Chapter 34
CHAPTER 34
EMERSON
“Then you’re scheduled to appear at three after-parties, but due to the distance between them, you can’t spend more than twenty-five minutes at each venue.”
Beck continues doling out instructions as he scrolls through his cell.
“Following that, we have an early interview first thing tomorrow morning at…”
I fight the rising urge to scream when Hayley meets my eyes from her place on the opposite side of the ridiculously over-the-top limousine that he’d insisted upon for the event.
Her simple eye roll speaks volumes, and I try to tune out the sound coming from Beckham’s mouth, focusing instead on the looming premiere. And even though this movie is a special one for personal reasons, I am willing it to be over and done with. The need to tell Ford of my decision is at the forefront of my mind.
Everything else is just white noise.
My ringing cell interrupts my thoughts, and I slide to answer with a bright smile when I note Ford’s name flashing on the screen.
“How was it?”
Ford’s deep voice is a balm to my soul, and I can feel my entire body relaxing as he replies. “Freeing, baby.” I can hear the smile in his voice, and it puts an answering one on my face. His sigh is one of relief before he repeats. “So. Damn. Freeing .”
Hearing his happiness brings tears to my eyes that threaten to destroy my makeup, and I can make out Carter exchanging terse words with Hayley in my peripheral. Blinking them back, I whisper, “That makes me so happy. I can’t wait to see you. Are you on your way to the airfield?”
He chuckles. “I’m already in the air and on my way back. To you.”
My stomach flip-flops, and an uncharacteristically girlish squeal of delight echoes through the limousine, making Beck glance over at me with a scowl. “Are you far away?”
“Well, I’ll miss the red carpet, for sure, which is a real damn shame, considering I’ve not missed one in five years?—”
“I don’t care about that. I only care that you’re on your way, and we’ll be together soon.”
I can hear the utter relief in my voice, feeling like I’ve just been through the longest two days of my damn life.
“I’ll text when I’m leaving the airfield at Teterboro. Depending on traffic, I shouldn’t be more than thirty minutes away at that point.”
The limousine rolls to a stop, and I sigh internally when flashes from outside alert me to the fact that we’ve arrived at the Regal.
“Let’s go, Emerson. Time is money.” Beckham’s declaration is loud enough that Ford hears it, even as I shoo my agent away with a deep frown.
But Ford is unperturbed. “You go, baby. Knock their socks off, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“I love you, Cowboy.”
“Not as much as I love you, Tink.”
Then I hang up, knowing there are surely hearts dancing comically in my eyes as Hayley and Carter watch me with happy little smiles of their own. Beck, on the other hand, dives straight back into work mode.
“Now, you can’t give more than ninety seconds to each reporter from any one outlet. Ensure the paps get more shots of your right side, as it’s your best side. And above all else?—”
Knowing his usual pep talk inside and out, I cut him off to deadpan. “Smile till it hurts, and then smile harder. I know, Beck. It isn’t my first event.”
The door opens, and Beck slides out, leaning back inside to extend a seemingly helpful hand as he hisses through his fake smile. “Right side first, Em.”
As I slip out onto the red carpet to cheers and flashing lights, I smile gratefully to Kyle and Thom, whose presence Ford ensured from the moment of my return, and I’m overwhelmed with the certainty that I don’t want this life anymore.
The point is driven firmly home with each reporter asking the same set of questions that I’ve answered ten dozen times over in the two days since returning to the city.
“Who’s your mystery man, Emerson?”
“Where’s Lawson? Are you guys still friends?”
“Is it true that you’re involved in a love triangle with your bodyguard and Lawson Wilde?”
I smile as though my life depends on it as I pose, twisting this way and that, ensuring my right side receives more camera time than my left—though God knows why I feel the need to do what Beck says—so by the time I reach the doors of the Regal, I’m wilting.
And in the back of my mind, I can’t shake the fact that something feels wrong.
I glance about, finding Kyle and Thom present as always, and my shoulders sag, knowing that if Ford were here, I wouldn’t be feeling as uneasy as I am.
Even so, I have no time to dwell on my feelings because Beckham is utterly relentless and seems to be in my ear nonstop.
“Lawson is reaching the front of the red carpet, and there are outlets waiting to get photos of the co-stars together.” I rub my pounding temples and inhale slowly through my nose as he raises his eyebrows almost to his hairline. “I mean, you want to keep the cheating allegations out of the headlines, right?”
