“Good,” Jo said. “I agree.” She sat in her desk chair. “It’ll be released tomorrow, first thing in the morning. Probably before you even get in.”
Emma got up to stand in front of Jo’s desk.
“Tonight, set your phone so it goes straight to voicemail,” Jo said. “Record a new voicemail reminding people who they should contact if asking for a comment. You don’t need to deal with any calls tomorrow. Maybe not the next day, either.”
“Okay.” Emma nodded. Her eyebrows pinched together.
“We don’t have to do it if you don’t want to,” Jo reminded her.
“I want to,” Emma said immediately. She took a deep breath. “I’m nervous. But I want to.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the talk of the crew tomorrow,” Jo said. “Cast, too, maybe. Make sure you’re ready for that. I don’t want you to be caught off guard.”
“Thanks, boss.”
Jo didn’t know who else Emma had told. Avery, of course, but perhaps that was it. Jo hoped no one figured out who it was from the statement. She didn’t want Emma to have to reveal it to anyone if she didn’t want to. It was a vague statement, no names but Barry’s and Jo’s, but still. Jo worried.
—
The press release waslive by the time Jo woke up in the morning. She made herself an espresso from the machine next to her bed and read hot takes while she sipped it. There was a lot of dissecting her background, discussing how she’d never shied away from controversy, the way she called outThe Johnson Dynastyallthose years ago, how she went to bat for her crew in her own contract negotiations. Her history meant most people believed the statement, thankfully.
By the time she got to work, there was a new article. An article with quotes from Annabeth Pierce and three other actresses detailing further harassment from Barry Davis. Jo felt like she should have a bucket of popcorn as she scrolled through the news. She shared a secret grin with Emma when she came into Jo’s office to ask a question about the filming schedule. Once Annabeth Pierce came forward, no one bothered trying to find out who Barry harassed on theInnocentsset—they had bigger fish to fry now.
Jo had to say something to the cast and crew. She was right that it was all anyone was talking about, and it was both distracting and not something she wanted to make Emma relive in conversation after conversation.
She went to the soundstage as everyone returned from lunch. All she had to do to get quiet was raise her hands.
“I’m sure you’ve all heard the news about Barry Davis.” She breathed through her nose, decided to show most of her cards. “I am furious about this situation. That he thought he could do this to a member of theInnocentsfamily. I don’t have words for how angry I am.” They could probably tell anyway, the way her voice shook. “I know this has been established from day one, but behavior like his will not be tolerated. Not from Oscar-nominated directors, not from Emmy-winning writers, not from a gaffer or a deliveryman or anyone. If you have ever been sexually harassed or assaulted by anyone on this set—” She took a steadying breath. “I’m not telling you you have to come to me, because you can deal with it however is right for you. But I am telling you that if you come to me, anonymously or otherwise, I will stand by you. I will havezerotolerance.”
Everyone stayed silent.
“Okay,” Jo said. “Back to work.”
—
Evelyn called that nightwhile Jo ate takeout.
“It was Emma, wasn’t it?” she said as soon as Jo picked up. “No wonder she talked back to him.”
“Hello to you, too,” Jo said. “And I didn’t say it was Emma.”
“You didn’t,” Evelyn agreed. “But it was. Wow, okay, so that gives a lot of context to the whole you and her suddenly being okay with each other.”
It did, Jo supposed. Would Emma have forgiven her if this other terrible thing hadn’t cropped up? She’d rather still be fighting, as much as she hated that, than have Emma forced to deal with this.
“I’m surprised the rumors haven’t kicked back up about the two of you,” Evelyn said. “Given how white knight you’re probably going for her.”
Jo scoffed. “I’m not goingwhite knightfor her.”
“Releasing a statement and—and I’m just guessing here, but I know you, and you’re a badass, so I’m probably right—contacting and forewarning other actresses you figured he harassed? A coordinated effort to fuck up his career? Seems pretty white knight to me.”
“Fine,” Jo said, “but it’s notforEmma. I’d do the same regardless of who he harassed because he is a disgusting excuse for a—”
“Yeah, yeah,” Evelyn said, and Jo could picture her in her apartment, waving Jo off. “Down, girl.”
Jo picked up a piece of chicken with her chopsticks and popped it into her mouth. When she finished chewing, she said, “I need lawyers.”
“You mean for after you kill Barry Davis?”