feel sick to her stomach. At least she and Rollie would always be friends.
"I can be happy with that, if I have to," Angie resolved and finished getting ready for her date, "Maybe it's time I moved on too." she sighed.
Several weeks later
Production on FLASH FIRE was due to wrap in two weeks. This was one of the smoothest productions Tyler/FX had worked and the team was pleased with the special effects they had provided for the flick. Still, they had a lot of work ahead of them to complete in post-production.
Angie was seeing more and more of Paul Richter. Angie had spent Christmas with Rollie. It was a tradition, she insisted. But Paul insisted that she spend New Year's with him. They had started out with one or two dates, but then it grew to lunch dates, weekend dates and even, most recently; weekend getaways. He would even show up at the set in a limo to pick Angie up for lunch or dinner dates. Rollie was getting sick of seeing him, though he begrudgingly admitted to himself that the guy seemed decent enough, especially after Angie filled him in on some details of Richter's life. One night while Angie and Rollie were working late at the loft, Rollie pulled his concerned big brother act and insisted that Angie tell him exactly who Paul Richter is. He didn't want to know what his intentions were, that was obvious.
Angie told him the Paul was the only son of a millionaire. He had a lonely childhood. His mother had died when he was six years old and his father never remarried. It was a lonely childhood spent with nannies and away at private schools. He craved his father's approval but always felt that he wasn't good enough. His father didn't know how to show affection and Paul always felt that his father blamed him for his mother's death. Then, a few years ago his father became ill put more and more pressure on his only son and heir. Paul had dreamed of being a doctor but his father didn't think that was good enough for his only son. He wanted someone to take over for him when he was gone and run his dynasty, and Paul needed to be groomed for that. He would be a powerful and rich man one day, his father told him over and over. His father never saw how unhappy his son was. His release didn't even come once his father died because by then, Paul felt, that it was too late to change things. He took over his father's pharmaceutical companies and stepped into the roll his father groomed him for. It was the only life he knew. With Angie's encouragement his confidence was becoming stronger and he wanted to run things at his companies his way. He was no longer content to let the CEO's manage things. Paul was becoming more and more active in the companies and confident in the decisions he was making. Rollie wanted to hate the guy, but he saw how happy he was making Angie and he couldn't. Paul even invited Rollie out a couple of times to go skydiving with him when the weather was warmer. Rollie could feel Angie slipping away from him and the only thing that could bring him comfort was the knowledge that Paul truly seemed to care for Angie.
Angie came into the loft bright and early one Saturday morning, which surprised Rollie because lately she had been spending her weekends with Paul.
"Morning Rollie," she called as she entered the loft. She wasn't even sure if he would be up, but he was sitting at his worktable with some electrical parts splayed all over the table.
Rollie smiled. "This is a surprise. Don't tell me, Paul's out of town. Right?"
"Umm....no," Angie answered quietly. "I'm going to make some tea. You want some?"
"Sure," Rollie answered slowly, an uneasiness sneaking up on him. He put down the electronics he was working on and followed Angie into to kitchen. Angie kept her back to him.
"I thought I'd put some work in on the CGI's. I know I've been a little lax lately with the work, but I'm going to make it up."
"Angie, you haven't been lax. I know you've been working on it at home. Besides...." he added, "I know you have a life outside of FX. Don't worry about it, love."
Angie turned to hand Rollie his tea. He was sure he saw wetness in her eyes. "Angie? What's wrong?" he asked softly.
Angie smiled and shook her head embarrassed. "Nothing's wrong. I should be happy, right?" She didn't give him a chance to respond as she stammered. "I am happy. I am. I....I will be," she was wringing her hands in an effort to calm them down.
That's when Rollie spotted it. An engagement ring.