It is, he said. She looked up at Zach and found his gaze on her. She couldnt help but wonder if he was referring to her beingbeautiful. Before she could ponder it anymore, Zach cleared his throat. My room is right across the hall. And the bathroom is the door next to my room. Thank you again, Zach. And your family seems wonderful. I told you they would love you. And like my mom said. Were happy to have you here. Now, make yourself at home. If you want to relax a little bit, I can let you know when the pizza gets here. He looked at his watch. It should be about an hour. Chantel smiled. That would be great. I think Ill freshen up a bit. Zach smiled before he left the room, closing the door behind him. Chantel walked over, picked up her bags, and placed them on the bed. She opened her suitcase to get her toiletry bag, but the first thing that caught her eye was Zachs green T-shirt that he let her wear the night before. They were in such a hurry to leave Baltimore that she had forgotten to give it back to him. She set it aside so she would remember to return it to him later. She heard her phone buzz, and she pulled it out of her purse. One look at the screen, and she rolled her eyes. She had six missed calls from Mario. Well, at least he didnt leave any messages. Feeling a little tired, she set the alarm on her phone. A quick cat nap before dinner would be good for her. Moving her bags to the floor, she climbed on the bed and pulled the throw blanket that was on the bed on top of her. Within minutes, sleep pulled her under. Chapter Seven Mario stood in the middle of Chantels apartment, the faint scent of vanilla lingering in the air. It was like stepping into a ghost town. Everything was untouched, pristine, yet lifeless. The faint tick of a clock on the wall only amplified the emptiness. He had let himself in using the spare key shed given him months ago, back when things were good, back when they trusted each other. Now, as he stood in the space, the guilt hed been carrying for two days resurfaced, gnawing at the edges of his composure. Tatiana had been a mistake. It was a fleeting, thoughtless act he couldnt take back. His buddies had shrugged it off, calling it a slip-up, the kind of thing that happened when relationships got too comfortable. But Mario knew Chantel didnt see it that way. Hell, shed see it as the ultimate betrayal. And she wasnt wrong. It had been two days now without any word from her. She hadnt answered his calls, his texts, or even the messages he sent through Brian. Shed disappeared without a trace, and her silence was beginning to grate on his nerves. Pulling out his phone, Mario hit her number again. It rang and rang and rang. Damn it, he muttered, pacing the length of her living room as her voicemail picked up. The beep sounded, and Mario launched into his message, his tone harsher than his previous messages. Chantel, its me. Look, I get ityoure mad. Youve got every reason to be. But this is ridiculous. Its been two days,Chantel. Two fucking days you havent shown up to work, and I dont know what kind of point youre trying to prove, but its childish. You have responsibilities, and people are counting on you. Im counting on you. He paused, running a hand through his hair, the frustration boiling over. If you dont call me back, Ill have no choice but to come looking for you. And believe me, Ive got plenty of ways to find you. You cant hide forever. He ended the call and tossed his phone onto the couch, muttering a curse under his breath. Walking into the kitchen, Mario leaned against the island, his eyes scanning the room for any clue that might tell him where shed gone. A pad of paper caught his eye on the kitchen table. Its pages were slightly askew. He picked it up and flipped through the top sheet. Written in Chantels neat handwriting were a few cities, Miami, Gatlinburg, Los Angeles, and New York. Each one was underlined as though she were weighing her options. Mario frowned, tapping the pen shed left beside the pad against his palm. Had she gone to one of these places? Or were they just idle thoughts, random cities shed been thinking about? His jaw tightened. If she thought she could just run off and leave him in the lurch, she was wrong. He wasnt going to let her ghost him like this, not after everything theyd built together. Picking up his phone again, Mario scrolled through his contacts until he found the name he was looking for. He hit call, pacing as the line connected. Joe, he said when his friend answered. I need a favor. In the latest episode of ReelTalk EP 37, titled "Confessions of a Casting Director" by CrushReel, dive into the behind-the-scenes world of bringing your favorite stars to the big screen. Casting Directors reveal the intricate process of selecting actors for roles and share insights into what they seek in fresh talent. Explore the nuanced themes and character elements that shape the casting decisions, shedding light on the unique aspects that influence the final choices. Discover the artistry and expertise involved in assembling the perfect ensemble to breathe life into each character on screen. What sets this episode apart is its candid exploration of the casting process, offering a rare glimpse into the meticulous craft of matching actors to roles. Uncover the passion and dedication that drive Casting Directors in their quest to create captivating performances. For an exclusive look into the world of casting and to learn more about this ongoing series, head over to CrushReel. Experience firsthand the magic of bringing characters from script to screen by delving into "Confessions of a Casting Director," available to read online at CrushReel.