by Mj Fields
���Never heard it,��� wow this feels so���okay��� stop it! She told herself.
���Well do you like it?��� Brody asked, his eyes sinking into hers.
���It���s alright, do you?��� She asked nervously.
���I do,��� Brody spoke softly. ���So, what kind of music do you like?���
���Anything I can sing along with, most everything,��� Emma answered.
���But this one���s just alright?��� Brody looked confused.
���No it���s nice,��� Emma���s stomach churned and she felt dizzy. Oh no she thought. ���Excuse me,��� she ran towards the back entry.
Brody followed her, knowing she wasn���t feeling well. He walked up to her after she threw up and handed her a tissue.
���Did that song make you ill?��� Brody tried not to laugh at her.
���Thank you,��� feeling embarrassed she looked away. ���And no, it wasn���t the song; it was all the vodka and whatever else…I mixed. I don���t do this often.���
���Should I get Lila?��� Brody suggested
���No I���ll be fine, thank you for the tissue,��� Emma walked towards the door needing to get away from him.
Brody looked down at her opening the door before she had a chance, he noticed her trying to avoid him. He smiled softly and his eyes crinkled as he tried to figure out exactly what he was feeling.
���What���s going on?��� Lila asked smiling as she looked between the two of them.
���I think the song made your friend sick,��� Brody winked before walking away.
CHAPTER TWO
Emma woke up at six in the morning. She didn���t need an alarm anymore; it was just something that happened naturally after seven years. She decided to go for a run, stop and get coffee for her and Lila. She was back by seven thirty and sat looking at help wanted ads online.
���Good morning Emma. I was sure you���d sleep in after last night,��� Lila laughed as she held her head.
���I don���t sleep in, I wish I could,��� she laughed. ���I brought you an iced coffee, I hope you still like the vanilla,��� Emma said handing it to her.
���I haven���t had this since college thanks, Emma.��� Lila smiled and looked down at the paper, ���What are you looking for?���
���A job,��� she laughed.
���What do you want to do?��� Lila sat next to Emma.
���Probably something with my degree, my dream job would be flexible. I need to be available for London. She���s at school from eight in the morning until three in the afternoon. I���ve also done child care so that I���m with her all summer as well. Maybe I should go back to school and teach, and then I would have summers off,��� Emma thought out loud.
���Yeah and make crappy money. You always wanted to edit…why don���t you try that?��� Lila asked.
���I���d have to move,��� Emma rolled her eyes. ���We���ve made enough changes in the past six months.���
���What about freelance work?��� Lila asked.
���Benefits and a steady paycheck. Remember, I have a child,��� Emma laughed.
���Okay but I have some connections Emma, you could do it. I would like to help you.��� Lila hugged her.
���Okay I���ll look into it. Reading all day would be a dream,��� Emma smiled. A dream…not a reality, she thought. ���I���m going to take a shower.���
When Emma got out of the shower, she heard Lila on the phone.
���It���s not the end of the world. This is exactly why you hired me, so let me take care of this,��� Lila said and looked at Emma who was walking through the door. ���Why don���t you come over, and the three of us can discuss this?��� Lila smiled nervously towards Emma.
Emma wondered what was going on. Lila hung up the phone and took a deep breath. This is not good, she thought, a hot headed rock star and my best friend.
Emma���s phone rang, ���Good Morning, baby girl!��� she said smiling as she walked out of the room. They finished their conversation and Emma headed to the bathroom so that she could have some privacy.
* * *
Lila opened the door and grabbed the pile of newspapers sitting outside her door in the hall.
Three of the four had Brody and Emma on the front page and the daily rags haven���t even come out yet, Lila thought.
* * *
Emma walked out into the den as she was drying her hair. Her stomach flipped when she saw Brody was sitting at the table with Lila.
���Sorry to interrupt, I forgot my bag,��� she grabbed it and turned to leave.
���This doesn���t even trouble you?��� Brody asked in an irritated tone.
���I���m sorry, are you talking to me?���
���Brody she hasn���t seen them yet,��� Lila said, ���Emma could you come sit with us please?���
Emma sat down, and Lila handed her the newspaper. The first paper had a photo of Brody helping her up at the park on the front page. The next paper showed them dancing at the club. The last, was him handing her a tissue after she had thrown up at the club. Her eyes widened as she looked at them. There was no mistaking that it was her in any of them.
���Why would someone do this?��� Emma���s voice cracked and she looked at Lila.
���Honestly?��� Brody asked in his British accent. ���Do you truly not get it?��� He stood up and leaned against the window clearly agitated.
���Apparently not, but I���ve been polite to you. However, if you continue being rude that will certainly stop. Lila, what if Troy sees these? We have court in two weeks. What am I going to do?��� Emma was panicked.
