Maybe I liked the Saloon Bar because it reminded me so much of a Hollywood film set, like one of those old Westerns, minus the hookers dangling over the second-storey railings. It was also surprisingly gimmicky, not something I would have expected Jay to be a part of, given the sleek lines and clean edges that he liked so much. Still, he probably bought into it rather than built it.

From the small history lesson Billie had given me on the way, I knew that the Saloon Bar’s reputation had grown from being commonly known as ‘the Killing Floor’ in the eighties, where there was blood on the dance floor most nights from wild bar-room brawls, to a deserted money pit in the nineties, only to be revamped, becoming one of the better places to be on any given night of the week. The Saloon Bar had Jay to thank for that, injecting good staff, good food and good music.

While Jay may have changed the Saloon Bar’s clientele and reputation, he’d kept the theme. Standing on the second level and looking down at the sweeping bar that dominated the space, you could almost imagine cowboys playing cards at the tables as a piano played in the background and a handlebar-moustached barman cleaned a glass. There were some modern touches, like the gorgeous wait staff swanning around the place, the tattoo-clad bartender with a nose ring and lumberjack beard instead of a vest and moustache, and the waitress with Jessica Rabbit red hair and the lipstick to match. It made for a stark contrast visually, and I really liked it, just as Billie did.

‘Well, he’s expecting me,’ she said, glimpsing at the door behind us; it wasn’t until that moment that I realised we were standing in front of Jay’s office. Shit just got real.

‘You sure you don’t want me to come in with you? I sort of wanted to talk to him too.’

‘No, it’s okay, I think I really need to give him the courtesy of a one-on-one, you know?’

‘Okay.’ I guess Jay was Billie’s Ziggy, and I knew all about not wanting to let her down.

‘Well, I’ll be right here,’ I said, squeezing her shoulder.

‘Thanks,’ she said, moving to the door and knocking.

‘Come in.’

Hearing Jay’s voice sent an electric shock through me, every nerve in my body alert to the fact that he was in the next room. I stood to the side, not wanting to be seen when Billie opened the door and went inside, giving me one last thin smile. I swore that if he made her cry, or just made her feel guilty, I would give him what for.

The waiting was interminable; my chin rested on my hand as I leant on the railing, lazily looking around at all the people moving below. I kind of wished it was the eighties – I wouldn’t have minded seeing a bit of action, I was so bored. I had long since given up trying to listen to the inaudible murmurings from inside Jay’s office. Instead, here I was, Billie’s fantastic support service, feeling completely useless, waiting to see if she came out from the office crying or high-fiving.

After what felt like a millennium, the door opened behind me. I straightened and turned quickly to hear Billie laughing as she stepped out on the landing, Jay next to her. His smile slipped away as his gaze locked onto me. He was clearly surprised to find me standing here.

Was it a mistake to come here? I hadn’t seen him since last night, and I could feel my cheeks flush, remembering how I had behaved. Maybe his intention was to give me a wide berth. I hope he didn’t assume that I was here because I was obsessed with him. I knew what men were like – no-strings-attached hook-ups were all the rage – so I should have known better than to show up here so soon after our shenanigans.

‘Oh, um, Jay, Abby wants to talk to you, if you’ve got a sec?’

It couldn’t get much worse; Billie had obviously failed to mention me wanting to talk to him, and now the whole thing was playing out rather disastrously. I had grand visions of walking into Jay’s office under the guise of supportive best friend, there to set him straight if he was going to be a jerk about it. And then – so went my plan – I would wrap up by offering him a deal, one that I hadn’t even told Billie about.

‘Ah, yeah, sure, I’ve got a few minutes,’ he said.

Oh wow, a few minutes. How gracious of him. I was already feeling annoyed and I hadn’t even ventured inside.

‘This won’t take long,’ I said in my most business-like tone.

Jay nodded at me before turning to Billie and touching her arm. ‘You good?’

Billie smiled, nodding her head. You could see the lightness in her, the relief as she spoke. ‘Yeah, thanks, Jay.’

Well, I was glad everything was working out. It appeared I really didn’t need to be here. I badly wanted to say ‘I told you so’ to Billie, but apparently the clock was ticking for his lordship and I would have to wait to talk to her.

When I went to move, Billie grabbed my hand; looking at me, her brows furrowed. ‘What do you want to talk to him about?’ she said in a low voice.

