So Far Away (California Dreamers #2) (2 page)

I shake my head. “Nope.”

“And you’re not an actress?” He asks again.

“No,” I repeat.

“Hmmm.” He puts his finger to his lip again and taps it a few more times. “I know I know you.”

From the corner of the room one of the nerdy brothers gives a “Naughty-Nanny” cough.

I glare at him. This isn’t junior high school.

“What was that?” the young Republican-looking guy asks.

The nerd does it again. Another “Naughty-Nanny” cough.

“Do you need something to drink?” he asks “Have you got something caught it your throat?”

“I was trying to say that she’s the Naughty Nanny, but I was trying to be nonchalant about it.”

The Republican-looking guy shakes he head. “Nonchalance is not really a quality you possess, Milo.”

A look of disappointment sweeps over Milo’s face.

“And I’m not into porn,” he adds. “Keep that stuff to yourself.”

“The Naughty Nanny isn’t porn,” Milo shouts back.

“Do you really think I look like a porn star?” I ask, insulted by the remark.

The young Republican looks confused. “No, not at all.”

“I’m the Naughty Nanny, Maddie Malone. I was part of a sex scandal. Nannygate.”

I give the explanation a few seconds to sink in. The guy looks sharp so I’m sure he’ll put the pieces together pretty quickly.

Three. Two. One
.

And there it is.

A look of recognition crosses over his face, and then it turns to utter embarrassment because he has no idea what to say to me. He actually looks pained. Like every line that he could possibly think to say would probably be awkward in some way.

“I’m Jasper Johnson,” he says finally. His put-together façade seems to be unraveling just a bit.

“Can we all please stop talking about the Naughty Nanny?” Finn scans the room.

No one says a word.

He’s the first guy I’ve been remotely interested in in a long time. It’s nice to see that he’s not obsessed with Nannygate like everyone else in the country seems to be.

“Dude,” Milo says. “She’s the nanny who broke up Dannabelle.”

Finn furrows his brow. “Seriously,
dude
? Did you really just say
Dannabelle
?”

“Don’t you watch the news?” Oliver asks. “Dannabelle is used a lot.”

He shakes his head. “I’m not into all that tabloid crap.”

“You’re trying to break into the entertainment industry,” Roscoe adds. “Don’t you think you should know what’s going on?”

“Can we please just get started?” Jasper sounds exasperated.

“So what do you write?” Finn asks me.

I shake my head. “I don’t.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

I hold up my half empty bottle. “Free beer.”

“You realize you could walk into any bar and probably get any guy in there to buy you a beer.”

“Not anymore,” I admit. “Not since Nannygate.”

“Are you still working as a nanny?” Milo asks.

He seems a little too interested in the whole nanny thing, but I reply anyway. “Let’s just say it hasn’t been that easy getting another job. Not too many people are willing to hire someone who made national headlines as part of a sex scandal.”

Jasper removes what looks like a script from the backpack on the floor next to him and waves it in the air. “Critique time. Remember?”

“Wait a minute!” Finn throws up a finger. “I have an idea.”

“Does it have anything to do with screenwriting,” Jasper pleads.

Finn ignores him and points at me. “I have the perfect job for you.”

“I’m not posing for a nude magazine,” I state.

He frowns and tilts his head at me. “That’s not what I was going to suggest, but I can’t say I wouldn’t want to see it.”

“What were you going to suggest?” I prod.

“My manager also happens to manage Jackson Drake.”

“You’ve told us that a million times.” Jasper rolls his eyes at Finn.

“Your jealously is showing,” Finn bites back.

“Maybe if you’d recommend your buddies to your manager…”

“Maybe if you’d write something worth recommending…”

“Dudes,” Roscoe stands between them. “Chill. This is a hassle-free zone.”

“As I was saying.” Finn turns his attention back to me. “My manager mentioned that Jackson Drake is looking for a personal assistant. You’d be perfect for the job.”

“Who is Jackson Drake?” I ask.

Every pair of eyes in the room are on me instantly. It’s as if I just said God is dead or something equally as blasphemous.

“Only one of the greatest action suspense writers of this century,” Oliver states.

Everyone in the room nods in agreement. 

“And what makes you think I’d be
perfect for the job
as his assistant?” I ask.

Finn narrows his gaze at me. “Because you seem a little desperate.”

As much as I hate to admit it he’s right. I don’t have a lot of options. “What’s wrong with the guy?”

“Let’s just say he has a little difficulty keeping assistants.”

“And what makes you think he’d hire me?”

Finn hesitates for a moment then says, “He likes young female assistants. And you’re breathing. So you meet the qualifications.”

“I have two Master’s degrees.” I generally don’t share that tidbit of information, but I’m tired of people thinking I’m just some dumb blonde slut.

“You do?” Jasper sounds shocked.

“And they’re from Yale,” I add.

“What are you doing?” I ask as Finn removes a cellphone from his pocket and dials.

“Calling my manager.” He glances up at me.

“I never said I’d talk to your manager. I never said I was interested in being some weirdo writer’s personal assistant.”

“I don’t think Jackson Drake is a
weirdo,
” Oliver pipes in. “A bit eccentric, perhaps.”

“And how do you know?” I raise an eyebrow. “Have you met him?”

Oliver shakes his head. “No. But I’ve read every one of his novels multiple times. No one that brilliant could be a total weirdo.”

And no one thinks Annabelle Miller is a crazy bitch. A celebrity’s public persona can be a lot different than what he or she is like behind closed doors. I learned that lesson the hard way.

