Something to Talk About(51)

Emma scuffed her toe against the carpet. “Of course, boss,” she said quietly.

“And I’m sorry it coincided with Barry Davis’s visit,” Jo said. “I know how much you were looking forward to meeting him and learning from him. I will talk to him tomorrow and hopefully, if not salvage a recommendation to potential employers, at least not get a warning about you either.”

Emma kicked her foot harder into the ground, looked down at it instead of up at Jo. “No,” she said. “I don’t want a recommendation.”

“Emma.” Emma didn’t have to look at Jo to imagine the incredulity on her face. “It could help you quite a bit.”

“Yeah, but—” Emma tried to swallow the frog in her throat. “I don’t want it from him.”

Jo hmmed. “He didn’t live up to your expectations, did he? What with that terrible direction and all.”

Emma played with the hem of her top. She glanced at Jo, who looked more at ease than she had in a week.

“That and—” Emma didn’t want to tell her, didn’t want to say anything, didn’t want to think about it. But his set visit wasn’t just about her shadowing him—there was still a possibility he could direct an episode. Emma had to do something to stop it. “He said something not great to me.”

Jo’s eyes flashed for a moment. “What did he say?”

“Just a couple of comments,” Emma said. “I thought I was maybe overreacting but . . .” She cringed a little. “He indicated if I gave him . . . if I . . . he said he’d recommend me to a friend for a second AD position if I gave him a hand job.”

Jo blinked slowly. She put both hands flat on her desk and stood. “He said that?”

By now, Emma had learned the outward signs of Jo’s moods. This—eyes narrowed and fingers twitching on the desk, almost like she was shaking? This was anger. This was fury. Emma shrank, wanting to take her words back. She said nothing.

Jo took a deep breath. Emma was ready for her to yell. She didn’t do it often, but this seemed like a moment it would happen.

Instead, she said softly, “Emma. Are you okay?”

It wasn’t quite bursting into tears, but Emma’s eyes definitely welled. She shook her head—at herself, at this stupid emotional response, not at Jo.

“I’m fine, boss,” she said. “It was just—it was dumb. And I was upset and—I’m sorry I reacted the way I did.”

“Emma.” Jo’s voice was so gentle. “You do not have to apologize for being upset over sexual harassment.” She paused. “Do you want to sit down?”

Emma nodded. Jo came around her desk. She led Emma toward the couch without coming close enough to touch her, then she sat down, too, a good two feet away.

“Do you need any water?” Jo stood back up. “Have you eaten recently? I have granola bars or yogurt or—”

“I’m fine, boss,” Emma said.

Jo sat down again. Her hands started toward Emma and then stopped, ended up in fists in her lap.

“I’m so sorry this happened, Emma,” she said. “I am so sorry this happened to you. And I am sorry I did not know. He will not be directing an episode nor allowed back in the building, ever.”

“No, Jo, I—”

Jo held up her hand. “It’s nonnegotiable. Anyone who treats you like that is not welcome here.”

It made Emma want to cry harder, for some reason. A minute ago she accused Jo of not having her back, and here she was standing up for her without hesitation.

“I would also like your permission to release a statement explaining that he was not asked to direct because he sexually harassed one of my employees.”

Emma’s eyes went wide. “Boss, no. I don’t want to cause any trouble. He’s Barry Davis and—”

“And he sexually harassed you. He’s the one causing trouble.” Emma swore Jo’s voice shook. “I won’t mention your name, obviously. But I would like to release a statement.”

“He’ll know it was me,” Emma said. “If I ever want to do anything in Hollywood, he’ll make sure I can’t. He said he could get me opportunities, which means he can definitely make sure I don’t get them, too.”

“Fuck whatever opportunities he says he can get you,” Jo snarled. She took a breath, but she was still obviously angry when she continued. “I’m sorry, I’m just—he might not know it was you, actually, because men like that don’t just pick one woman to harass. And even if he does, the statement is going to be my first step in making sure he can’t work in the industry anymore, not you. He thinks he can come in here and treat you like that? Treat anyone like that? If he hadn’t already left, I’d throw him out myself.”

Emma smiled a little at that. She rubbed her nose and sniffled.

Their whole relationship felt like it had been turned on its head in the last five minutes. Emma had spent so long thinking Jo didn’t care about her, thinking she wasn’t important enough to her.

She didn’t think that anymore.

She couldn’t, not with the way Jo looked at her, worried and nervous and desperate to do something. Jo was supporting her. That wasn’t always how it went in situations like these. Too often, bosses didn’t believe you; people overlooked horrible things because other people were talented. To have Jo so ready to fight—Emma definitely couldn’t think Jo didn’t care about her. Something swooped within Emma’s stomach.