That was mimosa number two.

Emelia set down her glass and redialed Chloe. For having nothing to do, her friend was taking a long time to answer her phone. She had called three times, and each time it had gone to Chloe’s voicemail.

She couldn’t stop thinking about Grant’s threatening text message last night. Trevor had left to prepare for some publicity he’d be doing later. She hadn’t mentioned the message to him. She didn’t want to cast a shadow over his day.

Emelia was still torn and confused about the whole situation. Take matters into her own hands, ignore it, or tell Trevor and let him handle it? She didn’t know what kind of decision to make. The bigger part of her wanted to confront him, squeeze out of him just what he had up his sleeve. The problem was, he probably wouldn’t confess anything to her. It would take all the luck in the world for him to spill his plans. 

She picked up her cell and dialed again. “Pick up,” she huffed under her breath. “Please, damn it. Pick up the damn phone.”

Chloe’s voice chimed through the speaker a few seconds later. “Hello?” 

“Where have you been? And why aren’t you over here yet? I need to talk to you.” She cringed at the frustration in her voice. “It’s important.”

“Is everything okay?” Chloe’s voice went from chirpy to concerned.

“Just come to Trevor’s room.”

“Okay, I’ll be right there.”

Emelia was the type to be fully prepared with a loaded gun of information before she confronted someone. The facts had to be straight. The plan forming in her mind just might get her what she needed.

A few minutes later, Emelia heard a knock on the door. She let Chloe in, a bit taken aback by her friend’s mussed hair and a hint of smeared mascara.

“Uh, did you just roll out of bed? It’s like, noon.”

Chloe shrugged and tried to hide her sly smile. “Something like that.”

“Oh, God. It wasn’t your bed you just rolled out of, was it?”

Her friend took a seat and crossed her legs with a little too much flair. “Maybe. A girl never tells, Em. A girl never tells.”

There was a story there, and as much as she genuinely wanted to know about her friend’s escapades, she couldn’t dig into it right now. She took in Chloe’s appearance again, her plan taking more form.

“Actually, don’t take a shower yet or do your hair. Stay just like that.”

Chloe crossed her arms over the tabletop and leaned in as Emelia took a seat across from her. “Ok, Chica. What the hell is up?”

“Well,” Emelia stated somberly. “I need to confess something to you.”

“Okay...” Chloe trailed off apprehensively. “I’m worried.”

“It’s Grant,” Emelia blurted out. She wanted to rip off the band-aid and expose the wound for what it was, and for someone else to view it with her.

“What about him?” Chloe frowned and stared at Emelia.

“He’s made threats and blackmail allegations against Trevor, and I’m afraid he’s going to do something terrible.”

Chloe gasped. “What the hell?”

Emelia shrugged. “I don’t know the details. But he did send me this last night.” She produced her phone and showed her friend the message.

“No way.” Chloe reread it and made a disbelieving face. “He’s an asshole, okay. But is Grant even smart enough to pull off blackmail or whatever?”

“I guess anger makes people capable of crazy things.”

“First he was a cheating bastard. And now he’s getting all criminal.” She rose to grab a water from the mini-fridge. She did a double-take when she spied the bottles of alcohol there. Grabbing two, she slid one to Emelia.

“Ok, Em, so what are you going to do?” Chloe pressed.

“That’s where you come in. I need your help to get him to confess to his plan, or at least his intent to do some kind of harm.”

They both downed half their bottles. It was like a Thelma and Louise moment, hopefully minus driving off a cliff at the end.

Chloe slammed her bottle on the table. “What do you want me to do?”

“I want you to act like a total slut and get Grant to spill something of value.”

Chloe’s face took on a sickened expression. “That was a bad choice of words, friend.”

She grabbed another small bottle of mimosa and cracked it.

Emelia took a deep breath. “If you aren’t willing to do this, then I totally understand, but I know he’ll melt like a puddle at your feet if you show him a side of boob or stroke his fragile masculinity.”

Chloe chocked on her drink. “Again, bad choice of words to string together.”

“I’m sorry! I’m nervous, okay?” She spread her hands on the table. “I know he’s around, probably following the band city to city. He’s too angry and thirsty for revenge against Trevor not to be. If you text him, I bet he’ll meet you somewhere local.”

Chloe let out a nervous chuckle. “You are really freaking me out right now Em.”

