Something to Talk About(15)

“How in the world did they?”

Jo sighed. “Emma decided me inviting her as a buffer meant she had to barge onto the red carpet when people yelled questions about Agent Silver.”

“Did you train her as a guard dog, or did she come that way?”

“Don’t call my assistant a dog.”

Evelyn laughed. “You know that only explains why she was next to you. It still doesn’t explain the picture. The way you’re holding her wrist? The way you’re looking at each other?”

“She almost fled,” Jo said. “With all the cameras on her. I held her in place and I made her laugh to calm her down. It wasn’t anything more.”

She was there. She knew it wasn’t anything more. But a copy of the picture sat in the top right drawer of Jo’s desk. She kept looking at it; she didn’t know why.

Eventually, Evelyn said, “It will die down at some point.”

“I know,” Jo said.

“How’s Emma dealing with it?”

Jo chuffed out a laugh. “By coming out to me.”

“What?”

Jo relayed the story, much to Evelyn’s delight.

“I’m surprised they haven’t found evidence of relationships she’s had with other women,” Evelyn said. “Surely that’d be gossip fodder.”

“Don’t even suggest that,” Jo said. “These rumors are going away, not stirring up more shit for us.”

“Right, of course. I won’t jinx it.” Evelyn paused. “Though, given that she’s bisexual, maybe you should take a hint from these rumors and make a move on Wonder Woman.”

“It’s inappropriate to even joke about that.” Jo couldn’t keep the edge out of her voice. “And you should know that, Attorney Yu.”

“But you like her, and you don’t like many people.”

“I do like her,” Jo said. “Emma is smart and capable and kind and my employee. Liking her doesn’t mean anything. I like you, too. Most of the time anyway.”

Evelyn laughed at her and finally let the subject drop.





4


    JO


Jo called an all-hands meeting Thursday after lunch. Emma walked beside her to the soundstage, uncharacteristically quiet. Jo could’ve told her about Agent Silver before everyone else, but she hadn’t. Chantal knew, given that she would be taking over Innocents when Jo moved on, but other than that, the news was held close.

Jo kept the announcement quick. This wasn’t going to affect her work on Innocents for months yet, no reason to drag anything out.

“I’m going to be writing and producing the next Agent Silver movie,” she said.

Tate hollered, and everyone else joined in with a short round of applause interspersed with shouts of congratulations. Jo caught Emma’s eye—she was beaming.

“Don’t get too excited,” Jo said. “You’re not rid of me yet. The schedule isn’t set in stone, but I should still be here until at least the middle of next season. Nothing will immediately change. I’m only telling you now because you deserve to hear it from me rather than the press. And so you can extend your congratulations to Chantal, as well, who will be fully taking over the show when I leave.”

Jo was the one to lead this round of applause. Then she sent everyone back to work.

There was pep in Emma’s step now as she walked with Jo back to her office. When Jo got back behind her desk, Emma still stood in the open door, hugging her tablet and grinning.

“Boss.”

A smile slipped over Jo’s face. “Emma.”

“Boss,” Emma said again. “You’re really gonna write it!”

“I really am.”

“That’s—” Emma threw her arms to her sides and went up on her tiptoes. She looked like a kid on Christmas morning. “That’s awesome.”

Jo couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s not terrible, is it?”

“I’m so excited to see what you do with Silver,” Emma said. “You know, when I was a kid, I went through a phase where I read all the companion novels for the Silver movies. I went as Clara Hayes, from Silver Sunset, for Halloween three years in a row.” Her cheeks went a little pink. “I might have been a bit obsessed. And with you writing it, I’ll probably get obsessed again.”

It was Jo’s turn to blush, just slightly. “I appreciate the enthusiasm,” she said. “But you know we also have to talk about how this affects you.”

Emma did her typical confused head tilt. “Me?”

“What job do you want after this?” Jo asked.

“What?” Emma took a step back.

“I always help put my assistants on the right career track,” Jo said. “I don’t know exactly how soon I’m moving on from Innocents, or how soon you’d like to move on, but it’s something we should discuss.”

“Boss, I—” Emma swallowed. “I like my job.”

“I didn’t say you didn’t.”

“I just—I’m not sure of the next step yet.”

Usually by this point in Jo’s working relationship with her assistant, she’d know exactly what said assistant wanted to do with their career. Her assistants generally couldn’t help but talk about their goals, as they used their position as a jumping-off point. Jo understood, and didn’t mind, but it was pleasant with Emma, how she seemed to care more about doing this job than getting the next one. Whatever Emma wanted to do, if she put half as much work into it as she put into being Jo’s assistant, she’d thrive.