Pawprints in the City Lights

The story that Meghan managed to piece together between wails was that Emma,

sufficiently encouraged by catching the bouquet at Mia's wedding to have a relationship discussion

with Josh, had the discussion blow up in her face. Josh revealed the existence of another woman in

his life and demanded that Emma move out of their joint apartment to make way for her.

"The bastard," said Meghan. Emma nodded and then went back to wailing.

Meghan thought that maybe a full-on discussion with Will about their relationship was not

such a good idea.

"Darling I'm so sorry about Josh but crying onto my dining table isn't going to help," she

said. "Take one of the rooms upstairs for a few days, the far one. Go and lie down there for now. I'll

get George to take you to your hotel to get your clothes. Also to your apartment. You still have

things there?"

Emma nodded, then wailed again.

"Emma, darling, I'm sorry for your troubles but this is distracting, please go to the room. I'll

send George there."

"I was to go with you," said Emma, between sobs.

"Maybe another time. I can't speak to people with you sobbing in a corner can I?"

Emma nodded then walked off, crying gently.

Back in her office, Meghan looked at the pile of CVs. Will had scribbled a note on a post-it

note on top, which read: "when start? If Canada, current passport."

She flicked through the documents, eventually picking a Bella Griffin, who had a degree in

fine arts from Oxford University in England and experience which included curating collections of

historical objects for family trusts, and spells of private tutoring. None of that screamed "assistant"

but then her job would mostly be reminding her boss of appointments, helping her get to them,

screening calls and chatting. A call later and Bella presented herself at the house. She was a slight,

sinewy woman in a dark blue coat and skirt with a white blouse perhaps a few years older than her

would-be boss. She wore glasses, had dark hair cut short, and a permanent dimple in her chin that

marred a pleasant face. She spoke with an English accent. Bella was between husbands, so she told

Meghan, and as the last not yet divorced husband had been her boss she was also between jobs.

"Sounds like quite a story," said Meghan.

"A sad story," she said.

Will had said something like that when Meghan had hired him and that made the star hire

Bella on the spot at a per day rate. If she worked out a more permanent arrangement was possible

and she told Bella, as she had told Will, to call her Meghan.

"Thank you for the opportunity, Ms Cha – I mean, Meghan," said Bella. "Where do you

want me to start."

"Go and speak to the person you're filling in for, that's Emma. She's upstairs sobbing over

breaking up with her boyfriend..."

"Goodness... a bad breakup?"

"The worst, for her. I met the boyfriend for the first time on Saturday and he's a good

looking slease. She's better off without him. But for now, all she can do for now is sob. See what

you can get out of her about what I'm meant to be doing this week, although most of it is going to

Canada to film more of this Alien Search series. Next week as well I think."

"I've seen some of it," said Bella. "The detective hunting for your character is a real honey."

"He is, but I don't get to do many scenes with him. I'm mainly doing exterior shots and a

shower sex scene with my human protector in this episode."

"He's hot too," said Bella.

"But married. I'm doing another film in a couple of weeks but that's a space, science fiction

thing which means mostly studio work in LA. I also have modelling and paid appearances to do.

My agent's office will have the details. Here is her number." Meghan wrote it out. "Here is a

number for George, a security guy I often use. Have him come and take Emma to her hotel and then

back to her boyfriend's place to collect what she needs to live here for a time. She can hang out in

the room she's in at least until she stops crying."

"Gotit," said Bella. "What room is Emma in?"

"To the right at the top of the stairs and follow the wailing," said Meghan.

Bella found Emma sobbing into a pillow but the heart-broken assistant was able to hand

over a printout of Meghan's appointments for the next couple of weeks plus details of flights and

hotels, given to her by Mia before the wedding.

"Does Ms Chalmers – Meghan have a boyfriend that I should know about?"

"Will," wailed Emma. "Swims, makes coffee."

"I see. A staff himbo?"

"Very nice," sobbed Emma.

"That's one seriously messed up lady," said Bella on returning to Meghan. "Can we get a

couple of her friends in for girl time, especially when we're away? May not be good to leave her

alone."

"That's not a bad idea," said Meghan. "When you've recovered from that visit and sorted

out my schedule see if you can get any sense out of her about friends she can have to visit. I'll speak

to Mrs Mendez – that's the housekeeper."

"And this friend of yours, Will. He's not around at the moment?"

"He lives here," said Meghan. "But is on a deep sea diving course in Florida at the moment.

I expect him at the hotel towards the end of next week, maybe Friday. The hotel booking is in my

legal name – Meghan Kowalski, as that doesn't attract attention – but a key card should be left in

his name at reception."

"I'll see to it," said Bella making a note on the printout.

"For now I'll need a rehearsal partner," said the star, handing her new assistant a script.

Meghan and Bella went to the hotel in Canada, leaving Emma still sobbing at Casa Meghan.

A dispute about who owned various items of furniture removed to a storage facility resulted in an

unfriendly visit to the house from Josh which had to be dealt with by George. This meant the

security man was left behind to ensure that Josh behaved himself. Meghan would rely on security at

the hotel and on the production site if security was needed.

When Bella saw the hotel suite and met the cast members and director of the series Alien

Search the novice assistant began to appreciate that she had lucked into a plumb job and began to

scheme about how she could retain it, or at least snag a spot on Meghan's entourage. Maybe she

could do something to manage the star's career? She did not know how to help with the film and

modelling side of her boss's life, but what about relationships? A barista who could swim – as she

thought of Will – did not seem suitable for someone of Clarise Chalmers' status. Rock stars and

movie stars of the top rank should be competing for Meghan's affections. Why not trade up to one

of those media stars and a big-time celebrity wedding with the star's hard-working assistant as a

bridesmaid?