“I want to set Grant up,” Emelia explained. “I want you to text him and tell him you had a fight with Trevor and me, and that Trevor came on to you and you’re done with him. You want to find a way to get back at him.”

“Wow.” Chloe stared off blankly, pondering.

“If he’ll meet you, one look at you the way you are right now... will be convincing that Trevor came onto you. Tell him you want to plan something. Bait him to see if he’ll open up.”

“I know that it’s a lot to ask.” Emelia gently cupped her hand over Chloe’s knee. “If you agree to this, I’ll be forever in your debt.”

Chloe met her gaze again. “You don’t have to worry about that.”

“So, does that mean you’re in?” Emelia’s heart pounded, and she began to sweat, but it had nothing to do with the summer heat.

Chloe looked like she needed a confidence boost. “Do you really think I’m going to be convincing?”

“Grant is not as smart as people think he is,” Emelia countered. “If he really is cheating and as sex-crazed as Trevor claims him to be, then he’ll make a pass at you. And if you lead him on just enough, he’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

Chloe’s cheeks blushed into a deep shade of crimson. Emelia could see the conflict tormenting her.

“You don’t have to do this, of course. I just know if I don’t get him off my back right now, he’ll never go away. He’ll plague Trevor as long as he can get away with it.”

Chloe looked into space for a moment. Emelia could almost see the wheels turning in her head. “What happens if he doesn’t tell me anything useful?”

“I’ll be close by. All you have to do is say the word, and I’ll barge in, and it’ll be over.”

“And if he does tell me something useful?”

Emelia went to Trevor’s duffle bag and pulled out a narrow, rectangular digital recorder. It fit into the palm of her hand. “Trev uses this to sound check his voice. It’s a highly sensitive recorder. You can hide it, and it will pick up everything you guys say.”

“Okay,” she nodded and inhaled a deep breath. “I’ll do it.”

Emelia roped Chloe in for a hug, squeezing her petite figure with gratitude. “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing,” Chloe waved her off dismissively. “I know you would do the same thing for me.”

“Absolutely.” Emelia’s eyes gleamed. “I absolutely would!”

Chloe took a few deep breaths and pulled out her cell phone. Flipping to Grant’s number, she dialed. Putting a finger to her lips to signal quiet, she put on the speakerphone. Her face paled a little when Grant actually answered.

“Hey, Grant. It’s Chloe. Uh, we need to talk.”

There was a long pause. “Why’s that? Where’s Emelia?”

Chloe sneered. “Fuck her. And fuck Trevor Jameson, too.”

The pause was shorter this time. “Did... you guys have a falling out?”

Chloe clenched her eyes, and Emelia was impressed by how easily her friend got into character.

“I wish you were fucking around so we could talk.”

“I am. I’m, uh, in town for another gig. We can meet, say Molly’s on the waterfront?”

Chloe eyed Emelia who nodded an enthusiastic yes.

“Sounds good. And if you have any idea how to bring Emelia to her knees, I want to know. I thought that bitch was my friend.”

“I’ll see you there.”

He hung up. And Emelia thought her heart was going to pound out of her chest.

Emelia prayed that the plan would go off without a hitch.

She and Chloe went over the plan again and again. They would take separate taxis to the meeting place. Chloe smeared her mascara and lipstick a little more before they left.

“I’m nervous,” Chloe whispered before she got into her cab.

“It’s okay.” Emelia clutched Chloe’s shoulders and shook some confidence into her. “You can do this.”

Chloe sighed and briefly squeezed her eyes shut. “Okay.”

Luckily, she was still in a skin-tight dress with plunging cleavage that left little to the imagination. Grant was going to lose his mind.

They hopped in their cabs, Emelia watching her friend pull away first. A few moments later, she had her cabbie follow, but not too close. At the location, she asked to park a block away. Keeping her steps steady and even, she turned up the volume of her cell phone. Chloe had her phone on; the line open between them, so Emelia could hear the entire transaction. She had the phone hiding in her panties, the recorder in her padded, push-up bra.

Worst case scenario, Emelia could merely show up and get in between any rowdy and unwanted behavior that Grant might throw her friend’s way.

Her heart pounded as she watched Chloe enter the bar. A few seconds later, she heard the sound of Chloe’s voice as she asked Grant if it was okay for her to sit across from him in the booth.

