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The headlines were coming fast and furious, and apparently had been for the past few hours. FOX News had broken the story about 8 hours ago, when Charles and Liza were somewhere over Western Europe. The minute that Liza had turned their phones back on, they were both flooded with texts, calls and emails from Kelsey, Diana, Zane, Redmond, the Empirical lawyers, and about a hundred others. They had raced out of the airport as fast as they could, thankful that they had arranged for a car to pick them up from the airport.
They had barely buckled their seatbelts when Liza's phone rang, Kelsey's name popping up on the screen. Liza put her on speakerphone as the pulled away from the airport curb.
"Hey, Kelsey. We just saw."
"Did you guys just land? We've been trying to get ahold of you for hours."
Charles leaned forward. "We had our phones off. Listen, Kelsey, can you and Diana and Zane meet us at my house in about, say, an hour and a half. We're just leaving the airport now."
"We're all here at the office."
Charles sighed, shaking his head. "Just come to the house. Liza and I need to offload our luggage and freshen up. And I'll bet you that there's probably a team of reporters outside the office. It's where people will expect us to be, where they will expect Moore might show up. So no, we're not coming to the office. Meet us at the house." He disconnected before she could respond, leaning back against the seat and sighing.
"This is a disaster."
"We'll figure it out, Charles. You always figure it out." Liza reached over and rested her hand on his leg, trying to calm his nerves. She hated seeing him like this, in distress.
"It's not that simple, Liza. Zane's been working with him on a new series. We've kept it under lock and key for a couple of months but we were going to announce it next week. If we lose Moore, it's a hit. A big hit. Financially, Empirical probably can't survive without him."
"I didn't realize. I'm sorry Charles." Liza leaned into him, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it. It was her turn to be strong for him now.
Liza had just stepped out of the shower when she heard the doorbell, followed by the sounds of Charles greeting Bob. He had called his friend, his trusted lawyer, after getting off the phone with Kelsey. He wasn't technically part of the Empirical legal team, but he was Charles's most trusted friend, his personal attorney, and consulted on business for him often. He trusted Bob to lay out their options.
Charles had jumped in the shower as soon as they had gotten home, taking a few minutes to freshen up and clear his mind while Liza made a pot of coffee and unpacked a few items. Liza toweled off and dried her hair, throwing it up into a messy bun and slipping into the first clean clothes she could find, leggings and Charles's well worn Yankee's t shirt. She loved how it always smelled faintly of him, even when freshly washed. She spritzed on some perfume, slipped on a pair of sandals, and headed downstairs.
"Liza! Beautiful as always. It's good to see you, even though I wish it was under better circumstances." Bob rose to give her a quick hug before sitting back down at the dining table. Charles came back in, holding two glasses of scotch, setting one down in front of Bob.
"Do you want anything, Liza?" Even when he was stressed, he was a perfect gentleman.
"No. You sit. I'm going to get a glass of water. Kelsey just texted and said they would be here in a couple of minutes. I'll let them in." She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, her lips grazing the substantial stubble that had started to fill in his face.
She stepped into the kitchen and turned on the water, leaning against the sink. Her head was absolutely swimming with thoughts, and the jet lag was definitely kicking in. Changing her mind, she turned off the water and grabbed a coffee mug from the cabinet. She leaned against the countertop and closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of the hot liquid. She smiled as she remembered the first morning she had sat in this kitchen, drinking coffee with Charles. She had come downstairs expecting a complicated espresso machine, or at the very least a fancy French press, but had been surprised to see a plain old carafe coffee maker. Maggie liked her coffee strong and expensive, but Liza had lived on Folger's from a plastic container for the past 20 years.
She remembered leaning against the counter waiting for the coffee to brew. Charles had snuck up on her, wrapping his hands around her waist and kissing her neck before lifting her up onto the counter. They had laughed and kissed and acted like teenagers in love. She couldn't believe that it had only been a few months ago. It felt like a lifetime.
A sharp knock on the door pulled her out of her reverie. She padded across the hardwood floor, opening the door to Diana, Kelsey and Zane.
"Liza, welcome back." Diana smiled tightly at her and brushed past her, shrugging off her coat as Kelsey stepped in. Diana and Zane were both dressed for the boardroom, but Kelsey wore jeans and a t-shirt, making Liza feel slightly more at ease in her leggings and oversized shirt.
"I'm so glad you're back! I missed you. And look how tan you are!" Kelsey wrapped her arms around Liza, hugging her tightly. "Those two are driving me fucking insane." She whispered in her ear before pulling away.
"Let's skip the pleasantries, Kelsey. Liza, where are…?"
Liza cut Diana off, pointing towards the dining room. "Charles and Bob are in the dining room. He just got here a few minutes ago."
