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“If you don’t mind me asking, what does he do?”
“He plays soccer. Right now, he’s in Brazil leading a soccer program for youths.”
“Sounds like you have your hands full,” I tell her, with ease.
“Yes, that’s why you’re here.” She laughs, taking another bite of cake. “I’ve got baby brain. I need someone to help me with scheduling meetings, run business errands, and meet with suppliers when I can’t. When I have interviews and appearances, I need someone to coordinate my publicist, stylist, the whole team. It’s a very busy role, but I think you’re the right fit, Milana.”
“I’m dedicated. We simply need to find our groove. Does that make sense?”
Her eyes light up, impressed. “Total sense. So, how about we start tomorrow? If you can meet me here at nine? Just wait here a second…”
Emerson stands, her white shorts and navy-blue tank matching the fabric of the chair she was sitting in. She disappears only to return moments later carrying a laptop, phone, and set of keys.
“This is for you.” She hands them to me, much to my bewilderment. “We can schedule the next twelve months’ of meetings tomorrow and sync our diaries. The keys are for the car you’ll need to run errands. The phone is for business clients to contact you and me.”
“But… this is…” I stumble on my words, feeling terrible for accepting the car.
“All part of the job,” she finishes my sentence. “And, a tax right-off. Charlie, that’s what we call her instead of Charlotte, is my lawyer. She’ll FedEx you the contracts to sign.”
Back home, Mildred Mason had one computer and a landline in the office. It was never an issue, and somehow, we were contactable. Although I had a laptop and a brick, as Liam referred to it, this is all a bit much.
“Are you sure?” I question with uncertainty. “I was going to buy a car. I just wanted to get settled first.”
Emerson places the keys in my hand and rests her palm on mine, reassuring me that this isn’t a pity handout. “I’m sure. There is one catch, though.”
Of course, there is.
“One of my business associates is very difficult to work with. In fact, I limit contact with him because I can’t deal with him anymore.”
Odd, yet I’m curious as to why she doesn’t just cut ties.
“Your business partner?”
“Yes.” The subject appears to irritate her, the smile on her face disappearing, and the grit in her teeth portraying her anger toward this individual. “As much as I would love not to deal with him, he has made it difficult for me to legally pull away from the business.”
He already sounds like a dickhead.
“It’s okay. When it comes to people like this, I can keep my head strong and stay focused on the job.”
She breathes a sigh of relief and ends with a small giggle. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“If today’s debacle taught me anything, it’s to be prepared. You never know who’s just around the corner…”
Chapter Six
There’s a loud thump, thump, thump against the wall.
The room is filled with the beautiful, warm sunlight that California is known for. I appreciate the small things in life, just not the loud banging against my wall. Stumbling out of bed in my sleep shorts and worn-out KISS t-shirt, I make it out to the living room to see Flynn passed out on the sofa surrounded by bags of chips and empty bottles of cola. It suddenly dawns on me that the sound is coming from the wall I share with my elderly neighbors.
Oh, dear God, no.
I ignore the mental images. Never in my wildest dreams did I picture myself living in a run-down apartment block surrounded by neighbors who were one step away from a grave yet having more sex that I am at this point of my life.
The universe works in mysterious ways.
The empty coffee pot that sits on our old countertop is the only thing I want right now, distracting me from my wandering thoughts and desperate need to check in on Liam because sex is on my brain. With a pot brewing and some cereal in a bowl, I sit at the table with my planner instead.
My first week on the job was chaotic. Emerson introduced me to many of the staff who work for her which meant driving around Los Angeles and being stuck in traffic for most of the day. My to-do list is a mile long, but I’m determined. I will do this and do a damn fine job. The busy workload distracts me from being homesick and the ill-feeling that constantly sits in the pit of my stomach.
