Stella jumped back, asking them what was going on until her eyes caught the equipment above.
She went pale.
Emily took a sip of her drink which had been resting by her side.
Champagne problems, indeed.
9
Nicolas witnessed everything from where he stood on the second floor. Lights went off in a frenzy as the reporters all tried to get a snap of Emily after Stella had fled. He’d blanched hearing the conversation between them.
He’d been in a private room with Jeremiah Hall talking about a possible business venture when the women’s conflict interrupted them.
His eyes bore through Emily. She wore a red dress with a slit, showing off her perfect leg. A distraction. He could spot an anomaly within someone from a mile away. Bold outfit, red lips, and an attitude? Her current state was a picture-perfect example of that.
For years Emily had been under the radar after joining Starz, but now she’d just started what would be a story to tell for weeks, even months, to come.
One reporter was triumphant in getting to her. “Miss Pinault, can you explain the situation we’re dealing with tonight? Why did you decide to make an appearance? We were told Starz would only be sending one celebrity.”
“I thought it was common knowledge that I’m always the one invited. And that hasn’t changed in the slightest. You can confirm that with Mr. Hall,” she said firmly.
The host of the charity event, Jeremiah, was watching everything as well.
He nodded in confirmation when heads turned to him, but his eyes secretly questioned Emily what the hell was going on.
Nicolas realized he knew her on a personal level.Interesting.
His eyes trained back to Emily who gave Jeremiah a look as if to say she’ll explain to him later.
Nicolas was momentarily stunned. Jeremiah drove a hard bargain. He knew as much from their business dealings. The man was relentless, always pressing Nicolas, always digging for more. Yet Emily had just dismissed him, as if his inquiries actually had no weight. He watched Jeremiah swallow his questions because her pursuit was far more important.
Andholy fuckwas it satisfying to see.
“Emily, the public hasn’t heard from you apart from a few campaigns and this annual event in the past years. Are you trying to use this opportunity to announce your return to the big screen?”
“I’m—”
Another barrage of questions followed before she got the chance to utter another word.
Nicolas wondered why she even tried. They weren’t interested in what she had to say. What mattered was the spectacle they could make out of her.
“As a dried-up actress, are you that desperate for gigs? So much that you had to try to steal someone else’s shine tonight?”
With a sharp nod, Nicolas signaled to two of his bodyguards. “Get her.”
They moved swiftly, navigating the swarm of reporters to take Emily away.
Surprisingly, she didn’t resist, but her eyes continued to scan the room like she was still playing some kind of game.
When Emily made it to the private room, Nicolas walked back into it, shutting the door, leaving only the two of them.
He got distracted by how much more stunning she was up close.She was a beautiful concoction of everything he admired in a woman, especially her full lips and eyes that looked like stars shone within them.
Nicolas loathed how much of his type Emily was. She always had been.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t know better than that, Emily.” The gruffness in his voice caused her eyes to flick up, wide for a beat, before narrowing.
He hated that it came out like that too, but he was still affected by what had just happened to her. “How could you not see that there was a camera and mic there with all the live feedback bouncing back? With over a decade of being monitored by the press, you’d think someone like you would have some sense of vigilance.”
