You’ve got this, with love, your agent, your friend, your Meagan xx

Simi kissed the card and slipped it back into its envelope.

Her hand hovered over the second card nestled between an array of beautiful lilies and long-stemmed roses.

Eternally sorry. When or if you forgive me, I will be waiting. Jem x

Simi ran her fingers along the card, feeling the love infused in each word. She clutched it to her chest, rereading it, her heart filling up. Yes, Jemima had messed up but she’d apologised a million times in as many ways as she could. Even though Simi was yet to respond, Jemima had not stopped calling, texting and emailing since their fateful fallout a week ago. More importantly, she showed no sign of letting up any time soon and Simi didn’t want her to. The pain of what Jemima had done was huge but the pain of losing her was far greater. If she and Meagan could make peace after their bust-up, there had to be a way back for Jemima and suing her was not going to help that in any way.

Kelly knocked on Simi’s trailer door. ‘Ready for you, Simi,’ she called.

‘Got it,’ said Simi as she hastily dialled Meagan.

‘What is it? Is Cameron being a dick? Do you want me to come and—?’

‘Meag. I haven’t got long. I needed to tell you on the phone. I can’t do the lawsuit. I’m sorry.’

Kelly knocked again, rattling the frosted glass on Simi’s door.

‘I’ll talk to you later,’ Simi said hanging up.

Jemima was by no means forgiven, but Simi was not going to punish her further either. She had suffered enough.

Outside her door, she could hear Kelly radioing ahead, telling the onset team she was on her way. She positioned herself in front of her full-length mirror and struck a Wonder Woman pose. Alice had sworn this was good for confidence.

‘Cake!’ she barked.

She was ready.

Chapter 47

Jemima

Since her call with Shaheena the previous afternoon, Jemima had played out every scenario and they all led to the same dead end. If she didn’t take the deal, that was the end of the road with Hudson Hicks. If she did, her friendship with the girls would be irreparable. And the reality was, even in LA, there was no escaping whatever vulture lawyer Meagan sent circling. The worst part was, she still hadn’t heard from them and the wait was becoming more excruciating by the day. Jemima’s head span at the possible outcomes. Was there a chance Hudson Hicks would back her? Or would they join the litigation congo line and sue her too? At the very least they’d want their advance back and that was long gone.

Jemima took an out-of-date pack of coffee grounds from her cupboard and heaped a couple of tablespoons into her old cafetière. This was her new rock bottom, not even being able to go to Nostromo for her morning pick-me-up for fear of being torched by Azi’s wrath. As she poured the water, she realised, she had control over nothing. The horse hadn’t just bolted, it was darting around the field, taking a massive dump over everything. Prior to sending that final draft to Eve, she could have stopped this. Now, she couldn’t even go to her favourite coffee shop. She pushed down the plunger and the coffee swirled through its wiry mesh. Jemima paused. Whether Meagan sued or Hudson Hicks dropped her was out of her hands but there was one thing she still had power over. She searched the recent calls on her phone and dialled.