Chapter 42 Supernova
The next morning, Emily got out of bed and went to the window to try and bask in what little sunlight there was streaming through a few clouds. She hoped Byron was feeling more calm.
When she came into the living room in her robe, she found him sitting on the floor in a cross-legged pose. He was doing some kind of breathing technique with his eyes closed. His silk robe hinting at the outlines of his powerful body, he looked like the embodiment of disciplined and serene masculinity. Emily tiptoed away to find some breakfast, not wishing to disturb him. When Byron joined her in the kitchen, he seemed extremely relaxed.
“It’s amazing what you can achieve by being mindful of your breathing,” he said. “I feel so balanced. And how are you, my lady?”
“I’m fine.” She was actually amazed at the quick progress he was making. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Sorry about yesterday,” he said. “I won’t let my emotions control me again.”
“Does that mean you’ve abandoned that plan to fire everyone in the Hollywood studio?” Emily asked, putting on a stern face.
“Yes, Ma’am. No firing will occur.”
“Thank you,” she said, relaxing into his body as he pulled her in for a hug.
Emily had her doubts about Byron being able to handle Nova’s new film. After all, it was true that images of Nova would be plastered all over the city, and the trailers for the new movie would be playing everywhere.
She did some research online, and it turned out critics were calling Jaguar a future blockbuster. It had beautiful cinematography shot in a scenic locale, great acting by Nova and her co-star, and an exciting story. It seemed Nova Summers was truly a breakout star.
“Why does Nova Summers have to be such a great actress?” Emily complained to her friend Pam over their usual weekend lunch.
“I loved her in Your Heart is Calling,” Pam confessed. “She’s got charisma, and she made everyone cry.”
Emily shook her head, feeling completely at a loss. She liked Your Heart is Calling too, a locally made movie that helped launch Nova’s career.
“I wouldn’t enjoy seeing it again,” Emily said, “knowing that Nova broke Byron’s heart.”
She didn’t even mention his suicide attempt, which was a secret that Byron had told only her.
“I can’t blame the guy for being upset,” Pam reasoned, “Imagine seeing your ex all over the place, reminding you of being dumped. It sounds horrible.”
“Yeah,” Emily said, “I’m going to try to be more sympathetic. I’m just worried that he’ll do something that gets him into trouble, or hurts other people. Look at this...”
She showed Pam another article from Hollywood Insider that she had found during her research. It seemed like Byron’s company had just acquired Papyrus Pictures a few hours ago.
“Just yesterday he promised me he wouldn’t fire everyone,” Emily said bleakly.
“Well...” Pam reflected on this while digging into a waffle, “Maybe he doesn’t intend to fire everyone. These large enterprise sales take time, so I’m sure the purchase had been months in the making, so he probably would have a hard time changing his plans about acquiring it. I don’t think it means he’s going to go back on his promise to you.”
“You’re right!” Emily said, “I should have thought of that. But is it weird that he now owns the studio where his ex works?”
“Yeah, a little weird,” Pam admitted.
“Okay, I’m not going to give him a hard time,” Emily resolved, “It would be nice to know what his plans are, though. I guess we’ll find out soon...”
When she got back to Byron’s suite that evening, she found him mixing some kind of greenish drink. She missed him now every time they were apart even for a few hours, and she was so glad to see him that the questions about the movie studio retreated to the back of her mind.
“Try this,” Byron said, handing her a glass of the smoothie. “It’s got lots of vegetables and fruit. Did you know things we consume actually affect our mood?”
“Yeah, I did,” Emily said, taking a sip of the green concoction. It was actually really good. “But I never thought I would see you making smoothies. It looks like you’re turning into a hippie.”
“You wanted me to make changes, Missy,” he said.
“I never said I didn’t like it,” she replied, a hint of sassiness in her voice. “The hippies are all about peace and love... Especially the love.”
“I see where you’re going with this,” Byron replied, his blue-green eyes turning wild and sensual.
He clasped her waist in a strong, possessive grip, while his mouth placed a gentle, teasing kiss on hers.
“Is this what you had in mind?” he asked, kissing her neck.
“Mm-hmm.” All she could do was make sounds in the affirmative because words were lost to her for a moment. His touch was so electrifying, Emily hardly wanted to waste time on words.
Byron picked her up with ease and carried her to the bedroom. When he laid her down on the bed, he kissed her face all over with sweet and gentle affection. Then passion took over, and Emily felt completely connected with him, responding to his strong embrace by holding him tighter than ever before.
She never wanted to let go, and she didn’t until half the night was over.
