“Hi, my name’s Riley,” the boy said with a bright smile that made his brown eyes sparkle. He looked like a sweet kid with his adorable full cheeks and long lashes.

“Hey Riley. I’m Amy.” She smiled down at him. The wind picked up her hair and blew it up behind her. She tucked the strands that had come forward behind her ear.

“Did you just come from inside Joshua Mancini’s house?” Excitement beamed from his eyes.

“Yeah. I did.” She was trying to think of the right words to say. How was she supposed to tell this sweet boy to move away from the property and don’t come back?

What kind of person would talk to a kid like that?

People spoke to her like that a lot when she was a child, including her father. Especially him, actually. People like him shouldn’t be allowed to have children. Just like Josh.

“Do you think he’d sign my ball? I come here every chance I get hoping to catch him. I’m his biggest fan.”

This was heartbreaking.

Amy pulled in a breath. “I don’t think he’ll be able to sign the ball for you, Riley.” His face fell and the disappointment in his eyes made her feel guilty. “Not today. But perhaps some other time.” She couldn’t help herself. She felt bad to disappoint him. She’d been through it so many times that she couldn’t bring herself to do it to another person—a child for that matter.

He smiled. “Do you work for him?”

Did she? Right now she didn’t. And she wouldn’t be stepping foot back in that house unless she had to. Her hopes were hanging on her mother’s consultant. She knew what was discussed before and the urgency in the matter, but here was hoping. She was just hoping he’d say she had some time. That would give room for flexibility.

“Kind of,” she decided to tell him. “What about you, did school just finish?”

“Yes, I come here sometimes after school, then make my way to Cyranose to meet my mom.”

“Cyranose?” Sounded interesting.

“It’s a cool restaurant, and there’s a basketball court and a mini football pitch where I play with my friends.”

“Do you want some company for the walk over?” The area was nice. It was Malibu Beach, of course it would be beautiful, and while she was here it would be cool to explore. The part of the beach she’d found this morning was lush and peaceful. She could imagine relaxing there with a dog and that hot cocoa with cinnamon she’d dreamed up. This morning seemed like it was years ago.

“Sure. I can introduce you to my mom and her friend. They love the Mancini Machine.”

The Mancini Machine. She remembered seeing that in her research. It was what Josh’s fans called him. She wondered if anyone had any idea on what Josh was really like. Zelda said they kept his life out of the media, but someone somewhere must have seen something. Maybe if they had, Zelda’s company had paid them off before the story got published. Perhaps that was how it all worked out.

“That’s nice.” It was best to be neutral.

“I want to be him when I grow up. I’m going to do everything he’s done too. That’s my goal.”

Amy hoped not. His words pulled on her heart, and it almost felt like telling a child that Santa Claus wasn’t real, so she listened and kept her mouth shut.

Riley’s eyes sparkled. “He’s the best player ever. Did you see his last game?”

“No. I didn’t. Do you want to tell me about it?” That was her attempt to be neutral and not crush his little vision. She didn’t doubt that Josh was a great player. It was his personality that was the problem.

Riley couldn’t have looked happier, and as they walked along the beach all Amy heard was how wonderful Josh was. Riley was able to tell her everything about Josh’s games and all the special moves he used to help his team win. She was impressed at the details Riley gave and agreed that he had to be Josh’s biggest fan. The kid had not only watched him play, but it was like he knew his thought process too. It was quite remarkable to listen to.

“There’s my mom.” Riley waved at a Latina-looking lady who had long black hair that flowed out against the wind. She sat at a table outside the restaurant with another lady who looked similar. Both were stunning with their shiny hair and golden skin. She wondered if they were models. Everyone she’d come in contact with since being here looked like that.

Amy felt slightly out of place because her clothes were dirty and her hair was a mess. She was also certain she smelled as bad as the house, too, and possibly essence of rat. She’d washed her foot as best as she could but she couldn’t get over that an actual rat had touched her skin. She shuddered at the memory.

“Come, I’m sure they’ll love you.” Riley smiled.

What a sweet boy. She followed Riley over to his mom who stood up and smiled warmly as she approached.

“Hey there,” she said. The other lady acknowledged her too. Amy could see that she had unusual honey-colored eyes that made her look even more stunning.

“Hi, I’m Amy. I was just…” What should she say she was doing?

“Mom, she works for Joshua Mancini!” Riley filled in with vibrant excitement.

“Really?” the ladies both said with equal enthusiasm.

“I’m temporary. Very temporary, as in I’m…” She wanted to maintain that neutral balance, but saying anything else would throw her off the path. And Riley was there.

“Riley babe, why don’t you go play some ball with Santos.” It was like she could sense Amy’s distress.

Riley happily rushed away.

