Chapter 32
Emily caught Stella’s eye from across the table and held back a scowl.
They were in a yearly meeting which was said to be for well wishes for the upcoming new year, but really it was a call-out for the clients who hadn’t been contributing much value.
Emily had been spared in recent years, partly because she dated one of the owners, and partly because a single ad featuring her delivered the kind of results others needed ten to match.
“That’s it for this meeting! You’re dismissed!” Jake said.
Emily didn’t have to be told twice, she grabbed her Chanel handbag and left.
“Emily, wait!”
She refused to turn around and give Stella the time of day.
“Emily!” Stella ran in front of her to block her fleeing. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you. It’s about Jake.”
Stella's expression fell when she didn’t get any response. Emily tried hard to not be obvious, but she was human too. She had her limits.
“Look, Emily, I know that what you and Jake have is a long-term thing. I get it. But what him and I have—”
“So you’re finally owning up to it?”
Did Jake not fill her in on the AI excuse? Or did she just not care?
“I’m not…” Stella faltered, realizing her slip up. “I’m not owning up to anything. I’m just saying that in that video we were just fooling around. As friends.”
“Friends…” Emily mumbled with a shake of her head. “Friends that kiss? I didn’t know it was customary to kiss your friends like that, Stella. Enlighten me.”
“I’m not trying to pick a fight here.”
“Oh, but that’s exactly what you’re doing.
” Emily gave a sweet smile. “Keep this up and it won’t be a good ending for you either.
I heard that some brands have rescinded their deals and that your latest movie flopped so badly all the top directors have reconsidered your roles.
Imagine how much worse this could get if you continue crossing lines you shouldn’t. ”
“Emily…” Her jaw locked, a muscle twitching. “Are you threatening me?”
“I’m worried about you,” Emily stressed sweetly. “As your senior, I want you to keep working in this field for a bit longer, but I think you’re making it hard for yourself.”
Stella shrugged off the hand Emily placed on her shoulder.
“But you know what’s funny, Stella?” Emily asked, her tone carrying an eerie wisp.
“Jake doesn’t hold as much power at Starz as you think he does.
He’s only a tool with a title. Steven is the actual CEO and runs this show.
And when the day comes that you realize this and see that what you’ve done isn’t a golden ticket, but a gilded cage, you’ll understand the difference between winning and being trapped.
You’ll sit in the mess of his promises, wondering how everything has gone wrong.
And when that moment comes, I’ll have a front row seat, watching the karma that you’ve brought upon yourself. ”
Emily walked away, her red-bottom heels clicking on the tiled floor.
“What did you say?”
Stella had caught her by the arm.
“Get your hands off me!”
“I asked what the fuck did you just say! Do you think being rich gives you the right to talk to people however you want? You’ve looked down on me since the day we met, since I was your understudy.
Everyone flocks to you like sheep, but I see through you.
I know who you really are. You’re just as desperate for love as I am.
An attention seeker. Jake told me you were popping Adderall faster than he could blink just to keep up. Should I add drug addict to the list?”
Emily’s hand twitched to collide with her face, but blinked away the impulse.
Tears burned her eyes.
Jake had told Stella that? That had been one of Emily’s lowest points. Her most disgraceful act.
It’d taken Emily a month to taper off and she never looked back because of how much more it messed with her brain than pre-indulgence.
Jake walked out the meeting room amid her thoughts. Stella saw him and scrambled onto the floor. His eyes flashed in concern at seeing her there.
He ran to her.
Can they be any more obvious? They aren’t even trying to hide it!
Stella held her stomach as she started bawling. “Jake...” she gasped. “I was only talking to her and s-she...”
“What the fuck did you do?!” Jake shouted, shooting up to confront Emily.
“You told her about the Adderall thing?”
He swore. “It slipped during a function when I was drunk.”
“Like hell it did.” Emily’s composure remained unnervingly intact. “Do you think I’m a fool, Jake?” Rage trembled through her entire being, but she reined it in. “What topic could have possibly brought you there? You know what, I don’t care.”
She turned to Stella. “Did he also tell you he has access to a blackmail file on every talent here, ready to use the moment they step out of line? Did he mention that yours is when Director Nathan referred you after you’d gone on your knees for him during audition taping?
That the tape was kept, and has been passed around among—"
He grabbed her harshly. “How could you be so evil? After doing something like this you won’t even apologize? Instead, you’re making up stories?”
Making up stories? Ha! He really was set on keeping Stella in the dark.
“What’s wrong with you? Why are you going this far?”
“What’s wrong with me?” Emily cocked her head, lips quirking. “It was just a slip of the tongue. No different than what happened at your function. Consider me drunk off this atmosphere.
“Or maybe I’m drunk off something else. The vibes surrounding you and her while kissing in that pool? You two really seemed like you were having a blast.”
His jaw tightened. “I already told you that’s fake and since you don’t believe me, then I don’t want to do this anymore with you, Emily.”
Emily was feeling wronged all over again. But hell if she let it show.
“Let’s end this. Us.” Jake looked at her with the eyes she used to love. “I can’t do this. You’ve become someone I don’t recognize; selfish, vindictive. I just…can’t.” Then he stooped down and wrapped his arms around Stella as he held her bridal style.
Stella buried her face in his neck as she cried as if her life depended on it. It was funny; she’d never been the best actress. But today? She was nailing it.
“Jake, it hurts.”
Emily stood there, unmoving.
Four years.
The words blared in her head.
“Okay,” she agreed calmly, taking them both by surprise. They clearly expected a spiral. “Let’s break up.”
Stella looked up from his hold, stunned.
So the tears are gone now?
“But let me warn you, Jake Mallion,” she said, her voice like steel. “You’ll regret ever meeting me.”
“Emily?”
