Emily's Reasons Why Not by Carrie Gerlach Read Free Book Online Page B

my head at Dr. D. “I was smart, but I couldn’t help how I felt. How did I fall for someone in the office?”
    “We’re getting to that,” Dr. D. says.
    “Frankly, I think I got sick and tired of people thinking I was the happy corporate hooker. It got on my nerves.”
    Home from NYC, back in the office, Avery came into my office waving the Hollywood Reporter in my face. She slammed the door behind her. Perhaps now is not the time to come out about our love.
    “How in the HELL did they get this story about David? Someone had to plant it, it fucking has our entire pilot schedule leaked. Jesus, Emily, it has your fingerprints all over it. The guy is an asshole. He’s making you look like a novice idiot. This story could cost both of us our jobs. Do you realize that? You can’t get press on the president without running it by me so I can run it by Joyce. This is a mess. Just tell me you didn’t do it.”
    To lie or not to lie?
    “I did it. I am so sorry. But I didn’t think … it’s a positive story for the company. A puff piece. David really needed some good press for a change.”
    “My dear, there are things you don’t know, one of which is that he is FUCKING using you. Why don’t you see that? This is an absolute nightmare.” She finishes by throwing the Hollywood Reporter in my face and storming out of my office. Using me for what?
    Reason #7: If your friends, mentors, and co-workers think your boyfriend has ulterior motives, he probably does .
    As Avery left my office, I sank in my chair of delusion and thought to myself … it’s no problem if I get fired. Soon enough I will be with the man I love and we will tell everyone how happy we are, be a power couple, start our own company, live at the beach, sip Starbucks on a Sunday while watching our beautiful children swing graciously on Santa Monica beach while Sam chases seagulls in the background. My life will soon be complete.
    I am on the slippery slope of metal health and denial.
    David stands in the doorway of my office. “I’m sorry, Em, I’ll talk to Avery and she’ll calm down. I’ll tell her I trusted you to do the story and that I asked you to do it confidentially. It’ll blow over.”
    I lift my head off my desk and look at my perfect power man. “Dinner?” I ask. “I’ll bring pizza and we can have a carpet picnic.”
    “Can’t, gotta work. Maybe this weekend,” David says. Can’t? Gotta work? Since when has working become more important than romantic interludes with me? Can’t we worktogether? Or perhaps his work with me is done. I feel him pulling away. Not that I know for sure. I try to stay calm, but I know something is amiss. Perhaps it is the way he looked at me, or rather, looked past me. The way the eye contact tries to convince me, but is empty. Maybe it’s the tone of his voice. Or maybe I just instinctively know. I know. I always freakin’ know. Yet I am still trying to believe everything is going to be super-duper.
    Josh is coming over for dinner. Pizza with Josh substituting for the man of my dreams. See the pattern beginning?
    “Why is David behaving so strangely? I called him three times today and he didn’t call me back. Why isn’t he returning my calls?” I question Josh, who is paying the pizza guy at my apartment. “He’s pulling away. I can feel it.”
    “Em, there’s something I need to tell you.” Josh takes a slice of pizza out of the box.
    “Please let it be that you’re straight and you want to save me from this dating hell.”
    “I am leaving the company to work for MGM as the new vice president of features.”
    Great! It’s not David that’s leaving me. It’s Josh. He’s leaving me in the office without a buffer, confidant. I was once a well-liked, well-respected up-and-comer. My boss called me a up-and-comer. I had supporters. Now my only supporter is about to go to MGM.
    “NO! Absolutely not. You can’t leave me alone in the office.”
    “Congratulations might be nice. This is a