My voice trails off as Audrey studies my every word. I can tell she is just as observant as I am as her eyes flicker to my clothing and my necklace, widening her eyes when my tone of voice dips when I am uncertain.
“I have no time to not be,” she says dryly. “Consider that viral moment as your informal interview.”
Audrey says it with such certainty. A strong conviction that blowing up my life was a good thing.
“What would I be doing?”
“You would be assisting me…”
Ahh, the word “assistant.” I can’t ever escape it. Any spark of excitement drains from my eyes.
“I don’t want to—I don’t want to assist anyone anymore…” I stammer. Audrey reaches for my hand resting on the table and wraps it under her hold.
“I need someone who can help be the other half of my brain. Someone who gives ideas that I wouldn’t think of. Putting together schedules, getting the right people on board. Think of it more like a partnership. Your title would be assistant producer, with a nice salary, I might add.”
“You do know I am in public relations, right? I know nothing about that.”
“That’s what you have me for.” She rips her hand away from mine and unwraps a piece of gum to pop into her mouth.
“Do you want—”
I shake my head no as she puts the extra stick of gum back in her purse.
“Look, I was previously in a role where I was promised I’d have more agency and nothing panned out. I’m not looking for something unless it’s guaranteed I am not going to be just fetching things for someone. I want to make an impact with my work.”
A slow smile stretches across her face as she pops her gums.
“I would say the same if I worked for Chris too. All I can do is give you my word and hope you trust it. Plus, public relations and producing are the same thing. We are orchestrating what people never see. From what I can tell, you have been doing that for a long time.”
Audrey slides a business card and a blue ballpoint pen from her purse, scribbling a few things before she stands back up. Promptly ending her meeting.
“Totally get your reservations. I just see potential and could use someone like you,” she says, sliding her business card in front of me.
444-5673—I’m available even in the middle of the night if you change your mind.A smiley face is attached to her words.
By the time I finish reading, she has already walked away from the table and slipped out the door.
“Assistant producer. Not an assistant, but producing.” I mumble this repeatedly to myself as I stare at the thick cardstock. The card is tied to the woman who has produced some of my favorite movies in cinema.
What is going on in my life?
The ride home from the café becomes one giant daydream as I stare out the car window. What would life look like as an assistant producer? Would I just be running errands for her? Would people even listen to me? There’s nothing I can do in the world about summoning Skye at this very moment.
The rest of the afternoon I spend deep-diving on Audrey’s projects and the people she has worked with. One thing I pride myself on is my meticulous research. This consumes me until the clock above my kitchen island stops me in my tracks.
It is eight p.m.
My body springs for the mediocre bottle of champagne waiting to be poured. It’s been four days and I honestly thought he would message me. Instead, I’m pouring a glass from the bottle I thought we would share and holding my breath. Watching the countdown on the screen as the Wilder theme song plays. The host’s voice projects over it.
“The man. The myth. The legend. We have Holden Strauss here today. From short films to a popular teen drama. Up to his most recent work starring inWhiplashwith Annie McPhee… We have the pleasure of being in the presence of Mr. Strauss.”
The fake applause ensues. Holden is carrying a smile that remains permanent on his face, holding it long enough to make it hurt anyone.
He is wearing a fitted sage-green button-down and dark blue jeans. Simple. The team opted for casual, relatable and something that complemented his eyes. He combs through his hair and stares right down the barrel of the camera.
Holden:Thank you, Harvey. Happy to be here today.
Wilder:Happy to have! Let’s just get right into it, shall we?
