After All(35)

"It's not a has-been move," I tell her. "It's not even a move at all. It's something to do because you love to act. You love the art and the craft of it. It's a place where you really learn the extent of your talents, where you're able to do something you love for a living. Maybe it doesn't make you rich, maybe people don't remember who you are but you're making art every single day."

Emmett frowns, totally puzzled as to why I'm standing up for him. The thing is, I'm not standing up for him at all. It's just she touched on something dear to me. Not that I would admit it.

"Fine," Autumn says. Then she composes herself and flashes me those pearly whites again. "But you can't say this isn't a comeback. He was big when he was on Degrassi, or at least known. He went away to London. Now he's back, better than ever. He's sexy now. Age has only been his friend."

"Sexy or not," I say, knowing his ego is probably soaking up that one, "a real comeback is one when you're proud of the work you're doing. Emmett isn't proud. He's just working. He's working on his comeback. That will still happen."

I'm making all the assumptions in the world, I know this, and yet I get the feeling off of him that he probably agrees with me.

"But only if he smartens up," Autumn says, as if she's his school teacher. "And that's where you come in."

I sigh before taking a large gulp of wine. Jeez, I could go for a martini or something. "So you think that by the public thinking that we're dating, they'll look more favorably upon him and then he'll get more popular? I mean, what if it doesn't work like that? Or what if he does something stupid again?"

"You know I'd really appreciate it if the two of you would stop talking like I'm not here."

Autumn waves him away with her hand. "If he does something stupid, then I'm not representing him anymore. Don't worry, he knows that. We've discussed it. I can only do so much and it doesn't look favorably on me and my services if I have a client who is consistently out of line."


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"Consistently," he mutters to himself, shaking his head.

"And if he's a good boy and, well, you're a good girl, and the public buys into it and it still doesn't help, well, no harm done. It's just three months."

"But he'll be out of money," I tell her. "And he has to put up with me for three months and I'll have to put up with him."

She shrugs, pressing her hands into the table. "It's a hard bargain, I know. So now that you've brought up the money part of the negotiations, how much are you wanting?"

I raise my brow. "Isn't it dangerous to ask me that?"

"I can tell you're not easily convinced, so it's better to just see what we can do to make it happen."

I rub my lips together, thinking. I came up with a number earlier and I have no idea if it's fair or not. But we all know this isn't going to be a walk in the park. And I know this is the one chance I have to finally give my dreams a go. I'll never have another one.

"Do you have a pen?" I ask Autumn. "Because I have terms."

She pulls out her phone and shows me her notepad app. "Go."

I take in a deep breath. "I still have a personal life that I want to keep personal. I don't want to do any interviews with anyone. I don't want paparazzi banging on my door, so I don't want anyone to know where I live. Or work. I want to keep my life as normal as possible. If anyone says anything rude or slanderous about me, especially regarding my appearance, I want you to handle it and I don't want to see or hear about it. I want to keep whatever dignity and respect I have during this whole thing. I want at least three nights a week to myself. I want my family kept out of it. I want Emmett to stop hitting on me," I give him a loaded look, to which I swear his cheeks go red. Autumn, who has been furiously taking notes on her phone, pauses, narrowing her eyes. "And on top of it all, I want fifty thousand dollars."

"Fifty thousand dollars?" Emmett repeats with wide eyes.

"Forty thousand dollars," I quickly amend myself. I knew I was pushing it. "Deposited into my bank account tomorrow."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Emmett says, leaning across the table. "You a mob boss all of a sudden? You're not getting a dime until three months is over. How do I know you won't up and leave right away?"

"He's right," Autumn says. "We have to make sure that this runs smoothly. Remember, neither of you can date or hook-up with anyone else. It's not worth the risk. That will be in your contract too."