Grant’s muffled voice ripped her apart as she heard him through the speaker on the phone. “Of course,” he said enthusiastically. “That’s a fantastic dress. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear something that hot before.”

Emelia’s heart plummeted through her shoes and splattered onto the hallway carpet in front of her feet. The plan was off to a great start, but that’s what she was afraid of.

“It was a hot dress, but it’s not anymore.” Chloe shot right to the point. “Fucking Trevor had his hands all over me, behind Emelia’s back! And when I said no... he ignored me. I was lucky to get away before... before...”

“Holy shit.” Grant’s voice sounded concerned.

“Grant,” she breathed. “I haven’t slept all night. I went to Em, I told her what happened, and you know what she told me? That I was a slut, who was asking for it, that I was trying to steal her rock star boyfriend. That I, that I asked for it so I could say I had sex with Trevor Jameson!”

Chloe played her part perfectly. Emelia knew that she would owe her for the rest of her life for doing this. Her voice didn’t crack or stumble. She was poised and acting her heart out as if hoping to win an Academy Award.

“Emelia said those things?” Grant’s voice sounded surprised.

“Yes,” Chloe attested. “Listen, she did great when she was with you. You were the right man for her. Not Trevor. She’s changed; she thinks she’s important because she’s Trevor Jameson’s girlfriend and that the world should just revolve around her. I’m desperate to tell someone, and I knew you would understand.”

Emelia took a seat at an outside table, hidden partially behind some plants.

“This is crazy.” Emelia could hear the apprehension in Grant’s voice as if he were holding back but was excited about the possibility of where Chloe’s confession could take him.

“I know...” Chloe trailed off, her voice suddenly laced with seduction. “If anyone knows how to get back at Emelia, it’s you. She was my friend, Grant! My friend. Friend don’t treat each other like this.”

Emelia wished she could see her ex’s expression.

“I think you’re going after the wrong person.” Grant must have leaned in toward Chloe because his voice became loud in the recorder. “Trevor is the reason she’s turned on us. It’s him we need to bring down.”

“Mmmm, what do you have in mind?”

There was the rustle of fabric and the sound of someone sliding over on the bench seat. Grant’s breathing became loud. He must have slid into the booth beside Chloe.

“You look amazing, Chloe. You know, I always had a thing for you.”

Chloe gave a flirty laugh. “You did not.”

“Maybe,” Grant murmured as if he were seriously contemplating Chloe’s proposal. “Maybe it’s a little risky to go into this without some insurance.”

“Insurance?”

Grant’s voice was flirty and seductive, making a bitter taste form in Emelia’s mouth. Her poor friend. Her poor Chloe. Emelia’s heart pounded. She licked her dry lips. Her tongue felt like sandpaper in her mouth. He was going in for the kill.

“I think you need to show me that you’re serious about getting back at Emelia.”

Emelia held her own breath. She was mentally paralyzed, unable to move or flinch a single muscle in her entire body.

“I’ll make you feel so good. All you have to do is get that gorgeous body over here and prove to me that you want revenge.” Grant whispered, barely audible through the phone speaker.

There was a sigh, some more rustling, and a happy grunt. Emelia frowned, sickened to think how far her friend might be taking this on her behalf.

“There,” she heard Chloe breathe thickly. “Proof enough?”

“You are serious, aren’t you?”

Oh, God. What did Chloe do? Emelia put a palm to her forehead.

“You know, there are a lot of rumors going around about Trevor’s past. It only takes one little white lie to spin one of those rumors out of control and ruin him. Between you and me working every possibility, we’ll have him on his knees in no time.”

Emelia let out a huge breath. That was her cue. Jumping to her feet, she hurried into the bar. Grant saw her coming, burst from his seat. Chloe scrambled out and ran to stand beside her friend.

“What the hell?” Grant’s face turned beet red.

Emelia didn’t give him a chance to say another word. She pointed the finger at him, shaking.

“Everything has been recorded. Don’t think for one minute that I won’t create the biggest viral social media campaign to ruin you if you proceed with undermining Trevor. You can kiss Shark Production goodbye. Don’t mess with me. And don’t mess with Trevor.”

Grant sputtered, spittle foaming at the corners of his mouth. Grabbing Chloe by the hand, Emelia hurried them both out of there. They raced down the sidewalk and around a corner before she flagged down a cab. And embraced her friend for a long time before they got in.