Fever Dream (Emerald Lake, #1)(114)

“Unlikely. I’ve sent your letter of resignation just to cover our bases. But I suspect that when they see what a legal nightmare this executive is, they’ll pay out the contract and give you anything you want just to keep you from dragging them through the courts.”

Relief floods me at the prospect of getting out of this relatively unscathed. Paid and free of Richard fucking Wadsworth.

“Anything I want?”

“Contractual sort of things. Not a Lamborghini.”

I almost laugh. Maxwell might be one of the most literal people I’ve ever interacted with.

“A letter of recommendation from the studio for the location manager?”

“Shouldn’t be a problem.”

Against my better judgment, my thoughts turn to Evelyn. I don’t like the woman. But I hate the way she’s been used and abused by Dick Wad even more. “What about a guaranteed audition for future shows for one of the contestants?”

“That might be a reach.”

“What if Richard has been fucking her while promising it would help her get future roles?”

“Jesus Christ.” Maxwell sounds genuinely disgusted.

“I know.”

“Proof?”

“I saw them?”

I hear the lawyer hum from the other end of the line. “Would she corroborate your story in writing?”

“I don’t know. Evelyn and I are not exactly on great terms.”

“Leave it with me. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Appreciate it, Maxwell.”

“Yup. I’d also like to get proof of the camera’s existence myself, go over the contract with you in person, and possibly bring a technician out. Just to prove that the camera is functional, which means that until I can get there tomorrow, I need you to guard it with your life and make sure no one gets a chance to tamper with it or take it down. Going to make the trip to you tomorrow.”

“Okay, well, I’m here now, and I’ve covered the lens. The doors are locked but I don’t trust Richard not to try something if I leave.”

I swear I can hear Maxwell nodding through the phone. “Good. Well, don’t leave then. I’ll be there in the morning.”

With that, he hangs up on me and leaves me staring at my phone screen, and Julia doing the same.

“Am I still drunk, or did you actually just find a way out of this fucking shit show with a paycheck in hand?”

I hug her close and press a disbelieving kiss against her messy curls.

“Both, Jules. I think it’s both.”





CHAPTER 46


Julia





Theo

You okay? Emmett came looking for you yesterday.





Theo

He seemed genuinely distraught, and I just wanted to check in. Maybe he’s not as bad as I thought? I might have overstepped the other night.





Julia

ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?





* * *



Emmett treats me like porcelain. He holds me in bed, and his hands never leave me, even as we make our way to the kitchen.

Fingers linked with mine, he presses his lips against the side of my head. It’s as though if he’s not touching me, I might cease to exist.

He pulls out a stool for me at his kitchen counter and steps away, mumbling about making me something to eat. But the glance he shoots back over his shoulder is anxious. His body language tells me that he’s loath to even be mere feet away.

We haven’t talked, not in depth, and certainly not sober, about what’s gone down in the last twenty-four hours.

We both know the truth of it, yet the misunderstanding of it all hovers above us like an ominous cloud. I can’t imagine anything prying me away from Emmett, but if we don’t clear the air, I fear outside forces might try.

He can barely meet my eyes, and that kills me.

“Emmett, I know I need Tylenol, water, and food—in that order. But we should talk.”

He flinches at the word talk. Like the mere prospect of open communication causes him physical pain.

“I’m going to take care of you first, Jules,” he says as he frantically rifles through cupboards and the fridge.

Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize the cupboards may be a little bare in this bachelor pad. But for some reason, that makes him search even more desperately.

I push off the stool and pad around the island until I get to him. I press in close at his back, slipping my hands over his rib cage to link across his stomach, resting my head against his back.

I can hear his heart. It’s racing, hard and fast. He’s more nervous than he has any need to be.

“Emmett, this isn’t a bad talk. This is a… let’s call it a pep talk. You and I, we’re a team now. I think we are, anyway.”

His head bobs in quick succession, sealing the promise between us. “I think so too.” His voice quavers.

“Kind of hard to beat the game if we don’t have a plan, yeah?”

He nods again, this time turning in my arms to match my position and wrap me up. Right here in the middle of his kitchen, we hold each other.

One of his palms presses against the back of my skull, keeping me flush against him. I tip my chin up to make eye contact.