2. Emma #2
“I look forward to it,” I tell her. “The sooner I start, the sooner I’m done.”
As I step out, I spot Kate by the printer, copying the same blank sheet repeatedly while sneaking glances in our direction. The glass door closes behind me, and I’m immediately engulfed in curly brown hair and the scent of coconut body cream.
“Well? What happened?” Kate demands, waving her freshly printed folder of nothing.
“She wants me to do an article about Matt.”
Her face scrunches up. “Ouch. I’m sorry. I know how much you hate him.”
“I do,” I admit, “except when it gets me the promotion I’ve wanted since… forever.”
Her hazel eyes go comically wide. “No way.”
“Yes way.” I finally let my smile break through. “I told her I wouldn’t write anything outside The Scoop unless it came with a permanent position.”
“And she agreed?” Kate looks genuinely stunned.
“Of course she did. She might be our personal nightmare, but she’s damn good at her job. Anyway, if all it takes is a couple of days with Matt to finally get what I want? Sign me up.”
A new folder named ‘MATT HUNT’ sits in the middle of my desktop screen. There isn’t much inside yet: some paparazzi shots and a couple of clippings from old articles. Somehow, I never imagined he’d be one of my targets.
Maybe it’s how my parents raised me, but I’ve always had an itch for the truth.
That’s probably why The Golden Scoop took off the way it did.
Still, this is the first time I’ve ever been assigned to someone who feels too close for comfort.
And now I’m wondering if agreeing to this was a brilliant career move or the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.
Digging for someone’s ugly truths is always risky.
You have to be ready for whatever you might uncover.
Sometimes it comes with the guilt of watching the mess unfold, and other times it’s the pleasure of causing the fallout of a bad person.
As much as I want this promotion, there is no universe in which I’d blow up my relationship with Julia and Harrison over it.
They left for their honeymoon last night: two full weeks of all-inclusive bliss along the Riviera Maya. Right about now, they’re probably sipping some fruity cocktail at sunset, preparing for a disgustingly romantic candlelit dinner on the shores of the Caribbean Sea.
I don’t want to cause a full interruption, so I settle for a text. Better safe than sorry with this article.
I know you’re probably enjoying a delicious strawberry daiquiri before dinner right now, but I have some news about work I think I should share with you and Harrison.
Her reply comes through in mere seconds.
JULIA
It’s actually a pina colada.
You’d think the sun in Mexico wouldn’t be different from the sun in L.A., but I am proof it is.
Currently lying in bed, sprawled out like a star, with lotion all over my crispy red skin.
And you know what’s worse? Harrison has a perfect tan after ONE day! As if English folks aren’t meant to be pale.
Anyway, forgive me. I’m in mild pain. What’s up?
I bargained my way into a promotion today.
JULIA
OH MY GOD!! Emma!! Congratulations!!!! That’s amazing!!!!!!
I type up the next message, hesitate, then send.
Yeah… except it comes with one condition.
JULIA
Which is?
Martha wants a full feature, front cover, about… Matt.
And whatever it turns into, I can’t compromise my journalistic integrity.
So, before I start, I wanted to make sure this wouldn’t hurt us.
JULIA
Go for it. Honestly? I think this might be a blessing in disguise. Matt will probably surprise you x Josh.
For the longest time, only Julia knew what I actually do at work.
Even my family’s been kept in the dark. That was until Harrison moved here, and I slipped up enough times for him to join the dots.
I thought I was done for. He was going to take it personally, and my secret would be splashed across the news the next day.
But it turns out, he’s as much a fan of the truth as I am.
Matt, on the other hand… if he ever finds out, consider my career over.
JULIA
What he said.
I doubt it, but we’ll see… if we don’t kill each other on day one.
I’ll let you go. Enjoy your romantic dinner!
And even more so, your hottie husband.
I do love a good dessert.
I toss my phone onto the couch and pick up my fried rice takeout container. Just as I’m scraping the last little bit, my email pings.
I drag the laptop toward me and open Martha’s message.
Subject: Assignment details. Urgent.
She loves making things urgent. There’s some sort of entry ticket attached.
Here’s the pass his manager sent me. She confirmed Emma Miller will be granted shadow access and treated as an official member of the Hunt team for the duration of the profile.
Starting date: Tomorrow, eight a.m. sharp. He’s never late. Don’t make him wait.
Location: Universal Picture Studio. (Others might include his house, his studio, his workouts (?), his meetings… go everywhere you’re allowed.)
Duration: Three-week, full access.
I close my laptop so fast it nearly snaps in half.
No, no, no. Nope. Absolutely not.
It can’t be.
There’s no way I can deal with Matt for three weeks.