“Yep, what do you got?” I say, glancing down as Julia peeks up at me out of one eye, then winces as though opening her lids causes her pain.
“Listen, I’m going to keep it simple for you,” he continues. “Your contract is pretty much unenforceable at this point.”
I blink, at a loss for what to say next. Though based on the way Julia’s head shoots up, I can tell that his voice has filtered down to her as well.
“Are you sure?”
“Based on the screenshots and text messages that you’ve sent me, yes. I don’t know if you want me to explain it in detail over the phone, but that camera in your house is truly thepièce de résistance.”
My eyes flash toward the door. “And what about having to pay back anything for quitting?”
“Unlikely. I’ve sent your letter of resignation just to cover our bases. But I suspect that when they see what a legal nightmare this executive is, they’ll pay out the contract and give you anything you want just to keep you from dragging them through the courts.”
Relief floods me at the prospect of getting out of this relatively unscathed. Paidandfree of Richard fucking Wadsworth.
“Anything I want?”
“Contractual sort of things. Not a Lamborghini.”
I almost laugh. Maxwell might be one of the most literal people I’ve ever interacted with.
“A letter of recommendation from the studio for the location manager?”
“Shouldn’t be a problem.”
Against my better judgment, my thoughts turn to Evelyn. I don’t like the woman. But I hate the way she’s been used and abused by Dick Wad even more. “What about a guaranteed audition for future shows for one of the contestants?”
“That might be a reach.”
“What if Richard has been fucking her while promising it would help her get future roles?”
“Jesus Christ.” Maxwell sounds genuinely disgusted.
“I know.”
“Proof?”
“I saw them?”
I hear the lawyer hum from the other end of the line. “Would she corroborate your story in writing?”
“I don’t know. Evelyn and I are not exactly on great terms.”
“Leave it with me. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Appreciate it, Maxwell.”
“Yup. I’d also like to get proof of the camera’s existence myself, go over the contract with you in person, and possibly bring a technician out. Just to prove that the camera is functional, which means that until I can get there tomorrow, I need you to guard it with your life and make sure no one gets a chance to tamper with it or take it down. Going to make the trip to you tomorrow.”
“Okay, well, I’m here now, and I’ve covered the lens. The doors are locked but I don’t trust Richard not to try something if I leave.”
I swear I can hear Maxwell nodding through the phone. “Good. Well, don’t leave then. I’ll be there in the morning.”
With that, he hangs up on me and leaves me staring at my phone screen, and Julia doing the same.
“Am I still drunk, or did you actually just find a way out of this fucking shit show with a paycheck in hand?”
I hug her close and press a disbelieving kiss against her messy curls.
