I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I settled into a routine at Mirage. Tracy was a tremendous asset and made sure I knew what I needed to know. Client lists, protocol, filing systems. She was so good at it, I wondered why she wasn't an agent herself.

I met other colleagues, some of whom were as welcoming as Tracy, but a few who still gave me dirty looks that I assumed meant they thought I was sleeping with DeVon. George, at least, had kept his distance. I still saw him every once in a while, shooting glares in my direction, but he never approached me, so I was fine with it.

At the end of the week, I scheduled my first client meetings. I hadn't yet met with either woman in person, but I'd been doing some work on their behalf, calling places, pulling strings, and I had good news for both. At least, I hoped they'd take it as good news. There was always the chance that either or both thought they were above the auditions I'd booked, but everything I'd heard about them both had been good.

Cami Matthews was a petite, delicate-looking blonde in her late twenties but could easily pass for eighteen. I'd gotten her an audition for a small role as a victim on a well-known crime show, a network television drama for the part of the free-spirited middle sister, and a movie based off of a book about nuclear war where she'd play the little sister to the main character.

Lena Dunn was a tall, striking brunette with caramel-colored skin. She was older than Cami by six years, but she actually looked like an adult, so there were no college roles for her. I'd found her auditions for a small role as a reporter in what would probably be a summer blockbuster, a romantic comedy for the role of the bitchy new girlfriend, and a guest role on a cable medical show where she'd play a nurse who was having an affair with a doctor.

In both meetings, I introduced myself and then presented them with their auditions. When Cami squealed with delight and launched herself from her chair to hug me, I felt a lot better about my work. I didn't expect the same reaction from Lena, and while I didn't get a squeal and a hug, Lena did thank me profusely, telling me that she'd just about given up hope of ever getting another job.

By the time Lena left, I was on cloud nine. Part of me wished the front walls to my office weren't glass, because I would've done a happy dance right there. As it was, I couldn't stop from grinning.

“I'm guessing that smile on your face means that things went well,” Tracy said as she came into my office with a small box of what I assumed were manuscripts. She set them on the edge of my desk, next to the slowly dwindling pile already there.

“They were both excited about the auditions,” I said as I sat back down behind my desk. “I was worried they wouldn't think the parts were big enough or they'd be mad that I couldn't just get them a role.”

Tracy gave me the smile I'd come to know meant I'd shown my ignorance of the industry. “Trust me, even the big name stars have to at least do a read through for a studio quite often. Getting them each three auditions after only having their files for a week, and none of the parts were commercials...that's a big deal. Not many of our agents could manage that.”

As Tracy left, the first thought that came to me was that I couldn't wait to tell Carrie. And then I remembered that Carrie was settling into her new job and her new place just as much as I was. She was probably busy right now. If I'd been in New York, I would've just called and told her to meet me for lunch so we could share stories. A pang of homesickness went through me.

I needed to do something to celebrate or I was just going to keep thinking about how I wished I could tell Carrie about how good things had gone. I glanced at the clock. It was almost time for lunch. That would be my treat, I decided. I would go back to that amazing restaurant in Sunset Plaza. The weather was beautiful. Having a salad and sandwich on the patio would be a perfect way to reward myself for a job well done.

I was looking over the menu when I heard someone say my name. I looked up and saw the last person I wanted to see at the moment.

“Krissy, I've been trying to get ahold of you.”

I was about to ask Taylor if he was stalking me, but then I realized that he was wearing a uniform. He wasn't staking the place out, hoping I'd come for lunch. He worked here.

“Look, Taylor, I just want my lunch.” All of the good feelings I'd had about my morning evaporated. I didn't want a reminder of what DeVon had done.

“Please, Krissy, let me explain,” he pleaded. His blue eyes were wide and sad. I couldn't say no.

“You've got two minutes,” I said.

“DeVon promised that Mirage would sign me, take me on as a client if I took the role, but now he won't even talk to me. And he did more than ignoring me. He must have made some calls or something because I can't get anything now, not even as an extra in a cheap commercial.”

I gave him an expectant look, waiting for him to finish. I felt bad that DeVon had screwed up his career, but I couldn't forgive him for the part he'd played in the deception.

“Look, Krissy,” he continued. “You have to understand that it was a part I was told to play, but when I met you...what I feel for you is real. I was just supposed to flirt and see if you took the bait, but I fell for you. I was a total shit-head for doing this to you, and I understand if you never want to speak to me again, but I needed you to know that, past those first few minutes, I wasn't acting. I really wanted to be with you.”

I wasn't entirely sure how to respond to this announcement, so I didn't say anything. Something dark passed over Taylor's face and he started to turn away.

“I'll get someone to swap tables.”

“Wait!” I blurted out the word. “It's okay.”

He turned back towards me, a cautious hope in his eyes.

“I understand why you did it.” And I did. He was doing a job. He didn't know DeVon's full plan, and he hadn't known me. I couldn't say I wouldn't have done the same thing if I'd been in his place.

“So we're okay?” he asked.

I smiled. That sweet guy I'd first been attracted to was the real Taylor. I was sure of it. What I'd disliked about him had been how pushy he'd been, not taking 'no' for an answer. That could all be explained away by DeVon’s instructions.

“We're very okay,” I said.

As I gave him my order, an idea popped into my mind. It was perfect because it'd piss DeVon off to no end, getting some vengeance for me and Taylor, and it would be fun. Taylor was hot and liked to have fun, the perfect guy for me to invite to DeVon's party this weekend. Taylor would get the chance to meet with Hollywood big-wigs and DeVon couldn't do anything at the party without looking petty or like he didn't know what his protege was doing. Plus, it'd be nice to see him off balance for once, because there was no way he'd ever guess I'd bring the guy he'd used to deceive me. And since Taylor wasn’t a client of Mirage after all, I wasn’t breaking any rules.

“Taylor.” I gave him my most charming smile. “How would you like to come to a party with me tonight?”