Chapter 80. Love Theatre

Vanessa's POV

After spending the night creating different scenarios of how the theatre night might play out—from disastrous to dreamy—I woke up feeling like I had swallowed a hive of bees.

Not butterflies—bees. Angry bees buzzing my chest and stomach.

I paced my room in a complete daze, muttering to myself while digging my fingers into my skin. My eyes darted to the clock every few seconds like it would somehow calm me down, but it didn't. It was ridiculous. Absurd.

I had survived months under Mr. Garcia, endured his cold, emotionless stares, rude remarks, and the relentless pressure of trying to prove my worth in that chaotic office where I could find my place. I had cried my eyes out in storage closets, screamed silently in the washroom, had days where I felt worthless, and almost quit more times than I could count.

But now?

Now that he was smiling at me instead of scowling, holding my hand instead of handing me loads of paperwo