Dena turns toward her. “Long enough for what?”

Tina smirks. “Enough time has passed that you should be past smiling every time I mention Bette’s name.”

Dena’s smile disappears almost instantly. She straightens her blazer and clears her throat. “Sorry.”

Tina chuckles as the elevator arrives with a soft chime, and both women step inside.

Dena reaches for the button for Tina’s floor just as the doors begin sliding shut, and a hand appears between them.

“Hold that.”

The doors reopen, revealing Aaron, who steps inside with his phone in one hand and a folder tucked beneath his arm. He looks at Tina and smiles. “Fantastic timing. We need to talk.”

Tina glances up, mildly surprised. She slips her phone into her purse. “About what?”

Aaron ignores the question. Instead, he places a hand against the elevator door to keep it open and turns toward Dena. “We need the room, kid.”

Dena blinks, glancing around the small space. “But this is the eleva—”

“Dena,” Tina interrupts. “Take the next one.”

Dena looks between them before nodding. “Of course.” She steps backward into the hallway.

Aaron releases the door, and it slides shut between them.

Tina turns toward him, her expression becoming more serious. “So, what’s going on?”

Aaron presses the button for the executive floor and slips the folder beneath his arm. “Listen, Tina, I’ve been doing some thinking about Firestorm Protocol.”

Tina exhales quietly.

Aaron glances at her. “Look, I know how you feel about this movie.”

Tina folds her arms loosely across her chest. “Do you?”

“Come on. You’ve made it pretty clear that you’re not exactly thrilled about the direction we’re taking.”

Tina looks toward the illuminated floor numbers. “Aaron, I’ve expressed concerns about the budget and the script. That’s my job.”

“I know.”

“And I still think we’re taking an enormous financial risk.”

“I know that too.”

Tina sighs and shrugs. “But it’s fine. It won’t be the first time I’ve produced a movie I don’t fully support.”

Aaron raises his index finger. “Co-produce.”

Tina slowly turns her head toward him. For a moment, she just stares. “Of course. How could I forget the enthusiastic, yet highly inexperienced Cody?”

Aaron shifts his weight. “Anyway, that’s actually part of what I wanted to discuss.”