She swiftly wiped at her eyes, surprised.
“H-Hi. You’re back early.”
Nicolas’s eyes narrowed.
He immediately walked over and crouched in front of the sofa. He brushed her hair away, almost reverently, before his eyes absorbed every inch of her face.
“Who did this to you?”
His tone was murderous.
Her head shook with a silent plea.
“Emily, answer me.” His voice was clearly strained from wanting to know and not trying to scare her. “Who. Did. This. To. You?”
She gazed at him, pupils shaking. “Do you think I’m stupid for still being affected by him?
” Her fingers dug into the fabric at the back hem of his jacket.
“I thought I’d gotten past the point of him getting to me.
That it was a given that nothing he could do could get under my skin, but t-today was… ”
Nicolas knew who this “him” was without her having to spell it out. He looked like he wanted to end his existence. He sighed instead, thumb skimming her cheek. “If you want to cry, then cry. You’ll feel much better afterward.”
She had been holding it in all day, but after hearing his words, she burst into tears.
He was patient, holding her for what felt like forever, whispering that it was okay, that she wasn’t stupid nor weak, and that everything was going to be alright.
After calming down, there was a feeling of embarrassment. Why was she crying in front of her husband over an ex-fiancé who didn’t give a damn about her?
“S-Sorry, I shouldn’t cry over insignificant things like this.” Emily croaked after freeing herself from his strong arms.
“I’m glad you know he’s insignificant, but it’s okay to cry. Apart from your husband, who else would you be able to show this side of you?” Nicolas asked it teasingly but it brought her great comfort because of how heavy the entire day has been.
“Better?” he asked, sitting to join her on the couch.
“Yeah,” Emily nodded, facing him. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help but feel like something’s wrong with me again and that—”
Nicolas’s hand shot out, pulling her into his lap with a swift motion. He tugged her by the chin and pressed his lips firmly against hers.
Her eyes widened slightly, heart thudding wildly within her chest.
His mouth started moving against hers. Slowly. Softly. Tentatively.
Her skin buzzed with the sensation which flooded her. She felt like she was levitating to the highest point of pleasure. Something that only happened with him. Because of him.
Her lips began to follow his lead, kissing him back. He deepened the act. His tongue slipped into her mouth after tracing it, asking for access. She moaned. His need obviously spiked at the sound as his hand circled around her waist.
Nicolas kissed her like it sealed something permanent. Like he was marking her, claiming her and there was no going back.
It was different from the first time in the bathroom and the second time in his office, it was full of emotions. Reassuring. Understanding. It gave the saying ‘third time’s a charm’ an entirely new meaning.
It was her favorite so far.
So far?
Yes, so far!
Her heart leaped when his mouth broke away and journeyed up to her wet cheeks. He gave them the softest pecks.
When he tried to separate the two of them to gauge her reaction, she gripped the material of his suit, shaking her head. “No, don’t stop.”
She pulled his mouth against hers once more.
A sharp intake left him like he’d been thunderstruck.
Then his hand traveled up to the nape of her neck, holding her the way he wanted, kissing her the way he wanted.
Nicolas’s tongue went deeper, sweeping across her own and she felt toes curl in pleasure.
She let him have his way with her until his mouth moved, nipping at her lips, collarbone, and shoulders.
The world felt like it was spinning as they pulled apart to catch their breaths.
Her eyes fluttered closed as he pressed their foreheads together. His thumb caressed her cheekbone lightly.
“I couldn’t help it.” The words left him with a vibrato that shook her soul. “Not when you’re looking like this,” he explained. “Not when another man is making you question your worth again. Not when I know that it’s immeasurable, and that you should come to accept that fact too.”
Her heartbeat accelerated.
Nicolas’s thumb traced her swollen lips.
They stared at each other.
“I need you.”
His eyes widened in shock.
“I know it’s sudden, but I need you right now. I need you to stay with me, hug me, and everything else…”
Nicolas took in the pleading sight of her, absorbing the meaning of her words. She caught the hesitation in his breath, the way his fingers twitched against her mouth. And as her eyes lowered, she saw the constriction in his pants.
For some reason, if this were any other night, she knew exactly how this would go. He’d pull her close, press his mouth to hers again, and take her apart piece by piece until she forgot everything but his name.
But tonight, something held him back. She could see it.
Go figure. It was only a minute ago she’d been crying.
His hand moved to flick her nose. “I need energy to kiss you, and food gives me energy. I’ll make us dinner. Let’s see what happens after that, okay?”
Emily pulled her hands back, heat rising to her cheeks.
She stood, smoothing her shirt with a nervous flick. “Okay, I’ll set the table.”
He stood alongside her. His brow raised, eyes softening with amusement. “You’ve never done so before.”
She shot him a look. “Well, there’s a first time for everything. Don’t get used to it.”
“Oh, I plan to.” He leaned forward with a grin. “You might not know it, Em, but I’ve already planned to get used to everything involving you.”
She gawked at him.
This was so unlike him, but at the same time, it so was.
Her concerns about Jake and Stella melted away at Nicolas’s antics. She appreciated how she could be honest in front of him. She didn’t have to be strong like she was in front of her family, Talia, or any of her other acquaintances.
Nicolas went inside roughly thirty minutes he presented her with a home-cooked meal.
“Here you go, my spoiled little wife.”
She smiled at him.
He took a seat beside her.
This was new.
He always sat across from her, like she was an adversary he needed to study. Their shoulders brushed as they talked for the next hour while eating. About her schedule, his projects and family. She felt the warmth of him, willing her to lean in.
And she did.
He reciprocated with draping his hand over her chair.
A small fear grew in the back of her mind. One that, for the first time, drowned out the rest of the words he was saying.
It was the scary reminder that this was only temporary.