The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1400

"Emily…"

Pam tried to say something comforting, but nothing came out the way she wanted. Her throat felt tight, aching with sympathy. "Having a crush hurts, you know. In the end, you get nothing. Maybe it's time to let it go."

Emily was such a wonderful person, she didn't deserve to be stuck in her own little cage.

Emily let out a soundless laugh, her voice shaky, eyes turning red. "How can you be afraid of a crush ending badly? That's what crushes do... they're meant to go nowhere."

She'd known that from the start.

Pam went silent, not sure what else to say.

The next morning, Emily took a deep breath, put herself together, and went to Apex Mediaworks like she was supposed to. She had work to handle, after all.

Just as she pushed through the lobby doors, Kenneth came walking out, heading straight toward her.

It caught her completely off guard. Emily's brows drew together and she froze for a second, thinking about making a quick escape.

Just as she started to edge away, someone grabbed her by the collar of her blazer.

Before she knew what was happening, she was pulled into a quiet corner.

"So, you’ve dodged me for two days now. All because of one dinner?"

Kenneth stood close, arms braced on either side, trapping her between his chest and the wall. He poked her lightly on the forehead. "Emily, are you strapped for cash or something?"

She flushed, massaging the spot where he'd poked her. "No," she muttered, voice soft. "I've just been busy finishing up a script. I haven't had time, that's all."

Charlotte had said the script would take a week, and then boom, it was finished in three days. If Charlotte wasn’t about to come by, Emily would never have shown her face here so soon. After everything that just happened, she wasn’t ready to deal with Kenneth again.

"Really?"

There was something stubborn in the way Kenneth looked at her. When Emily kept her head down, he cupped her chin and gently forced her to face him. "What are you looking at?"

Kenneth stared after her, at a total loss for words. How was it possible for someone to be this completely un-girly? Treating her as one of the guys had never felt more right.

In the safety of the elevator, Emily let out a huge breath and smiled in pure relief.

"You two…" Pam was waiting for her, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Honestly, you’re like an old married couple."

Emily grinned, stepping out as the elevator doors opened. "Did J get here yet?"

"Almost." Pam glanced at her phone, checking updates from downstairs. "She’s in the parking lot, coming up now."

Emily’s smile brightened and she gave a quick set of instructions. "Get a pillow ready, and bring some lemonade with extra sugar... oh, and cake."

Charlotte had been all about comfort food lately.

Just as Emily finished speaking, she looked up and suddenly locked eyes with Adela.