Page 79 of All That Glitters

He doesn’t want me.

He’s never wanted me.

He’s only been using me to get his rocks off while he was waiting for me to sign these papers. I’m not sure why he waited—unless Sherry is right, and he’s just been so busy that he hasn’t had time to drop this latest axe on my neck.

Or maybe he was waiting for a moment when I’d reached another low point before heaping more pain on me.

Shit, I don’t know anymore.

He probably doesn’t care about me at all, and all the talk last night had been to get me to calm down, to keep me from shattering entirely while he takes care of business.

After everything we’ve been through, after everything that’s happened between us…

I stare at Sherry and watch her mouth move with words I haven’t heard. I haven’t been paying attention through the heartbreak and the anger.

“I’m sure whatever you’re going through, it’s going to work out in the end. You’ve got the looks and you’ve got the talent.” Sherry reaches over to drop her palm to the top of my hand. “You’ve always been an enterprising little thing, and you’ve got more strength than you give yourself credit for. The things you’ve gone through, Empire, are above and beyond what anyone should have to endure.”

“Thank you,” I return softly.

How nice it would be to just let go and lean into her, to let Sherry wrap her arms around me and work to believe her when she tells me, as she inevitably would, that everything will be okay.

I’m not sure I’ve ever believed that.

I certainly don’t now.

“Well, as much as I hate to leave you, this old lady’s got to get to work. Too little time for the sheer number of things I’ve got going on.” She pushes herself to her feet with a groan, as though the sound is the only thing propelling her upward. “Not to mention, the boss is going to call again if I don’t get my happy rear back to the office. You take care of yourself, Empire. I can’t wait to see you on the big screen! You’ll do great, sweetheart. I see big things in your future.”

I wait until Sherry’s out the door before I make myself move. It’s super rude to leave her to see herself out of the house, but my legs refuse to uncurl from where I’ve folded them beneath me. My arms hang useless at my sides, propped up only by the couch cushions.

Marcus doesn’t want me.

Now, it’s legal.

Once the papers are filed, I’ll no longer be his responsibility, no matter what he said about forcing me to take future roles.

He’s a liar. He’s a bad man.

It’s way too hard to get myself moving, to walk woodenly to my room. Staying in the house is impossible—not when Marcus will be home any minute. He’s been gone the entire morning. What are the odds I’ll be able to avoid him?

I stop at the front door and watch Sherry sway her hips toward her car. She barely spares the house a second look before she slides into the front seat and flips the key in the ignition, the engine roaring.

Marcus has got to know I signed these papers today. I wonder if he’ll want to talk about it, or if it will be a relief to finally have everything done.

It’s a conversation I want to avoid at all costs.

Sherry’s car turns down the driveway and out of sight. Only then do I jog to my room on feet plagued by pins and needles. There are several suitcases in the closet, ones I’ve taken on trips around the world with my parents. I grab them down from the shelves and lay them open, one right after the other, on the floor.

I’ve got my own car. I’ve got money in my bank account only accessible by me, not to mention a box of cash Mom insisted I keep hidden, just in case. Her paranoia is paying off.

My heart beats out of my chest as a slight sheen of sweat drips down my spine and along the rest of my back. Nerves, I tell myself. Nothing but nerves, because I have no idea what to do or where the hell I’m going to go, but I know I’ve got to leave.

I’ve got no place else.

Okay…not true.

My dad kept a small, one-bedroom bungalow up the coast a little bit, something he’d bought with plans to make into a getaway when the spotlight was too much for us to handle. We’d never gotten around to going, but he always said he’d fix it up, make it livable, someplace we’d share together, like our little secret.

It’s surely on the legal documents, but after today, it’s not going to be a Marcus problem. It’s all on me at this point. No guardian. No nothing. I’m a free adult except for the movie contract, and things will surely be a little up in the air there while production regulates itself after Parker’s death. Right?

---