Finn puts up a finger in a shushing motion while he talks to his manager on his cell. “Hey, Joel. It’s Finn…right. Listen, you mentioned that Jackson Drake was looking for a personal assistant. I have someone…Okay…Sure.”

Finn’s brow is furrowed when he ends the call. He doesn’t look hopeful at all. 

“It’s not a big deal,” I tell him preemptively. As many times as I’ve been rejected over the last two months it still stings.

“Joel wants to see you.”

“He does?” I can’t help the surprise in my voice.

“Right now.”

My jaw drops. “I’m sorry. Did you just say
now
?”

“Right now,” he repeats.

“As in
this moment
?” I’m still having a difficult time comprehending what he’s telling me.

When he moves towards the door I know he’s serious. “I’ll take you over there.”

“What about tonight’s critique?” Milo moans.

“I’m sure you boys can handle it without me.”

Nellie clears her throat. “Sorry, I’m sure you boys
and Nellie
can handle the critique without me.”

***

“Are you taking me there because you’re being a nice guy or because you think I’ll chicken out?”

I’m not surprised that Finn drives a Jeep. It seems to be the vehicle of choice for guys who surf. His Jeep is brand new with all the bells and whistles. He said he was unemployed, which leads me to believe that he’s being bankrolled by wealthy parents.  

He laughs. “What makes you think I’m a nice guy?”

“Let me guess. Your manager is offering some kind of finder’s fee.”

“You are a lot smarter than you look. Maybe you’re not lying about the two Master’s degrees.”

I furrow my brow. “Why would anyone lie about earning two Master’s degrees?”

“I guess you haven’t been in town very long.”

“I’ve lived here all my life, except when I went to Yale.”

“Then you should know people in in this town lie about everything.”

“Where are you from?” I ask even though it’s pretty obvious he’s from the West coast.

“I was born and raised here,” he confirms.

“Does that mean you lie about everything?”

His smirk tells me everything I need to know.

“Let me guess. Your mom and dad are in the business. That’s why you have a manager and your friends don’t.”

“It’s all about who you know,” he confirms.

When someone doesn’t immediately tell you who their parents are it’s usually because one or both of them are very powerful in Hollywood. That’s their way of protecting themselves from people who just want to get to know them for their connection in the business. It’s only the kids of C and D listers who blab to everyone about their famous or powerful parents. 

We’re both quiet the rest of the way to his manager’s office. It’s late, nearly nine, and I’m surprised to see the lights are still on. The building seems to be bustling with activity when we arrive.

“Good luck,” Finn tells me as he slides into a parking spot right in front of the building.

“Thanks...I think.”

“Everyone who’s anyone knows Annabelle Miller’s a psycho bitch and Daniel Robinson would prefer to bat for the other team.”

Even though I didn’t live with them very long I did have my suspicions about Daniel being gay.

“You said you didn’t know about Nannygate.”

“Remember what I said about lying.” He winks at me. “My older sister went to high school with both of them.”

I heave a sigh. “I really need for this to work out. I don’t have any other job prospects.”

He gives me a warm smile. “I hope it works out too. Joel said he’d give me a thousand bucks if you get the job.”

***

I immediately recognize some of the names on the directory as I enter the building’s lobby. They represent some of the biggest stars in the business.

As I make my way down a long hallway I start to feel sick to my stomach. I probably should have eaten something before I downed a beer.

And it’s probably not a good idea to go for an interview with beer on my breath. To be fair though this was a very last minute thing. It’s not like I was planning on going to a job interview when I accepted the booze.

I reach into my purse and rummage around for that last stick of gum I’m sure I had somewhere.

I manage to find a paperclip, which I have little use for. Who actually prints things on paper anymore? Next I come across a purple marble. I have no idea how that got in my bag. I also find a plastic spoon with some crusted peanut butter still on it. Luckily I pass by a garbage can where the spoon can make its new home.

The gum has to be here somewhere
. I stop mid-hallway and stick my head into the handbag. I hunt around one more time, but to no avail.

There’s no gum
.

I guess I’ll just have to go into Joel’s office smelling like a brewery. If he’s that desperate to hire an assistant for his client, my beer breath shouldn’t matter that much.

Joel gives me a quick wave signaling me to step into his office, even though he is still on the phone.

His office is just as flashy as the man himself. He must manage quite a few very successful clients, because it takes a lot of money to maintain a place this upscale and extravagant looking.

Joel isn’t a large man. The massive black desk he’s seated behind makes him look even smaller. I have a difficult time telling people’s ages, but if I had to guess Joel’s I’d estimate he’s around 45. He’s bald, and he’s squinting at me like someone who should wear glasses but hasn’t admitted it to himself yet.

When he ends his call he stands up and offers me his hand. He’s wearing a bit too much cologne and his toothy smile seems forced. He gives off the vibe of a car salesman in an Armani suit.

I’ve haven’t yet figured out if my mother is one of the shrewdest women in the world, or if she’s just plain crazy. She’s probably a combination of both. One thing she did teach me is that you can tell a lot about a man by shaking his hand.

Joel’s hands are cold and slimy.  My immediate thought is that he’s smarmy.

As soon as he opens his mouth my initial impressions are immediately validated.

“I’ve heard really good things about you, kiddo.”

Liar
. There’s no way he could have heard anything about me. His conversation with Finn was five seconds long. And I overheard everything Finn said.