Page 27 of Sizzle Reel

My phone goes off. A text from Wyatt. A long text.

Hi so I was emailing back and forth with Valeria to set up her last set of meetings next week and she got me thinking. I get it. I’m so, so sorry about outing you to try to get you that job. I know you know I had good intentions but it doesn’t dismiss the harm I did to you. I’m so sorry. I hope that you can forgive me and we can be friends again. For real, Valeria LIKES you. I don’t think losing this job is the end, although I’ll admit I don’t have any other ideas.

After reading, I hand my phone to Romy.

“So the boy wants out of the doghouse,” she says.

I sigh. “An apology is all I wanted.” I’m relieved, and then I think about the rest of the text. “Do you think he’s right about Valeria?”

“So she only needed a new personal assistant because of the shoot, right?” As Romy speaks, she’s running her hands along the dildo. I don’t know if it’s worth commenting on. “But it’s a film shoot. There are so many stupid jobs on even an indie film. It just doesn’t seem like…”

Valeria’s the director on an indie film. There are menial jobs on an indie film. I’d been unwilling to seek out entry-level jobs before because you have to establish your clout with someone who may never make it in the industry anyway and I wasn’t mentally prepared to take that leap. But this is an indie film with an A-lister as the director. A director who has seen my work and likes it. Maybe I did gain a little sleaze from Alice.

“Why am I not just asking to be a P.A.?” I say to Romy.

A smile forms on Romy’s face. “I dunno, Luna. Why aren’t you?”

Now that I’m talking to Wyatt and he’s officially on Team Getting Valeria to Like Me, I learn that Valeria’s last meeting at the office is set up for Tuesday morning. So despite the fact that it’ll make no difference, I wake up at god knows what hour, do my makeup and hair, put on my best business-smart attire, and caffeinate with herbal tea instead of coffee in the hopes of no jitters. I didn’t even try this hard on dates with guys I really liked, so go figure.

Alice isn’t in when I arrive, but thank god Wyatt is. There’s a softness in his posture when he turns to me, like he’s relieved our issues are resolved. I can’t say I’m completely healed. It feels more like one of those forgive-but-trust-differently situations than anything else. And yeah, I need him.

“I just need a minute to ask her about P.A. gigs,” I tell him. “And I need to ask, not you.”

“Got it. Let me know if you don’t catch her. She usually debriefs before heading out. Noon at the latest.”

Noon. Got it.

“Sounds good.” I force a deep breath. “Thank you.”

“Of course. Good luck.”

I speed through emails for Alice, sending them into the ether with such swiftness I know I’ve achieved a level of nirvana where email anxiety ceases to exist. Clients email me back with phrases like OMG thank you for answering so quickly!!!! Alice and I roll calls remotely while she drives her Tesla, the one I had to get serviced once, probably emailing clients as she drives, like usual. I’m on fire, basically. Best I’ve performed in months.

Still, it’s Valeria who arrives first. She’s in a muted outfit, physical notes in hand. Once again she’s leaning against the wall waiting for Steven. My palms sweat just seeing her.

“Good luck today,” I murmur, instead of, say, any standard greeting in American English.

Valeria looks up from her notes and smiles. “Thanks.” Her gaze travels up and down my body, sending shivers through me. “The tweed is really cute. Is there color on the inside?”

I pull out the side of my blazer; it’s lavender. “Guess there is.”

“It’s a great piece.”

I blush. “Thank you.” Steven could call her in at any moment. She’s here, not for long enough to hear me out, but long enough for me to set the intention. Act like a white guy would. “Hey, Valeria?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you have a minute after your meetings to talk? I just wanted to ask you something.”

She shifts her notes. “Yeah, for sure. I just—”

Alice comes in before Steven opens his office door. “Luna, you know we have John coming in today, right?”

I glance at Alice’s calendar. “Yes.”

“Take care of him. He just booked a franchise directing spot and I need to keep him happy.” She disappears into her office.

I can only watch as Steven opens his door and Valeria slips in. No matter. John won’t be a problem. I need to give him, like, five minutes’ worth of attention.

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