When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 202: The Shift in Plans

Chapter 202: The Shift in Plans

Sophie chimed in, already thinking through the logistics. "If we cut down on breaks and push the cast and crew a little harder—within reason—we might gain a few days. I’ll need to have a word with the studio about overtime costs, though. Zinnia, you’ll need to back me up there as Deputy CEO."

"Of course," Zinnia said firmly. "I’ll handle anything that comes from the top. If we need approvals or adjustments to the budget, I’ll take full responsibility."

Michael crossed his arms, looking at Zinnia with a serious expression. "From the stunt perspective, we can rearrange sequences that are less physically demanding for now. I’ll make sure the team is flexible and ready to go. I’ll need a day to tweak the schedules for my crew."

Katherine nodded in agreement. "I’ll speak with the actors today. If we’re moving things up, I need to make sure everyone is committed to these changes. Some of them might need to shift other projects around."

Marcos turned to Zinnia. "You know this will be intense, right? We’ll all need to be on the same page—no mistakes, no delays. You’ll have to lead the charge."

Zinnia looked at him, determination flashing in her eyes. "I understand. I wouldn’t ask this of any of you if it weren’t so important to me. I know it’s a lot to take on, but I promise I’ll put in twice the effort to make sure we meet this goal."

Marcos gave a small smile, sensing her resolve. "Then let’s do it."

Sophie clapped her hands lightly, signaling agreement. "Alright. I’ll get with the production team and the studio immediately. We’ll rework the plan and confirm the new deadlines."

Michael leaned back in his chair, nodding. "Count me in."

Katherine smiled reassuringly. "Your father will get to see this movie, Zinnia. I’ll make sure of it."

Zinnia felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. "Thank you... all of you. I know this isn’t easy, but it means everything to me."

Marcos stood, closing his notebook with finality. "Then we don’t waste time. Let’s get to work. I’ll start briefing the crew."

The others stood as well, their expressions filled with determination. Sophie turned to Zinnia and said, "You’ve got a good team here, Zinnia. We’ll make this happen."

Zinnia nodded, her heart swelling with relief and pride. "I know. Thank you, Sophie."

Zinnia sat down again after the crew had begun discussing the logistics of advancing the schedule, her mind racing with everything she needed to organize. She knew they were all on board with the idea, but there was one more thing she had to address before they moved forward with the plan.

"Before we go any further," Zinnia said, her voice steady but with an underlying seriousness that caught everyone’s attention. "I need to ask for your discretion. Please, let’s keep the news about my father’s health to ourselves—for now. I don’t want it to get out to the staff or anyone else. We can’t risk the crew and cast becoming distracted, and I know some of them will be concerned."

The room was silent for a moment, the weight of her words settling in. Sophie was the first to respond, her expression understanding. "Of course, Zinnia. I understand how important this is, and I agree that it’s best if we keep it within the core team for now. We’ll handle things on the production side, no problem."

Marcos nodded in agreement. "We’ll be discreet. I’ll let the camera crew and set designers know, but I’ll make sure to frame it in a way that doesn’t raise any questions. We just need to focus on getting this done. We’ll make it look like a standard schedule shift."

Zinnia exhaled a sigh of relief, feeling the tension in her shoulders loosen. "Thank you, all of you. I trust you."

Katherine looked at Zinnia thoughtfully, then turned to the others. "We’ll need to come up with another reason for the cast, though. Something that won’t draw attention to the real reason behind this change. Perhaps we can say it’s for a new marketing strategy, or to take advantage of a temporary gap in availability from some of the supporting cast members?"

Michael, who had been quietly listening, smiled knowingly. "I like that idea. We can frame it as a strategic shift to speed up production, especially since we’re nearing the final phase of the shoot. Maybe the cast will appreciate the idea of wrapping up early to avoid conflicting schedules with other projects they might have."

Zinnia nodded, her mind already working through the details. "Yes, something along those lines would work. We’ll focus on how it benefits the overall production timeline."

"Then it’s settled," Marcos said with a nod. "I’ll take care of speaking to the cast. I’ll make sure to handle the delicate nature of the conversation, so it doesn’t seem forced. We can tell them the new schedule is necessary for logistical reasons, without revealing the real reason."

"Good," Zinnia said, her eyes scanning the room. "Now, we need to inform the cast right away. I’ll trust you all to get that done. Let’s focus on getting everyone on board without making them feel rushed or alarmed."

Katherine added, "I’ll start organizing a briefing for them, and I’ll work with you, Marcos, on handling the specifics. I think we can play it off as a positive change, so they don’t feel any pressure."

With the plan in motion, the team quickly began to break off into smaller groups, ready to put their strategy into action.

The next few hours passed in a blur of calls, meetings, and quick adjustments. Zinnia knew the crew had things under control, and the news about the schedule shift was already being communicated to the rest of the team. But now, it was time to get the cast on board.

As the main cast began to arrive on set for their scheduled meetings, Zinnia stood with Marcos and Katherine, ready to address the group.