���Emma, we���ll figure this out. It���ll be alright,��� Lila said comforting her friend.
���Excuse me ��� I pay you a great sum to take care of this sort of thing for me. You would do well to remember that,��� Brody snapped.
���It won���t be a problem. They have taken this situation and blown it way out of proportion. The truth will work it all out Brody,��� Lila said calming him.
���The truth?��� Emma gasped, ���And what���s that Lila? That I was drunk at a bar dancing with some, I don���t know���him? That���s not going to work well for me in court.���
���Well my dear, this is not all about you. I have a lot to lose here, do you understand? I can guarantee that I have far more to lose than you,��� Brody said ascetically.
���Oh really…��� Emma began to speak.
���I���m quite sure,��� Brody responded hastily, ���You will take care of this?���
���No! You egotistical ass!��� Emma yelled at Brody.
���Now you listen here,��� Brody started. ���I don���t know where you���ve been for the past five years of your life, but I���m a platinum selling recording artist. The song you and I danced to last night was mine, and it has been number one on the charts for the last five weeks in a row! I���m going through a divorce and have a lot at stake. Honesty is always the best policy, but regardless of that, I will not lose to my whore of an ex-wife in court! Are we clear?��� He snapped.
Emma jumped when he yelled, immediately aware that she was being intimidated by yet another self-absorbed man. She couldn���t allow it anymore, he voice trembled slightly as she mustered up the courage to say, ���You can go fu������
Lila cut her off. ���Alright this isn�
��t helping, let���s sit down and discuss this please. Emma, Brody please have a seat,��� Lila���s tone was authoritative just like always, and they both sat glaring at each other. ���We can figure this out so that it works fine for both of you.���
���How much do you want?��� Brody looked at Emma.
���Are you for real? Well how about you go grab a stack of money and stick it up you���re������ her phone rang and she grabbed it and stood to walk away. ���Hey is everything alright baby?��� she asked.
���Oh I see she has a boyfriend already, just like every other woman. Can���t even wait for the ink to dry huh?��� Brody walked past Emma.
���I love you more…yes we do. See you in two days. Remember sunscreen and call me later. I miss you, more,��� Emma smiled as she felt tears forming in her eyes.
���Emma, can you come sit down please?��� Lila said softly knowing Emma was understandably upset.
���I need to use the bathroom,��� Emma walked down the hall and Brody brushed past her.
This was a mess, a big mess. She thought, Troy���s going to have a field day with this.
Emma walked back into the den, she sat down looking at the ground avoiding Brody���s harsh stare.
���Okay, so I���m going to talk ��� and both of you are going to keep your mouths shut until I���m done. Brody is going through a very hard time right now. His wife of three years,��� Lila began and Emma rolled her eyes and causing Brody to huff, ���had an affair and is now living with another man. In three years they have accumulated assets and she wants half. Emma, he���s hurt, I know you understand that. Brody, Emma was married for eleven years. She���s also getting a divorce. She signed off everything and walked away. She has an amazing little girl with her ex, who also cheated on her. This is hard for both of you.���
Emma���s phone rang and it was Troy, ���Hello, is London alright?���
���Sure is, I just wanted to let you know that she���ll be meeting my girlfriend tonight at dinner,��� Troy said coldly.
���Troy…we���ve discussed this; unless you���re planning on dating her long term it���s not necessary for London to meet her. It���ll just confuse her and������ He cut her off.
���I don���t think that���s any of your business, you���ve moved on. London and I read your piece in the paper a few minutes ago. By the way, that was confusing to her; she���s actually really upset with you, Emma,��� Troy used that superior tone he took with her all too often.
���It���s not what you think Troy; he���s a client of Lila���s. It was nothing, nothing at all. May I talk to London please?��� Emma asked softly.
���No, she is upset with you, aren���t you baby?��� He snickered.
���First of all, our agreement is that we can speak to her anytime we wish Troy. Second…no, forget it. This should not be discussed in front of her, she���s a child and none of this is her fault. I want to talk to her,��� Emma began shaking as she tried to keep it together.
���You���ll see her tomorrow. I have plans for the third night; so she���ll be coming back to you. We can get her through this,��� Troy said in an antagonistic tone.
���You need to rethink this. She doesn���t deserve…I mean, she doesn���t need to meet every woman you bring into your life. Do you know what that will teach her? Troy, you are her father first,��� Emma said softly.
���You did this Emma, you wanted this over,��� Troy said irately.
���Okay Troy, if that���s the way you want to play this. Just thank God I don���t feel the need to share with London the fact that you���ve had numerous affairs. I won���t try to make myself sound better and use my daughter to feel better about myself! London doesn���t need to carry that burden,��� Emma said, trying not to scream at him, or cry and lose it in front of Lila and Brody.
