by A. E. Radley
“That’s really impressive. I had no idea,” Lucy commented.
Nicole sipped her coffee. “If we do a good job, you shouldn’t notice. Actors are used to it. Its producers like me who live in fear.”
Emily had finished reading. “These all make sense; I can definitely make these changes. I’m not sure how quickly though.”
“I can watch Henry,” Lucy offered.
“He’ll wonder what I’m doing. You know what he’s like,” Emily chuckled.
Nicole handed Emily another piece of paper. “Playwrights aren’t millionaires. I’d love to pay you an upfront fee for your manuscript, but as an unknown it would be hard for me to justify. As much as I love the script, we are taking a gamble on it.”
“I understand.” Emily looked down at the document Nicole had handed her and realised, with some shock, that it was a contract.
“We can offer you a royalty agreement,” Nicole continued. “This means you are directly tied to the success of the play. If it makes nothing, you make nothing. If it is a resounding success, well…you get the gist.”
The papers shook in her hands as Emily read through the document. The legal tone was confusing, and she wasn’t entirely sure what it all meant, but it was a contract for her script. With her name on it, and signed by Nicole.
“So, how does that work?” Lucy asked, clearly sensing Emily’s shock.
Nicole turned her attention to Lucy. “Basically we total the ticket sales from each night, we remove production costs, and then, from what’s left, if there is anything left, Emily will receive a percentage as detailed in the contract. Different theatres have different capacities; it all depends on how many seats we manage to sell over how many nights.”
“Do I sign this now?” Emily asked, her voice wavering slightly.
Nicole shook her head. “No. I don’t want to pressure you. I know it may seem like a dream come true, but there really is a lot of work and we cannot pay you until the production is up and running. And that’s if it even gets up and running. There’s always a risk that you’ll spend time working on this and it’ll never see the light of day. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that doesn’t happen, but sometimes, that’s how theatre works.”
Emily considered the words. She’d never been one to take chances, and the second Henry was in her life, she’d convinced herself that she needed to play everything safe. That clearly hadn’t worked out very well for her, despite her best intentions. This was a real opportunity, one that would never come around again, and one she felt she actually had the skillset to do something with.
She’d never been very good at believing in herself, never really had anyone who believed in her. Now she was being handed a chance, an opening that people would kill for.
“I’m never going to get another opportunity like this, so I’d like to go ahead.”
“Marvellous.” Nicole put her coffee mug down. “Have a look over the contract in your own time and speak with your financial adviser.”
“I don’t have a financial adviser,” Emily explained.
Nicole stared at her for a moment.
“Oh…you mean Olivia?” Emily asked.
“Yes.” Nicole chuckled lightly. “She’ll explain the numbers jargon. I don’t know about you, but that stuff bores me to tears. In the meantime, I’m headed back to London to speak with my colleagues, then I’ll be in touch about potential deadlines. How does that sound?”
“Incredible.” Emily beamed. She looked out the window to where Henry was chasing Simon in the garden with a water pistol. She’d never thought that those years passing the time beside Henry’s sickbed would turn into something so positive. She turned her attention back to Nicole. “How’s Olivia doing?”
“Better.” Nicole replaced some papers in her bag. “Simon is going to talk to her about the Applewood issue you told him about once I’ve gone home. We wanted to give her as much time as possible to recover.”
“Understandable,” Emily agreed.
“She suddenly took her bedrest much more seriously,” Nicole commented with a grin. “Something about wanting to be better as she had a date to arrange.”
Emily smiled shyly.
“I’m pleased you managed to sort it out.”
“Me too! Took them long enough,” Lucy added.
Emily threw her an exasperated look. “It was complicated, okay?”
Lucy laughed, and Emily rolled her eyes.
“It makes it easier for me to head home, knowing that someone is going to be looking out for her,” Nicole said as she closed her bag. “Of course, I’ll have to maim you if you hurt her.”
Emily inclined her head in understanding.
“I’m sorry to dash off.” Nicole stood up and looked out the window to where Simon played with Henry. “I hadn’t expected a sudden visit to New York, and work’s calling.”
Emily got to her feet. “I understand. Thank you so much for coming over.”
“I’ll be in touch once I have a chance to speak with my team. I hope to have good news for you very soon.”
“Good news was when you said that you liked my writing,” Emily admitted.
Nicole smiled. “As I say, you’ll hate me when you are in the middle of rewrites.”
CHAPTER 34
Olivia shook her head and lifted the remote control to pause the DVD. She picked up the case and looked at the back to read the season description.
“What am I doing with my life?” She looked up at the sound of the door opening and smiled at Simon as he entered.
“How’s it going?” Simon asked, putting his coat in the closet.
Olivia sighed. “I’m up to season four. I’ve become one of those people who binge-watches television.”
Simon chuckled. “Hardly. You’ve only watched for two days, and you don’t have much else to entertain you.”
“No.” Olivia glared at him. “Not since you stole my laptop and my phone.” Olivia looked at the clock on the wall. She picked up the remote and shut off the television.
“On that note…” Simon sat on the opposite sofa and looked at her seriously.