With an eye roll, I step back out into the limelight, a genuine smile lighting my face when I spot Lawson playing up to the paparazzi. I grin when I see that he’s left several small bruises and scrapes visible from the brawl in Rebels, purely so that he can milk it for all it’s worth.
When he sees me, he rushes closer and pulls me up into an exaggerated hug that sees flashes going off tenfold.
“You look good enough to eat, sugar tits.”
I slide out of his arms and pat his cheeks fondly. “Ah, good ol’ sugar tits. I hope you find someone worthy of the moniker, Law. You’ll make one lucky girl very happy someday.”
He snorts, linking my arm through his and steering us back inside the theater. “Speaking of which, where’s your cowboy?”
“He’s on the way. Got caught up with some family business.”
“I hope he makes it in time.”
I side-eye my mischief-making co-star as I scrunch up my face in confusion. “In time for what?”
Lawson’s grin is entirely wicked when he quirks an eyebrow. “The on-screen sex scenes, obviously. Early reviewers are claiming—” He holds up his hands, slowly parting them theatrically as he emphasizes, “ Hart and Wilde’s chemistry is palpable !”
I shake my head when he laughs. “His face will be fucking priceless.”
And as we move inside the theater, arm in arm, I nudge his shoulder even as I chuckle. “You are the absolute pits, Lawson Wilde.”
“Hayles?”
My sister steps closer, concern etched on her features. The premiere went off without a hitch, but I feel utterly spent. The thoughts of attending one, let alone three after-parties is giving me hives, and I want nothing more than to curl up in Ford’s bed and inhale his sheets while waiting for his return.
“Everything okay, Em?”
I fan myself with my hands, feeling like I’m burning up in the floor-length black lace ballgown Carter had insisted was the perfect dress for the occasion. It’s a beautiful creation that sits off my shoulders and swishes full billowing skirts around my legs with each step I take, but the material is beginning to feel more than a little heavy following the long evening.
“I need a moment to catch my breath. Could you find out if there’s somewhere I can freshen up before our next stop of the evening?” She nods swiftly, moving off to make the relevant queries when I stop her with a palm on her forearm. “Could you rustle up some water, too, please?”
She smiles her affirmative, and I step to the right of the foyer alongside Thom and Kyle. It takes her a couple of minutes, but she returns with a delighted grin, gesturing to follow her down a long corridor.
“The theater manager offered up her office. It’s just down this way, Em.”
Having passed several doors, Hayley leads us into a secluded office space, with both men opting to wait outside to give us some privacy.
I practically fall into the desk chair, positioning my long skirts in such a way that I can kick my sandaled feet up onto the desk between me and my sister. She passes me a bottle of cold water before cracking open one for herself.
“As movie premieres go, that was particularly exhausting.”
I snort. Even though this premiere means more to me than any previous event, seeing as there’s a vulnerable part of myself out there for the world to critique, I feel like it’s only solidified what I want to do next.
“Tell me about it. Feels like every event gets harder. Like they’re etching out parts of me. Or the part of me that wanted to pursue this life.” I sip my water before sighing wearily. “I’ve decided I don’t want it anymore. In fact, if I’m honest, I recently realized that I don’t think I ever truly wanted it. It all just kind of fell into my lap.”
Hayley’s kind eyes hold mine for a long beat before she props herself at the edge of the desk. “I was jealous, you know?”
I blink heavily and shake my head in disbelief. “Of me ?”
She nods emphatically, her shoulder-length brown curls swinging around her cheeks. “We met because we both had the same dream. But it felt like everything just came to you, Em. And I felt overlooked by the industry…my mother…the universe? Who knows!”
I shake my head as my forehead wrinkles in concern, having had no clue she felt this way.
“But there’s a side to fame that you don’t see when you’re a little girl with a big dream. When you reach the heights you have, your life isn’t even your own. You belong to the world?—”
Hayley’s sentence is cut short by Beckham striding in the door, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “There you are. We need to talk.”
He glances expectantly between the two of us, and Hayley sighs in defeat.
“I was just leaving. Meet you in the car, Em.” My sister faces me, mouthing the words, “ Dick head .”
Then she turns to leave, but stops by the door, regarding me with a shrewd gaze.
