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I looked at him, confused for a second. I was thinking about kissing the guy and he was asking for an opinion about something.
“Um, about?”
“About joining the project. I heard you mention you had another job lined up.”
“I do. It’s not a fabulous job, but it’ll give me some experience in my field and hopefully lead to more opportunities.”
“I hope you’ll come on board. This is a chance of a lifetime to work with a savvy group like National Geographic. We were lucky to get local New York Public Broadcasting’s interest, but Randy’s association with Nat Geo elevated the project to national television.”
I wished I had more than ten minutes to make up my mind. “I’m sure it will look good on my CV. Where would I begin?”
“How comfortable are you in front of the camera?” Ryan asked.
“I’ve never been. But I’m a good actress,” I said, remembering some of the dates I’d had.
“I’ll ask the production crew to spend some time with you doing test shots. Then you can familiarize yourself with the properties and the stories behind them. Each of the projects we chose has an interesting history.”
“I love history,” I said, surprising myself. Maybe I’d be a good fit after all.
We sat down at the table, and Ryan took me through each of the twelve projects while I took notes. He was right, the history was interesting. Each house had a compelling human story, from an early birthing hospital to a brothel. I pictured myself standing next to Ryan outside the house we featured, spewing facts about history. It didn’t feel genuine.
“All you have to do is read the script,” Ryan said, grinning at me. “Even I can do that. What do you think?”
“I’m interested,” I said, still unwilling to make a firm commitment.
Randy returned at that moment. “You ready?”
I couldn’t believe an hour had passed. “I’m ready,” I said, standing up.
“I won’t ask if you’ve made up your mind,” he said, looking from me to Ryan and back again.
“I’m interested,” I said. “It’s a lot.”
“It is, but I hope it will be worthwhile.”
We said goodbye, and I avoided Ryan’s outstretched hand as I chased Randy down the hallway to a private elevator. He talked on the way down thirty-five floors. Heavy metal safety doors opened onto a stinking alley and a waiting limousine with two men in the front seat. The driver didn’t get out of the car, but he smiled at me when I got in.
“This is Frank,” Randy said. “Bodyguard and driver. And this is Clint, my manager. Meet my daughter, Laura.”
“Hey, Laura,” they chorused.
“Head over to the Riverview property, please,” Randy said, sliding the privacy window shut.
Sitting next to him was odd. This man was my father. I had never had a close relationship with a man that didn’t have the possibility of sex. My mother’s dad had died shortly after I was born, and she didn’t have brothers. There was never an uncle (boyfriend) that she’d exposed me too, or anyone like a neighbor who cared about us. So, getting to know my father, allowing feelings to develop, would be an unfamiliar experience.
“I guess we are going to get to know each other,” I said.
“Did you have expectations?” he asked, taking my hand.
“I really didn’t. You could have told me to get lost. I didn’t know how it would play out.”
“I spoke to Crystal, though. I would have thought she’d tell you I was excited to meet you.”
“Nope, not a word. She’s still probably worried you’ll steal me away.”
“Ha! I’m too busy to do that. But I’ll definitely share you with her. She has nothing to worry about.”
His office was on Exchange Place, a block from Wall Street. The famous street flashed by as we headed to Midtown, past the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. I relaxed in the big car, watching the unfamiliar scenery go by. If I accepted the job with my father, Manhattan would be my stomping ground. Aside from its notoriety, it left me cold.