I glanced to the open door. ‘I’ll tell you later,’ I said. Before Billie could respond, I stepped inside Jay’s office and closed the door behind me.

I had felt fine before, but now a knot of tension was tying itself in the pit of my stomach at seeing Jay behind his massive wooden desk. I had expected that his office, at least, would reflect the décor of his home, but instead it had the same vibe as the rest of the Saloon; was that a picture of a cactus behind him?

‘Have a seat.’

His voice snapped my attention away from the picture, and I moved to take the seat in front of his desk. It felt strange, formal, like I was in trouble; maybe I would be.

Jay sat there, unreadable, waiting for me to start talking. I’d been so focused on Billie’s situation and my part of the plan that I hadn’t put much thought into what my request for an audience would make him think.

‘You wanted to see me?’ The meaning of his question was clear, but the way he looked at me made me think he meant something else. Oh, how I wanted to wipe that smug expression off his face. Yes, Jay, I can go a day without seeing you – my heart will go on.

I shrugged. ‘I need a day job, apparently, and now you have a vacancy.’

Jay’s brows rose in surprise; he was not expecting those words to come out of my mouth.

‘I believe I have you to thank for my best employee finding work elsewhere.’

‘Her dream job? Yes, you do.’

‘And now you have found yours … here?’ he questioned, his words dripping with sarcasm.

I simply kept my cool and repeated, ‘I need a day job.’

‘It’s not nine to five.’

‘I know.’

‘And I’m guessing you’re going to need time off for auditions.’

My stomach dropped; I had thought that I was doing him a favour, filling Billie’s spot, but now I wasn’t so sure.

‘Do you have a résumé?’ he asked.

‘No, but I can get one. I’ll even provide a headshot, if you like,’ I teased.

‘That won’t be necessary. Do you have any experience waitressing?’

‘I am a fast learner and I can make nice really well.’

‘Yeah, so I’ve seen. Is it possible that maybe you could just actually be nice?’

My brows narrowed; like genuinely be nice without faking it? It was a concerning revelation; my life had been filled with trying to please or impress people, socialising with people I didn’t even like. Was it possible? Did I even know how to be nice?

‘Abby.’

My eyes snapped up.

‘These aren’t difficult questions,’ he said, clicking his pen and watching me seriously. Gone was the man from last night; all his sexy, smirky smiles and smoky hot stares. Jay in his office, at his work, was all business.

‘I think sometimes in life you just need a change, or challenge, and I think that working here is exactly what I need.’

‘Are you being real with me now?’

I straightened in my chair. ‘What do you mean? You think I’m acting?’

‘Well, sometimes it’s hard to tell.’

‘I assure you I am not.’

‘Were you acting last night?’ Something sparked in his eyes.

I could feel my cheeks warm at the memory.

‘I don’t think it’s really appropriate to discuss that in the workplace.’

Jay leant back in his chair, stifling a laugh. ‘Well, I was referring to you liking the chilli I made, but hey, if your mind is in the gutter, I can’t help that.’

I shook my head. ‘You so were not.’

‘Wasn’t I?’

‘Well, how do I know when you’re being real?’

He ignored the question and simply rolled his chair closer to his desk.

‘If you’re serious about wanting a job you’re going to have to prove yourself. What I ask of all of my staff is that no matter what they have going on outside these doors, they show up and give a hundred percent.’

‘I will – I mean, I would – I’ll prove it.’

Jay seemed distracted. ‘I don’t think you’ll like my usual initiation, but I do it with every staff member – and before your brain starts being inappropriate again, hear me out.’

It was a good thing he clarified, because my mind was beginning to wander. ‘Initiation, you say?’

‘I have a VIP event happening tomorrow night, and I’m going to need people who won’t be starstruck.’

I smiled big; oh, I had this down to a tee. ‘I accept the challenge.’ If you could even call it that. I would be able to schmooze VIPs like a pro, thanks to my insider knowledge; it might even be a chance to secretly network on the side.

‘Don’t you want to hear the details before you accept?’

‘Nope, just tell me where and when and I will be there.’

Jay looked at me like I was a mystery to him; I kind of liked that. He thought he knew my type so well, and I wanted to show him he was wrong. I could be real, and work hard just like anyone else – in fact, better than anyone else.

‘Well, if you’re sure.’

I held up my hand. ‘I don’t want to know – it doesn’t matter who it is. I told you, I’m not someone who gets starstruck.’