Diana spun on her heel and walked in the direction of the dining room, the other 3 following behind her. Liza squeezed Charles's shoulder as they sat back down, taking the seat across from him.
Liza sat quietly for a few minutes, listening to the rest of the group. The allegations against Moore were varied, coming from character actresses to bookstore clerks to fans. Inappropriate comments, groping and everything in between. It was overwhelming, and Liza felt her stomach churn as she read through some of the statements spread out on the table in front of them. When Zane suggested that they hold off on dropping Edward as an author, that they investigate the validity of the claims, Liza couldn't help but scoff.
"What do you think, Liza?" Charles asked quietly, leaning across the table towards her.
"I think he's a perverted old man that uses his power to exploit the women around him. He's disgusting. We should care more about the women that he abused than our bottom line." She shot an annoyed glare down the table at Zane.
"So you believe all of these women? Women you've never met, never spoken to?" Zane challenged her.
"Yes, I do. I don't doubt any of these allegations. He's said similar things to me." She redirected her glare back to Charles. "You've heard the things he has said to me, Charles. He tried to get me to come back to his hotel room after the last book release. Had me parade around in that fur bikini. Leered at me. So no, Zane, I don't doubt it. He's wildly inappropriate."
Zane started to retort, but Charles cut him off, his voice stern. "Liza's right, Zane. I'm ashamed to admit that I've been aware of his behavior. I think we all are, if we're being honest. We just wanted to turn a blind eye to it because he's a cash cow for Empirical. But we can't walk this back."
"That's fine, Charles, but I think you need to make sure you're doing this for the right reasons."
"What the hell does that mean, Zane?"
"That you're doing this because you legitimately believe what these women are saying, not because your girlfriend is asking you to." He leaned in, looking down the table at Charles and Liza, who both glared at him. "Listen, I'm not saying that's what's happening here, but it's the elephant in the room, isn't it?"
"I agree that we need to discuss any possible statement that you may make, Liza." Bob clasped his hands, resting them on the table in front of him.
"I don't plan on making a statement!" Liza protested. "I think he needs to be held accountable for his actions, but I don't think I need to throw my name into the mix. Besides, if his team starts digging, there's things about me that aren't public that would be made public." An awkward pause fell over the table for a moment, interrupted by the harsh sound of a ringing cell phone.
Charles reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. Edward's name flashed across the screen as the phone vibrated in his hand. He put his finger up to his lips and answered the phone on speaker.
"Yes?"
"Charles!" Moore's voice boomed. He was angry. "I've been trying to reach you all day. You're ignoring my calls?"
"My apologies, Edward. I was on a flight. I just got back a little bit ago."
"This is a witch hunt. I'm being tried in the public square!"
Diana rolled her eyes dramatically, and Liza could see that she was doing everything in her power to keep from interjecting.
"Edward, I'm sorry, but we're all being held accountable here."
"After all our years together, you at least owe me a meeting."
"I'm happy to meet with you anytime."
"Your office, tonight. I think you'll be very surprised by what I have to tell you."
"I'm on my way, Edward. I'll meet you there." He disconnected the call, slipping the phone back into his pocket.
"Charles, do you want me to accompany you?"
"No, Diana, I think it's better if I talk to him one on one. We're letting him go. That's my final decision."
Liza watched as he stood. She could see the tiredness in his eyes, in his face, and just wanted to pull him into her arms. She hated that this was the way that their vacation was ending. She stood quietly, filing out of the dining room behind him.
"Are you sure you don't want anyone to go with you?" She leaned against the wall, watching him slip on a light jacket.
"Yeah, I'm sure. I need to handle this on my own." He closed his eyes and sighed, rolling his head on his shoulders. Liza stepped up to him, snaking her arms around his waist and resting her head against his chest.
"I'm sorry, baby. I hate that this is happening."
Charles tilted his head down, kissing the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. He hated it too, but having Liza here, knowing that she would be here when he got home, well, it made everything better. If this disaster had happened a year ago, he would have come home angry, drank too much, and done something stupid. But now he felt a sense of calmness about the whole situation. Things were clarified, the path forward clear. And he knew it was all because of her – if he had her by his side, he could get through anything. He was truly amazed at how quickly she had made such an impact on his life – she had walked into his life completely by chance, and now he couldn't remember how he had ever lived without her.
"It'll be fine. We'll get through this. All of us. I promise."
Liza tilted her head up to him, one hand moving from his waist to his neck, her fingers running through his har. She leaned in and kissed him, pulling him close to her. She felt him sigh, felt his hands squeeze her hips and pull her closer. They stood there, embracing in the darkened hallway for a moment before he groaned and reluctantly pulled away, pulling his car keys out of his jacket pocket. He paused at the door, looking back at Liza. Her hair was pulled back, her face clear of makeup, wearing his favorite t-shirt. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever known.
"Will you be here when I get back?"
