“Good evening, gentlemen.” Her award-winning smile made an appearance after interrupting them.
All the men turned and their eyes twinkled.
“TheEmily Pinault! What a lovely surprise! Your team at Starz said you wouldn’t make it tonight. We’re happy to see that isn’t true.”
She was relieved to see they were all familiar faces, men she’d stayed on the good sides of. Directors, producers, investors. A group of six, including Stella. Emily had worked with each of them and knew their names by heart.
“Mr. Dean,” Emily said with a melodic laugh. “You know I wouldn’t miss a chance to see you all. Moments like this where we get to reminisce about the good times are rare, you know.”
The powerhouse behind a casting agency spoke up. “Speaking of good times, when are you planning on coming back to acting? You know I don’t believe a word of what they say about you. You’re the sweetest thing since Pop-Tarts. You’ve never once complained while working under a perfectionist like me.”
“Same here,” Carlson stepped in. He was the director of a film she’d done when she was sixteen. “Emily’s always been a gem. I can’t believe some people would think otherwise. Matter of fact, I’d love to have you on this new project I’ve been working on. I ran it past Mallion, but he turned me down before I even offered you a script reading.”
Emily tucked a hair behind her ear. The act caught their eyes.
These were all just sweet nothings they fed her. Yes,Emily had been a “gem” in their eyes, but that was only because every time they’d ordered “jump!” she’d asked, “how high?” Men like them lived and breathed for submission. She’d been so desperate to be liked by them all, she’d put up with their bullshit for over a decade.
They weren’t good people, but hey, some would say the same thing about her, right?
“I’ll think about it. You know I’m on a break right now.”
“Break that break!” he exclaimed, making the rest of them laugh.
She did too, but for a different reason.
Emily’s eyes had been watching Stella. The woman had faded into the background. And she seemed to not like it one bit. She reached for a glass of champagne, paused, then retracted her hand. Then she ran it through her long black hair.
That’s it. Lose your cool.
Emily put a finger under her chin in faux consideration. “You know what? Maybe I will.”
That caused Stella’s eyes to fly to her in shock.
She made sure to smile at her.
Stella’s eye twitched.
“What do you think, Stella?” Emily egged her on, addressing her colleague for the first time since she’d arrived.
All the men looked to her like wolves, ready to tear her apart if she said different from what they were advocating for.
“I…” Stella looked back and forth, between them and Emily. When the pressure became too much, she squeezed out, “I need to use the bathroom. Excuse me.”
One of the men sucked his teeth in distaste as she stumbled away.
Emily turned to them with a clasp of her hand. “It’s like she’s reading my mind. I also have to go. I’ll see you fine gentlemen later.”
Their eyes sunk in disappointment, but they still allowed her to leave.
“Alright, we’ll let you go. Just don’t forget what we talked about tonight.”
“I won’t,” she reassured.
Emily felt the familiar pang of self-resentment that came with being so performative. It always felt icky, cheap.
As soon as she bent a corner, a voice snarled, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
As expected, Stella hadn’t gone to the bathroom. She was backstage. Ironically right where Emily needed her to be.