I moved to stand, hooking my bag over my shoulder, feeling empowered.

‘Okay, head out and find Deedee. She’ll take care of the details and get you set up for tomorrow. It’s a 9 p.m. start, but if you want to come in at seven, for a bit of orientation, that would probably be best. I know how you actor types like to prepare.’

I rolled my eyes, which probably wasn’t a wise move, considering that Jay had just moved categories from ‘neighbour’ to ‘boss’. Oh, and he had also spent a short amount of time in the ‘lover’ category, but I was trying not to think about that.

‘Billie will show you who you need to speak to; no doubt she’s lingering outside the door.’

I bit my lip, because I knew that was exactly what she would be doing, dying to know the outcome, just as I had with her. It was like waiting outside the principal’s office.

Jay really was a busy man; he grabbed his keys and sunglasses and followed me out the door, where I was greeted by a very eager-looking Billie.

‘Billie, do you want to give Abby a bit of a tour? You’re looking at the Saloon Bar’s newest recruit,’ Jay said, shutting the door behind him.

Billie’s reaction was priceless; her jaw dropped and her nostrils flared as she looked between the two of us. ‘Are you serious?’

I smiled. ‘I have mighty big shoes to fill, but someone’s got to do it.’

Billie laughed, wrapping her arms around me. ‘Oh, babe, you will love it here, and I am not just saying that because the boss is standing behind you.’

Jay sighed, putting on his shades. ‘No doubt I will see you ladies later.’

‘Actually, before you go, Jay – what are you doing Sunday night?’ asked Billie.

Jay paused at the top the stairs. ‘What’s the occasion?’

‘I was thinking of having a bit of a gathering, nothing too big, just a few celebratory drinks with friends; this job is kind of a big deal for me, and Abby has an exciting week ahead too.’

This was the first I had heard of planned ‘celebratory drinks’, and I certainly wouldn’t have been endorsing it on the night before my audition. I seriously wanted to kick her.

‘Sounds like a plan. See you then,’ Jay said, and I swore he was speaking only to me. He turned and headed down the stairs. My heart clenched in a way that was reminiscent of my first schoolgirl crush.

I turned to Billie, who held up her hands in surrender.

‘Before you start cursing me, first things first.’

‘What?’

‘You, me, a table, and cheesy, guac, sour-cream-smothered nachos.’

My shoulders slumped. Curse her. ‘I told you, I’m on a health kick.’

‘Yeah, and how’s that working for you?’

My memory flashed to the cocktails I slammed down followed by the bowl of chilli and bread I scoffed last night.

‘Utterly shithouse, actually.’

‘Come on, then; diet starts Monday.’ And with that Billie linked her arm through mine and dragged me down the stairs.

‘Oh no-no-no.’ I threw myself down in the seat opposite Billie.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘I totally forgot I said I would have dinner with Ziggy tomorrow night.’

‘And you can’t?’

‘I start work tomorrow night.’

Billie coughed mid-sip. ‘What, as in here?’ she gasped.

‘Yeah, Jay wants me to work at some VIP party. I said I would totally do it, I was bringing my A-game. I really want to prove to him that I am not some brainless actress. Shit, I might have to see if Ziggy can do lunch. Shit, shit, shit. I hate being flaky with her.’ I flicked out a napkin and rested it on my lap, then looked up to see Billie staring at me catatonically, her face colourless.

‘Jesus, Billie, it’s okay, I am pretty sure Ziggy will do lunch.’

‘Ah, no … um, I was meant to work that VIP gig. Before I handed my notice in, that is.’

‘Oh, okay.’ Was she feeling funny about me working in her place? I thought it might have made things easier for her transition, but she looked really concerned, chewing her straw distractedly.

‘Umm, Abby, did Jay tell you anything about the VIP party?’

I stopped mid-sip of my Coke, straightening slightly. ‘I said I didn’t want to know. Why?’

Billie looked like she was in pain, her face twisted. ‘Abby, the VIP party – it’s for Leon Denero and all the LA Family.’

Whaaaaaat?

I sat there, stunned, Billie’s words ringing through my head like a death knell.

‘Noooooooo. No!’ I slammed my hands on the table, my rage and despair bubbling to the surface just as the waitress brought over our food.

‘Is everything alright, Billie?’

Billie simply nodded, looking up at the waitress. ‘I think we’re going to need some more guacamole. A lot more.’