Liza smiled, her head tilted slightly. "There's no place I'd rather be."
"This isn't over, my friend, not by a long shot!"
Edward's indignant voice boomed all around Charles's office as he paced back and forth on his ridiculous electric scooter. Charles sighed again, leaning back in his chair and pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Edward, I'm afraid it is. You're more than welcome to fight this independently, but you'll be doing it without the support of Empirical Publishing."
"We have a contract!" He spun his scooter around and it caught the edge of Charles's desk, rattling it's contents. A small picture of Liza, Bianca and Nicole fell face down onto the wooden surface.
"Yes, we do. But your contract contains a morality clause. I have a fiduciary responsibility to this company to preserve and protect it's image. This is a family business that has been handed down through 3 generations. Regardless of the validity of these allegations, I can't in good conscious retain you as an author."
"This is preposterous. Listen." He pulled a stack of file folders out of a bag. He threw the first one onto the desk in front of Charles. "This accuser is a woman I met at a fantasy convention who's been trying to shake me down for years." He threw a second folder down. "This fan says I grabbed her ass during a photo, but my arm is actually around her lower waist." He held a third folder in his hand, a snide smile crossing his face. "And this one, well, she hasn't made any public allegations, but it's only a matter of time. And this one has absolutely zero credibility."
Charles looked down at the picture clipped to the outside of the folder. "That's Liza."
"We did some investigation. She represents herself as a young woman in her 20s. The fact is, she's a divorced 40 something housewife from New Jersey. Birth certificate, marriage license, bankruptcy report. The woman is a con artist. So, what do you have to say about that, Charles?" Edward leaned back in his chair with a self-satisfied smirk on his face, arms crossed over his ample body.
"None of that is news to me, Edward. Everyone in this office knows that Liza is in her 40s." Charles stood as the smirk disappeared off of Edward's face. "Her age is of little consequence to us. And as a matter of fact, she does not plan to come forward against you." He walked around the edge of the desk to stand in front of Edward. "She doesn't like you, Edward, but she's not going to hurt you. She's better than that. Besides, you have enough to deal with. But let's make this clear." He leaned over Edward. "If you come after her, I will make it my mission to destroy you. You'll be lucky to find an agent or a publishing house willing to publish anything you write. I wouldn't blame Liza for coming forward, but she has promised me that she won't. I've seen the way you leer at her, the things you've said to her. You're a pig, Edward."
"And you sound jealous, Charles."
Charles scoffed, standing and leaning against his desk. "I don't need to be jealous, Edward."
Moore stared back at him for a moment, expressionless. "You're going to regret this, Charles."
"I really don't think so, Edward. I don't want to make an enemy out of you. But our professional relationship has met the end of its road. Our legal department will contact your team tomorrow. I wish you the best of luck, Edward. I have a feeling you're going to need it." He crossed to the door and opened it, effectively bringing an end to the conversation. He watched as Edward leaned over, picking up the files he had tossed at Charles, pausing to pick up and glance at the picture that had been knocked over. Edward's bushy eyebrows rose slightly as he looked at the framed photo before setting it back upright. Pausing at the door, he glanced up at Charles. "You better hope your little girlfriend decides to keep her mouth shut. If she doesn't, well, you'll both regret it."
Charles tossed his keys into the dish by the front door, the clattering noise echoing in the darkened hallway. He had half expected everyone to still be at the house waiting for the details of the meeting. But the house was eerily silent. It was past midnight, so he imagined that Liza had already gone to bed. It was hard to believe that they had started out the day on the other side of the world. He was exhausted, mentally and physically.
He slipped off his jacket and started down the hallway, noticing a faint glow coming from the lounge. Stepping into the doorway he saw Liza sleeping on the couch, her head resting on a throw pillow, her bare feet sticking out underneath the end of the blanket. He smiled to himself, watching her sleep for a minute. She smiled even in her sleep, and part of him hoped she was dreaming of him. Of them. Of their future. It was his favorite thing to dream about. He crossed over to her, sitting on the edge of the coffee table. A lock of brown hair had fallen in her face, and he leaned in to tuck it behind her ear.
Liza stirred, blinking her eyes sleepily. Charles was sitting next to her, looking tired and weary, but he was smiling down at her.
"Hey." She yawned, sitting up and tossing the blanket aside. "What time is it?"
"Late. You should have just gone to bed. You've had a long day." He intertwined his fingers with Liza's when she reached for his hand.
"So, have you. I wanted to wait up for you. I don't like going to sleep when you're not there."
His heart swelled, and he leaned in to kiss her. "I love you."
"I love you too." She said the words softly, without hesitation. It was so natural for both of them now, and it made her so happy to hear him say those words. She knew she would never tire of it. She stood, still holding onto his hand. Leading him down the hallway and up the stairs. Never letting go.