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“There is,” I answered matter-of-factly. “And it’s none of your damn business.”
Every time Emmett and I spoke with one another, it ended up with a verbal sparring match in which he got knocked out. To be honest, he had good reasons to hate me. For one thing, I’d slept my way through most of his staff, which, while unethical, wasn’t prohibited, since I wasn’t their superior. For another, I’d made it clear I thought he was a tool bag. Short of tattooing the statement on my forehead, I did everything I could to convey I disliked him.
“See, I had a feeling you might try to dodge the assignment.” Emmett sighed, powering up his laptop. “So I took the liberty of peeking at your contract with Discovery Magazine Inc.” He turned the screen in my direction.
“This is our standard contract that you signed. I highlighted the important part. Says here plainly that on-location employees are only exempt from travel assignments due to medical emergencies, religious beliefs, and/or family obligations. All of your colleagues are married with children and cannot take the time off. So unless you’re planning a funeral or a wedding sometime in the near future, you’re legally bound to us.”
“In that case, I quit.”
I could always go toNational Geographic. The only reason I worked withDiscoverymagazine was that the workload was bigger, which meant more traveling.
“Aha.” He scrolled down my contract, grinning extra smugly. “I anticipated that might be your reaction. I refer you to clause 41c. Because our projects span over several months, and sometimes evenyears, we have a thirty-day notice period. You can hand in your resignation today, but we’re starting to film in Alaska in two weeks, so your dream of never visiting there sadly won’t be fulfilled.”
“I’m not traveling to Alaska,” I repeated, point blank.
“You have no choice.” His ears reddened, and his nose started twitching.
I let out a wry chuckle. “Sue me.”
“Happily!” Emmett snapped his laptop shut. “You being a billionaire is a great incentive. As you well know, print is dead. Much like your career, if you decide to break the contract.”
My spine went rigid. How the hell ...?
The question must’ve been written on my face because the answer followed promptly.
“Don’t look so shocked—you’ve garnered a lot of interest from the company. Especially our female employees.” He rested his elbows on the table between us, peering at my face with open satisfaction. “A few months ago, I asked myself—how come Riggs has never asked for a pay raise? You’re by far our most acclaimed photographer, with the most experience—and street cred. Yet, you don’t even rent out a place in the city. We send your checks and tax forms to a PO box. I was curious about your financial situation. I figured only someone who didn’t need it would be so careless about their salary. So I started digging a little. It wasn’t hard.Discoverymag has most of your information available.”
I sat back down. A muscle in my jaw jumped. “You stalked me.”
He sulked haughtily. “Don’t flatter yourself. Most of the information was available on the internet.”
“Liar. They kept my name out of the press,” I said through gritted teeth. My grandfather made sure of it in a bid to protect me. Fame was a terrible thing. He didn’t wish it on his only grandchild.
“Mostly, yes. But one publication didn’t. And that was enough. As it stands, I could use a few extra bucks when I win the lawsuit. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you we’re doing awful financially. Each year our budgetdecreases,” he said sullenly, tossing a hand in the air. “And I already have an entire legal team at my disposal. Might as well use them.”
“There’s only one problem.” I stroked my jaw.
He picked up his coffee cup, taking a sip. The guy evendranksmugly. “What, pray tell, might that be?”
“Iamgetting married.” I kicked back in my seat, flashing him my most conceited shit-eating grin. “I have a fiancée. Upping and leaving for almost a year?” I tsked. “Not gonna fly with her. She’s a feisty one.” Iffeistymeantderanged, I was on point.
“You?”Emmett spluttered his coffee, leaning forward in a panic. “A fiancée? Since when?”
“Around one in the morning last night.” I stroked my chin, basking in his misery, even though I was going to pay for it handsomely. “Call it kismet, Emmett, but I’ve found the one.”
“That’s so—”
“Romantic?” I offered.
“Convenient.”He pouted like a teenybopper who’d just been told she couldn’t get a boob job for her sweet sixteen. “I don’t believe you.”
“You wound me, Emmett. I thought we trusted each other.” I crinkled my face, feigning devastation.
“If that’s the truth, then that means you can’t go on lengthy assignments abroadat allanymore. No Yemen, no Bolivia, no Seychelles. Right?” he challenged me.
Okay. Maybe I didn’t thinkOperation: Stick It to Emmettthrough. But it was too late to back out now. Even at the cost of doing the inconceivable.
“Two weeks max.” I smirked good naturedly, knowing it drove him crazy. “Can’t stay away from her longer than that.”
