“Leave the questions untilafterthe photos.”
The reporters took that as a sign to blind the actress with camera flashes.
“Too much!” Talia snapped.
Emily spun to the other side to face her fans who had been calling out her name.
“Emily!”
“Emily, please sign this! I love you so much!”
“We missed you so much, Emily! I’ve waited years for this!”
“I think I’m about to faint…”
“Holy shit, she just smiled at me. EmilyfuckingPinault just smiled at me!”
“AHH! OH MYGOD! STEP ON ME PLEASE, QUEEN!”
Emily burst out laughing. Fans sure were creative.
Her heart swelled at how much they’ve supported her. Even in her moments of silence. Without them, she wouldn’t be where she was today.
Slipping past Talia, Emily signed some autographs. She only got to do six before she got ahold of her. “You need to take the group pictures. The slideshow of behind the scenes footage will start soon. It’ll be inappropriate if you’re late.”
In the next minute, Emily was standing beside the rest of her costars. They took pictures and chatted until she wandered off with Valentina. She wore a deep emerald gown, its fabric threaded with hazel-brown patterns that shimmered like silk. The blend gave the dress a graceful richness.
“How have you been?” Emily’s hands reached out automatically to toy withValentina’scurls. “You look stunning by the way.”
“I was thinking the same about you,” she returned, then her genuine smile wobbled. “And I’m doing just peachy.”
Valentina was nervous.
Emily smiled. “Me too,” she whispered after leaning in. “Wanna know why?”
She waited on the answer.
“Nico’s here tonight.”
Her friend’s eyes widened, automatically looking around for her secret husband. “Really? Where?”
She slapped her on the arm. “Be more discreet.”
Valentina gave a silly smile. “Oops, sorry. But why is he here?”
“He’s using the excuse of being an investor, so technically he was invited.”
She grinned. “But the truth is that he’s here for you.”
“Something like that.”
“Something like that,” Valentina jeered with a purposefully childish tone.
Emily nudged her with her elbow. Her annoyance quickly shifted when the individual photo op came and she was the first to go.
“Knock ‘em dead,” Valentina told her.
Emily gave a grateful grin in response. She took photos and answered questions reserved for her by the reporters.
