Double, double, toil, and trouble
Imogen Pilar had perfected the art of invisibility. From the hushed stacks of the university library to the controlled chaos backstage at the annual Literary Festival, she thrived where no one expected her to be seen. Problem-solving was her superpower, and she was happiest nudging others toward success while remaining firmly out of the spotlight. This fall's ambitious production of Macbeth promised more of the same-until Sebastian Doyle stepped onto her stage and into her carefully ordered world.
Fresh off the retirement of the tyrannical Dr. Krane, Sebastian was finally free to breathe new life into the university's struggling theater program. Ticket sales were dwindling, alumni donations were faltering, and the board demanded results. For Sebastian, that meant one thing: bold choices. But to pull off his vision, he needed more than just sets and costumes-he needed his brilliant, Shakespeare-obsessed stage manager to step out of the shadows and into a role she never wanted.
The more time they spend clashing over creative visions and coaxing reluctant donors, the harder it becomes to ignore the spark simmering between them. For Imogen, the stage feels like a place of exposure she's never craved. For Sebastian, the risk is letting his ambition blind him to the heart of the production-and to the woman who could make it unforgettable.
As rivalries, egos, and old insecurities threaten to ignite a firestorm of bad press, Imogen and Sebastian face their biggest question yet: will this be the final curtain call for the university's most storied Shakespearean festival, or will they find their happily-ever-after when they realize the only script worth following is the one they're writing together?