Once he’d moved a safe distance, his mother returned her gaze to Amy and smiled. “Let me guess, did he hit on you?”

Amy smiled, glad that she didn’t have to continue with the façade. “Not entirely. You wouldn’t believe if I told you what I’ve been through in the last one-and-a-half days.”

They both started laughing. “Sit.” She pointed to the empty seat opposite her. “I’m Gabriella and this is Hilda.”

Hilda did a neat bow of her dark head as she was introduced. Amy sat and smiled at them both.

“So, what are you? You don’t look like a maid,” Gabriella asked.

“I’m supposed to be his PA.”

“Well welcome to Cyranose. This is where the help and the non-stuffy PAs hang out and bitch about their employers.” They both giggled.

Amy liked the sound of that, because she was definitely needing to bitch right now.

“You look like you’re about to blow up,” Hilda offered. “This is a safe place where you can say anything and it stays here. Like Vegas. What happens here really does stay here. So, don’t worry about anyone finding out.”

“That’s good to know. For what little time I hope to be here.”

“Was it that bad?”

“This morning, just as the Mancini Machine was throwing me out of his house, a supersized rat ran over my foot and I fainted.”

They both burst out laughing.

“A rat?” Gabriella asked.

Amy nodded. “I hate rats.”

“We don’t have rats, but there’s secrets and all sorts that I have to balance. I’m the head maid at the Hamptons, and I’m grateful for every day I survive in that place.”

“I’m trying to secure a modeling contract. Until then I’m a maid, too, who’s looking for work,” Hilda added with a sigh. “My employer’s husband died.”

“Didn’t she still need you?”

“Nope, she became a he and ran off with the next door neighbor’s daughter.”

Amy widened her eyes. “What?”

Hilda smiled. “Oh yes, chica, there’s a lot of that that goes on here.”

“That’s the mild stuff, too,” Gabriella cut in.

“Mild?” Amy raised her brows.

They both nodded and exchanged conspiratory smiles.

“Mild indeed. The biggest scandal now is that we think Mrs. Campbell is planning to kill husband number fifteen so she can get her hands on husband sixteen and keep husband fifteen’s fortune. There’s no way all her fourteen husbands could have mysteriously died of a heart attack. Particularly because they were all under the age of forty. She’s sixty-five.”

“Really?” Amy rested her elbows on the table and leaned forward with keen interest as they nodded.

“While we wait for that story to unfold, we’re casting bets on how soon Mr. Fox will get caught for embezzling money from the children’s hospice, to pay for his wife’s new boobs.”

Amy was laughing now.

“So, what else did Josh Mancini do?” Gabriella asked. “We understand the rats, but something else must have turned you away.”

Amy reached into her pocket and handed her the list Josh wrote. Hilda moved over so she could read too. They started to laugh again and Amy sighed.

It was funny if you were on the outside looking in.

“There’s no way he was being serious,” Hilda stated, shaking her head.

“Yes, he was.” Amy saw that he was absolutely serious.

“Oh my God. Dias Miós, everything on here is ridiculous. I’m guessing his plastic friends require this.”

“Plastic friends?” Amy giggled.

“Yes, the two skanks he’s always with.”

That was another story entirely. “They’re practically glued to him,” she stated.

“We’ve seen them.”

“Do you live nearby?”

Amy shook her head. “Downtown L.A.”

“Chica,” Gabriella grimaced and shook her head. “That’s a bit rough for a girl like you. How long have you lived there?”

“Just the last week and two days. I used to live in New York, but I’m from Atlanta. I’m a fashion designer.”

They both looked interested to hear that, and as Amy continued talking their interest grew. She told them about her application to Dior and all that she’d done so far. That led to explaining about her mother’s illness and why she was here.

They all talked for hours and even had dinner. Amy got to know a lot about them and found their acquaintance quite refreshing. She learned that Gabriella was from Colombia and Hilda from Puerto Rico. They’d come to the States when they were young but tried to go back to visit their families every year. Since Amy would give anything to go to either of those two amazing countries she enjoyed hearing about the wondrous things you could see there.

They talked until it got dark and agreed to meet for lunch the next day if Amy was still here. They made her feel better and she thought whether she was still working for Josh or not she’d come for the lunch invite.

As she made her way back to her dank apartment she checked her messages to see if the consultant had gotten back to her. He did, stating that he’d call her tomorrow morning after his morning clinic, which finished at eleven.

Fingers crossed she could find a way out of this mess and still fix things. She wondered how mad Josh was when she didn’t come back with his stupid items. She didn’t care. If she didn’t see him again it would be the best thing that ever happened to her.

And those women that hung with him. Gabriella told her that he paid for the brunette to get implants and the other one, Hilda called the dumb one, had collagen fillers.

It was all so extravagant.