“That’s your bad-news face. Even I know that.”
“I have bad news,” Simon admitted.
Olivia shrugged. “Go on. Might as well get it over with.”
“Marcus is filing an anonymous complaint about financial irregularities. He’s planning to bury us under paperwork.”
“Oh.” Olivia pulled herself up and adjusted to a more comfortable position. “Well, that’s slightly preferable to tearing down professional relationships built up over a twenty-year period.”
“Excuse me?” Simon queried.
“Well, so far his strategy has been to break up professional relationships. I hadn’t realised how hurtful that would be. At least this is business. Diabolical and shallow. But just business.”
“You seem remarkably calm?” Simon looked at her with suspicion.
Olivia looked at the clock again and shrugged. “Collapsing in your office gives you a different perspective, Simon.”
“No, it doesn’t. You’re acting shifty. What’s going on?” He turned and looked at the clock. “Why are you looking at the clock?”
“It just…feels…like time for tea.” Olivia reached for her crutch. “Don’t you think it might be time for tea? You’re British. Surely you must want some tea?”
“You’re lying.” Simon stood and regarded her cautiously. “What are you up to?”
Olivia stood, too, and adjusted her crutch under her arm. “You’re so paranoid, Simon. Tea?”
There was a knock on the door, and Simon narrowed his eyes.
“Who’s that?” he asked.
Olivia frowned and attempted to look confused, but she knew she couldn’t pull it off. “I can’t see through wood; you’d better answer it.”
Simon gave her one last look before turning around and opening the door.
“Sophie!” He pulled his girlfriend into a hug and Oli
via watched in satisfaction as her plan came together. She was very pleased that Sophie seemed to be the punctual type; she wouldn’t have lasted long under Simon’s cross-examination.
Sophie stepped into the room and Simon closed the door behind her, then ran his hand through his hair as he stared at her in disbelief.
“You’re here! I can’t believe you’re here. Why are you here? How are you here?”
Sophie laughed, put her hands on Simon’s cheeks, and angled his head down so he’d look at her. “Breathe, Si. Breathe.”
He let out a nervous laugh, ducked forward, and kissed her nose.
“Olivia invited me. It was a surprise. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.”
Simon broke eye contact with her and looked at Olivia with a confused expression.
Olivia stepped forward, regarding him fondly. “You’ve been wonderful, Simon. You’ve done more than I ever could’ve asked of you. You deserve a break. I thought you might like to show Sophie around the city? I organised a suite for you in Midtown so you’ll be near Broadway. I thought you might like that?”
Simon continued to stare in shocked silence until Sophie elbowed him gently in the ribs and whispered something to him.
“T-thank you,” he stuttered. “Thank you so much. Are you sure? What about—”
“I’ve monopolised enough of your time. I can survive perfectly well for a few days on my own. In fact, it’ll probably do me a world of good.”
“Oh, I see; you’re sick of me?” Simon joked.
“Thoroughly,” Olivia replied with a smirk. “Now, go pack and get out.”
Simon laughed loudly and turned to look at Sophie. “Just give me five minutes, okay?”
* * *
“Thank you so much for all of this.” Sophie placed a hot cup of tea on a coaster on the dining table in front of Olivia.
“Thank you for coming.” Olivia straightened the cup on the coaster. “Simon’s been extraordinary since my accident. I wanted to give him something back.”
Sophie sat opposite, her own cup in her hands. “He’ll be so happy when I tell him about the theatre tickets. You’re very generous.”
“He deserves it.” Olivia straightened the coaster in line with the grain of the table. “He’s been very good to me.”
“He’s glad to do it. I know how much he looks up to you.”
Olivia chuckled. “Please don’t say I’m like a mother figure to him.”
Sophie grinned. “No, more like a mentor. You’re not that old!”
“I feel old.”
“Well, you’re not,” Sophie said simply. “And I’m sure with some rest you’ll feel much better.”
“Oh, I already feel much better than I did.”
“Just make sure you take it easy. I know Simon was really worried about you.”
Olivia smiled. “Oh, I will. I’ve no intention of ever being ill again. I realise I need to listen to my body, even if I don’t like what it’s saying.”
Soon Simon was ready to leave, and as Olivia stood to see him off, he gave her an impromptu hug and made her promise to call him if she needed anything at all. Only once she agreed did he finally leave, giving her back her mobile phone as he did.
Olivia looked around and let out a sigh. It was the first time since the plane crash that she had been alone in the suite. It was a bittersweet feeling; in some ways she was pleased to have her private sanctuary back, but in others she had gotten used to the sounds of life bouncing off the walls.
She scrolled through her contact list to Emily’s name, took a deep breath, and pressed the screen. It only rang twice before the line was connected.
“Hello. Feeling better?” Emily’s happy voice put Olivia instantly at ease.
“Much,” she admitted. “In fact, I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. A check-up following my accident and hopefully a chance to get rid of this damn crutch. If he declares me well, I was wondering if I could take you and Henry out to dinner?”
“Me and Henry?”
“Yes, is that okay?” Olivia frowned, wondering if she’d already make a mistake.