“For what it’s worth…I think you’re making the right call. A tough call…” Her smile is filled with encouragement as she nods. “But the right one.”
As she closes the door behind her, Beck shifts around to me with a frown. “What’s she talking about?”
Internally, I heave a sigh, too tired to have this conversation, but knowing it needs to be had.
“I’m quitting the business, Beck.” His nonplussed face doesn’t move an inch, and I blink several times, not quite fathoming his reaction. “Did you hear me? Once I’ve finished up with my current obligations, I’m out.”
“Whatever you say, Emerson. If you want out, I can’t stop you.”
It’s most assuredly not the rejoinder I’d assumed we’d have, but having spoken the words aloud, I feel buoyed and somewhat ready to tackle the rest of the evening.
“Okay, well, what did you need to talk to me about?”
Beck shakes his head with a shrug. “Nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow.” Then he extends his elbow with a smile. “Come on, I’ll escort you to the limousine.”
I adjust my skirts and rise to my feet, taking his proffered arm. He opens the office door with his free hand just as Thom and Kyle are regarding one another with heavy frowns. Kyle speaks into his wire in hushed tones that carry in the empty corridor, his words turning my world upside down.
“Are you telling me boss man’s been shot ?”
FORD
The jet’s wheels have barely touched the tarmacadam of the runway at Teterboro when I’m on my feet, much to the air host's distaste.
“Please remain seated, Mr. Holloway. You may disembark momentarily.”
He moves off to speak with the pilot, and I drop into the nearest seat, ants in my damn pants with the need to get to Emmy.
I tug my cell from my pocket, immediately noting that she’s most likely still working the red carpet. With a quick swipe of a finger, I can see footage from the Regal time marked from two hours ago popping up on my screen, meaning the premiere is most likely still ongoing. I continue to watch as a legion of cameras flash when she hugs the asshat.
My smile is broad as I watch them both. Their interactions are so normal to me at this point that I’d find it strange if they weren’t as familiar with one another. Not to mention, his actions at Rebels went a long way in my estimations.
I watch them on the screen until they disappear inside the theater, and I shoot Thom a quick text.
ME
Have landed. Will be there soon. Stay with her.
His reply is a thumbs-up emoji, and I quickly dial Vaughn, wanting to update him as to how things went. Having spent most of the flight talking everything through with Momma, I feel like I’m in a better place than I’ve been in years.
He answers on the third ring with not so much as a hello. “Did you hit him?”
I scrunch up my face. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Well, you hardly think I paid the guard off to allow you within such proximity for the hell of it?”
As I shake my head, I can’t help feeling my heart expand even further for this friend of mine who’s somehow become more like family, and I swallow roughly before clearing my throat.
“The fact that I’m getting choked up because you paid someone to give me access to hit my convicted felon father just goes to show how fucked up our friendship is.”
Vaughn booms a laugh on the other end. “I know you wouldn’t be where you are today if it weren’t for your association with my morally grey compass, Holloway.” As I grin, he sobers. “Did you hit him, or what?”
“Mr. Holloway?” I lift my head to find the air host gesturing toward the now-open door. “There’s a car waiting, as requested.”
I nod, giving the man a smile, as I rise to my feet and, recalling my father’s face when I spoke my parting words, I murmur into my cell. “I hit him where it hurt. That’s what matters.”
Vaughn starts yammering in my ear as I step out onto the air stairs, but a sixth sense I’ve honed over my years in private security makes me freeze before I can put my foot on the first step. Instead, I take a slow step backward, and two things happen at once.
A loud ping sounds to my right, followed by a burning sensation on the side of my neck. I put my free hand up to touch the area, my eyes blowing wide when I see bright red blood on my fingertips.
“Burton, I’ve just been shot at. Get security to Teterboro and drones in the air right the fuck now.”
Another shot is popped off, and my cell shatters as it’s knocked from my hand. I step fully back inside the jet, pressing my hand over my neck to staunch the bleeding. My eyes flicker around the space, landing on the terrified air host as I wonder what the fuck is going on and how the hell I’m going to get out of this mess.
I exhale heavily before taking several deep breaths as I center myself, and a vision of Emmy walking into that premiere alone, without my presence, flashes before my eyes. I clench my jaw, wincing at the throb in my neck as I focus on the one thing that matters.
Getting back to my Tink. And the knowledge that I’ll move heaven and earth to do just that.