She craved that life, would do anything to have it. Even give up the thrill of her former life for it. She had to, because the alternative was just too horrible. True, Gramps did okay, but she’d seen the hurt in his eyes when people shunned him because of his reputation. In the Hollywood heyday, he’d been a mystery, the dashing young extra who might or might not have been “The Cat.” But Hollywood had changed, and so had the way people looked at Gramps. Both the ones who knew and the ones who only suspected.
Mel had heard all the stories and had seenenough with her own eyes to know full well how a person’s past could haunt them. How friends and family you believed knew you and loved you would suddenly shun you. Her own parents had refused to let Gramps see her. It had been an ironic twist of fate that had left him to raise her from the age of eleven after her parents had been killed in a car accident.
She wasn’t going to let the same thing happen to her. Gramps had stayed in the game too long, and now he was a loner. Not Mel. She was already retired, and she was starting over. A new life. A new career. Her past was going to remain her secret. And she’d do what she had to, to keep it that way.
And the first step was to get a real job.
No matter how boring, tedious and monotonous it was.
* * *
THE WOMAN SITTINGacross from Kyle shifted, a bright smile plastered on her face as she clutched a fake leather portfolio in her lap. She was a bit gawky and awkward, but she seemed to know her stuff, and that was all he cared about.
He stole a glance at her résumé, trying to remember her name. “So, uh, Terri, why did you leave your last job?”
She licked her lips and didn’t quite meet his eyeswhen she answered. “My boyfriend and I, we moved to Irvine. And, well, I didn’t want to make the commute all the way up to Burbank every day, so…” Her voice trailed off.
He nodded, then cleared his throat as he flipped through the file Betsy had sent over. Terri had been trained on all the basic office software and had a glowing recommendation from her former employer, the CEO of a small manufacturing company in the San Fernando Valley. She’d interacted with clients, answered phones, performed various secretarial functions. Basically everything that Kyle needed.
Except for the fact that carrying on a conversation with her was more painful than dredging up chit-chat at a cocktail party, the woman really was perfect.
And it wasn’t as if he actuallyneededsomeone in the office that he could talk with. True, it would just be the three of them, him and Brent and the new assistant, but he wasn’t looking for a friend. He was looking for an efficient, competent employee.
He’d seen three girls that morning and had a fourth due at one o’clock. Not a huge sampling, he knew, but so far this one seemed to have all the basic skills even if she was painfully, awkwardly shy.
He asked her what kind of benefits and time offshe wanted, then flipped through the remaining résumés while she answered. Most of the applicants were lacking in some area, and he wondered if he should simply cancel their interviews. Only the one Betsy had faxed a few hours earlier looked as if it had potential. Melissa Tanner’s overall qualifications looked great. Hopefully, she’d have some personality, too.
A chime sounded, a signal that someone had entered the reception area adjoining Kyle’s office. Kyle sighed, then stood. “Excuse me for a moment,” he said to Terri. “I think the next applicant is early.”
He stepped into the reception area…and then stopped short.
There she was. The woman he’d scoured Laguna Beach for. The woman he’d spent three days fantasizing about. His Grace. Standing there all prim and proper in her conventional green suit, looking just as surprised as he felt.
He stepped forward, desperately afraid that she would bolt, then held out his hand in an attempt at bland professionalism. “Melissa Tanner, I presume? I’m Kyle Radley.” He smiled. “How very nice to meet you.”