“It’s very okay. I just assumed that you’d want it to be just the two of us.”
“Oh.” Olivia bit her lip as she processed the information.
“But I love that you want to see us both,” Emily added sincerely.
“So, it’s okay?” Olivia confirmed.
“Of course. I know Henry would love to come out to dinner with us. As long as your doctor approves.”
Olivia remained silent; the very thought of going back to the doctor was enough to make her blood run cold.
“Olivia?”
“Sorry. I was distracted.”
“Is everything all right?”
“I…” Olivia paused. “I really don’t like going to the doctor.”
“That’s understandable. Would you like some company?”
Olivia blinked in surprise. “You’d do that?”
“Absolutely. If you don’t mind, I’d love to come along. I can check up on you and make sure you are fit and healthy again.” Emily’s voice took on a joking tone.
“I think I’d like that,” Olivia admitted.
“Great. When’s your appointment?”
“Four.”
“Okay; how about I come over around three?”
Olivia sat on the arm of the sofa and let out a breath of relief. “That would be wonderful.”
CHAPTER 35
Olivia carefully negotiated rush hour traffic while Emily sat in the passenger seat, pretending to look at the sights around them, but mainly trying to catch glimpses of Olivia. The doctor had performed a few tests and quickly pronounced her fit and well. He’d prescribed rest and relaxation, and to reduce stress levels.
As soon as they’d left the doctor’s office, Olivia’s mood had lightened, and she’d let out a sigh of relief and thanked Emily for her company. Emily had told her it had been no bother, but the truth was that she’d desperately wanted to be there. To hear the doctor give Olivia the all clear was a huge relief. And to be able to hold Olivia’s hand and soothe her through a stressful appointment had been exhilarating.
“Pull over here,” Emily announced when they were a few streets away from the house.
“But—” Olivia frowned in confusion.
“I want to say something before we get to the house,” Emily explained. “Just pull over here.” She pointed to an appropriate spot on the deserted street.
Olivia did as she was told and slowed the car to a stop. She fiddled with the gear stalk slightly longer than was necessary, and Emily realised she had spooked her.
“It’s nothing bad,” Emily assured.
“People say that when it’s something bad.” Olivia turned to face her.
Emily chuckled. “They also say it when it’s nothing bad.”
“Your nothing bad might not be the same as my nothing ba—”
Emily cut her off by quickly removing her seat belt, leaning forward, and silencing her with a kiss. The moment their lips came into contact, she wanted more. She brought her hand up to hold Olivia’s head in place as she deepened the kiss, her thumb gently stroking Olivia’s cheek.
Olivia shucked out of her own seat belt and cupped Emily’s face with both her hands as she leaned into the kiss. Emily brought her free hand up to hold on to Olivia’s arm and softly squeezed through the material of her blouse sleeve.
When oxygen started to become an issue, Emily ended the kiss and rested her forehead against Olivia’s. “See? Nothing bad,” she said.
Olivia laughed. “Quite the opposite.”
Emily placed a small kiss on Olivia’s lips as they both attempted to get their breath back.
“If we’re having dinner with Henry tonight, we’ll have to be on our best behaviour,” Emily explained.
“I see.”
Emily kissed Olivia softly again. “So we’ll have to make the most of now.”
“I intend to,” Olivia replied. She angle
d Emily’s head and swiftly brought her mouth down onto her lips.
* * *
Lucy raised her eyebrow at Emily as she entered the kitchen. Emily frowned. Lucy smirked at her while closing the refrigerator door.
“What?” Emily asked.
“Nothing.” Lucy shrugged. “Just admiring that shade of lipstick.”
Emily spun around to look at her reflection in the hallway mirror. She could see the remains of Olivia’s lipstick smudged around her lips from their hot and heavy session in the car.
She plucked a tissue from the box on the sideboard and cleaned the dark red shade away, mentally damning Olivia for not mentioning it before she exited the car.
“Is she not coming in?” Lucy asked as she ran a cloth under the kitchen tap and started to wipe down the counter.
“No.” Emily turned around and put the tissue in the trash. “I’m just grabbing Henry, and then we’re leaving again. We kinda lost track of time.”
“Oh, really?” Lucy smiled knowingly.
Emily blushed, grinning.
“Don’t be embarrassed. It’s good to see you happy.”
“I am. I know it is really early on, but she really makes me happy.”
Lucy let out an excited squeal before covering her mouth with the palm of her hand.
Emily rolled her eyes. “Calm down. No expectations, remember?”
“I know, I know. But you really deserve this, Em,” Lucy said as she walked over and pulled her into a tight hug.
Emily smiled. “As much as I’d love to have a long, mushy chat, I have to get Henry ready. Olivia’s waiting in the car, and I said I wouldn’t be long.”
Lucy pulled back, smiling. “I already got him changed. I put him in that adorable suit you got him for Clara’s wedding. Without the jacket though. It’s a bit warm for that.”
“Oh my God.” Emily smiled at the memory of the outfit. “Olivia will love it. Bow tie and vest too?”
“Yep. Not a giraffe in sight. I slicked back his hair too. He looks such a little gentleman.”