���Thank God you���re a saint…or were until today���s paper came. Talk to you tomorrow, have a great night, I know we will. Oh by the way ��� we���ll discuss this in court,��� and he hung up.
Emma sat and took several deep breaths before standing up and leaving the room. She sat on the bed and cried softly. Okay…you need to get it together, it���ll all be okay. London���s a very smart girl ��� she���ll process this. I guess I should consider a law guardian.
Emma walked back out, before she spoke she took a deep breath and tried to stop her lip from quivering, ���Do whatever you need to do. I would however prefer that my being drunk doesn���t come to the forefront of this mess,��� she turned and looked at Brody. ���I���m sorry you���re hurting. Lila just let me know what you decide; I have to know for court.���
���What did that asshole say, Emma?��� Lila asked she���d never liked Troy.
���He���s playing games and using this situation to hurt…never mind. As far as all assets go buddy, I walked away from everything, to give my little girl a normal life ��� which is far more important than material things. Best of luck Brody, it was great meeting you,��� Emma rolled her eyes trying to act sarcastically and walked away still fighting tears.
���Okay Brody, what do you want to do?��� Lila asked.
���The truth, leave out the alcohol. Will you see that she���s alright?��� Brody was conflicted as he watched Emma walk away and heard the door slam.
���Okay I���ll email you a press release when it���s ready. Anything else?��� She asked. He was visibly upset. ���You���re going to be fine Brody.���
���I know I will be,��� he said and looked in the direction Emma had walked. He stood to leave and turned back and looked again towards the door Emma had slammed, ���Talk to you soon.���
* * *
Lila let Emma have about half an hour before knocking on the spare bedroom door. ���Emma, I wrote up a press release…would you look it over for me? You know ��� edit it, like you did in college?��� Lila asked sweetly.
���Thanks Lila, It looks great.��� Emma said drying her eyes as she made a few corrections.
���Are you alright?��� Lila asked.
���No,��� Emma said honestly. ���When things like this happen I wish I���d just stayed, for London. I don���t know which would���ve been worse for her.���
���I think you did the right thing Emma. If you had stayed, you would have become bitter and as much as you love that little doll of yours it would have spilled over onto her.���
���Lila it���s not just spilling right now, it���s pouring. My little girl is meeting his slut of the week today. She���s hearing him talk about my boyfriend in the newspaper and that I ruined our marriage by moving out. My little girl,��� Emma began to sob, ���did NOT deserve this.���
Lila hugged Emma and didn���t let go. ���You���re so strong. London���s very smart Emma; if she hasn���t already she���ll figure out his game soon enough. Just don���t stoop to his level.���
���Thanks, I���m sorry I was rude to your client. I don���t get how you deal with people like that every day. Are they all so self- absorbed?��� Emma asked laughing.
���He���s angry and hurt, just like you,��� Lila said while wiping Emma���s tears.
���Except regardless of what they do, they have fans,��� Emma laughed. ���It gets lonely Lila.���
���You have me, I���m your fan.��� Lila smiled. ���Brody has people who seem to
care, but after all it���s said and done his true fan club is no different than yours. He has a handful of true friends. The rest either want something from him, like he knows that his ex-wife wouldn���t have been half as popular on the runway as she���s been, if she hadn���t attached to him or there are always the ones waiting in the wings. It���s pretty hard for celebrities who have hearts and not just their enormous egos. Imagine what it would be like to just need to break down and not be able to because you���d be seen. It is kind of like what you���re going through with London. You can���t fall apart in front of her.���
���I guess,��� Emma said. Her phone made a musical sound alerting her to London���s text:
- Mommy, is that singer your boyfriend?
- Of course not London, he���s a client of Lila���s.
- Do you like him Mom?
- Well I don���t know him well enough to make that judgment, London. But he seems alright. The only reason those silly pictures were in the paper is because he���s famous. Lila knows lots of famous people.
- Who else does she know Mommy?
- I���m not sure London, but you can ask her when we see each other tomorrow.
- Cool, I love you Mom.
- Love you more!!!!
- We love each other more, Mommy.
- Of course we do. Call me when you can.
Emma smiled, ���You all better Emma?��� Lila asked.
���Not all better, but that certainly helped,��� Emma smirked.
���Can we still go out tonight?��� Lila said smiling.
���Sure, just don���t let me drink. I hate throwing up,��� Emma laughed.
* * *
Brody walked into his new hotel room and his belongings were already there. Lila had suggested he switch often. He wished he could just go home. It sucked living out of hotel suites. He opened his laptop and read the email from Lila.