“No,” Emily says. I don’t blame her.
“I’ll volunteer,” Kate says.
“As will I,” Monroe adds, setting the bag withTiberius down on the ground and brushing non-existent dust off of her pant legs. “I’m a firm believer in always modeling appropriate behavior.”
“Your pool boy—” Destyny starts, and Monroe wheels around on her.
“I assure you,” she says firmly, “that I only touched himappropriately.”
Oh, dear god.
“All right,” Emily says, studying the exercise in the book like she’s hoping for divine guidance. Which is what it would take for this to succeed. “Kate, pretend that you are in a workplace with Monroe, and that you’re attracted to her.”
“But she’s a woman,” Kate says, wrinkling her nose. “Ew.”
I can practically see the glee radiating off of Rich at this incredibly homophobic pronouncement.
Emily gives Kate the opportunity to fix it. “What do you mean, ‘Ew?’” She says this with forced evenness, though I can see her gripping the binder tighter.
“I mean I’m not attracted to women,” Kate says. “Not that there’s anything wrong with women who are. Some of my best friends are lesbians.”
Monroe looks at her with disdain. “And why, pray tell, couldn’t you be attracted to me?”
Kate ignores Monroe and pouts in Emily’s direction. “Why can’t I act this out with Jason? I wouldn’t have to pretend to be attracted to him.”
If looks could actually kill, I’m pretty sure we would all be caught in the nuclear blast of this one. “No!” Emily says. “The only reason we’re doing this is because ofyou.You’rethe one who grabbed his ass. I’m not putting him in that situation again.”
“Oh, it was Kate?” Calista says. “I thought it was Destyny.”
“It was Destyny, too!” Emily says. “It was all of you!”
Monroe looks wounded at the accusation, putting her hand over her chest. “Well,Icertainly never harassed Jason.”
Emily looks to me for confirmation, and I nod. “That’s true.”
Monroe smiles smugly, like this alone exonerates her from the pool boy accusations.
Kate crosses her arms. “I still think I should get to do this with Jason.”
“That’s it,” Emily growls at Kate. “You’re dismissed from the exercise.”
“You’re just jealous!” Kate insists.
Emily is staring her down with such ferocity that I’m a little worried there’s about to be a slap fight. Emily’s tough as hell, but I can guarantee Kate has more experience slapping people.
“Hey!” I say, jumping up. “It’s okay. I’ll do the exercise with Monroe.”
Kate pouts, but appears more willing to sit down when I’m the one who dismissed her. I’m sure there are all kinds of terrible implications to that, but this doesn’t feel like the moment to antagonize her further.
Emily grits her teeth, giving me an annoyed look. I wonder if that’s because she thinks I caved to Kate or because I’ve undermined her authority. Either way, I already have regrets. “All right, then,” she says to me. “Did you want to be theaggressor?”
Do I want to sexually harass someone on camera so they can usethatin promos without context? “Hell no,” I say. “Not a chance.”
“Monroe it is,” Emily says.
Monroe frowns. “But I prefer to model appropriate—”
“Forthisexercise, Monroe,” Emily says in herdon’t you dare even think about putting tuna fish in my mac and cheesevoice, “pretend you’re in a workplace and you are attracted to Jason.”
