Page 6 of Keep It

The tube carriage isn’t crowded but I stand near the door, facing away from the rest of the carriage. I learned a few years ago that this was the best way to remain inconspicuous.

I finally take my first easy breath when my front door slams behind me. I dump my bag on the floor and flop onto the couch. The ticking of my watch echoing through the empty room like a metronome. Opening my eyes I glance at my bag, the corner of the manuscript poking out.

I pull it out and settle into the couch.

One more job,I tell myself,one more.

Chapter 3

ANYA

By the time Monday morning rolls around I’m running on four packets of biscuits and nerves. Rosie is absolutely no help whatsoever. Saying ‘You’ll be fine’ and ‘Stop getting crumbs in my duvet’ when I huddle in my temporary bed with a packet of cookies contemplating the best way to answer the phone; ‘Hi’ is too casual and ‘Good Afternoon, you have reached Anya Bonnet’ too formal.

I call into work claiming the flu so that I can have the whole day to panic but it’s not until four pm that my phone lights up with a call.

I freeze and stare at the screen for a split second before picking it up so quickly that it nearly flies out of my grasp.

I clear my throat as I press answer.

“Hello, Anya speaking.” I cringe.

“Hello, this is Devon fromAccordance. We are looking at you for a PA position. I have it here that you studied for three years at the University of Thornton with a first in Film/TV Production – is that correct?”

“I—yes—”

“And you have had experience on multiple short films on the festival circuit but nothing mainstream or commercial?”

“Well no but—“

“And you have directed two short films, one going on to win three times at local film festivals?”

I’m quite proud of that one. “Yes.”

“And you speak fluent French?”

“Oui,” I reply with a jaunty tone.

“Do you have a French passport?”

“Yes.”

“And do you have a base in Paris?”

“Uh—” I stumble. My aunt has a place in the sixteenth arrondissement but I haven’t spoken to her in years. I don’t even know if she still lives there. I can hear the silence stretching down the phone and my opportunity running away with it. “Yeah, yeah, I have a base.”

“Okay, we will need to do some more checks but that all sounds great. We will contact you in a few days with the contract details.”

Wait, what?

“Wait, what?” I ask, incredulously. “Are you saying I have the job?”

“Well yes, this all seems in order. Do you have any questions?”

My mind goes blank. I know I had questions but what were they? “So I have the job? Just like that?”

“Yes,” Devon says, “The contract and details for your role will be sent to you by the end of the week.”

“Uh—th—thank you!”

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