“Really? Well, help me put a vision board together so I can get to manifesting!”
“Girl, please. You’re already living the dream. You’ve got a job you love, a man who’s crazy about you who’ll probably be proposing soon, and a fine snack of a side piece. What more could you possibly want?”
“Wait, what snack of a side piece?”
Devon rolled her eyes. “Come on now. Don’t play crazy. You and Brandon have been hanging out nonstop, and I know it’s not platonic at this point, if it ever was to begin with…”
“Now see, that’s where you’re wrong. Well…somewhat wrong. But um…” Lisa hesitated and looked over her shoulder, then turned back to Devon. “Okay, let me just come clean.”
“Uh-huh. I’m listening.”
“I can’t believe I’m actually admitting this to you. So yes, Brandon and I have been messing around or whatever, but we haven’t slept together.”
“I knew it! And you need to rephrase that. You and Brandon have not slept together yet.”
“We haven’t slept together period,” Lisa rebutted. “And I don’t plan on doing so. You know I love my Charlie.”
“Then why are you tempting fate and dealing with Brandon at all? Make it make sense, Lisa. If Charles found out, I don’t think he’d forgive you. Take it from me, you do not want to be out here single and searching for love. The dating game is brutal.”
Lisa smirked arrogantly as she paid the check and grabbed her clutch. “Thank you for the advice, but I don’t need it. Charles and I are fine, I have everything under control with Brandon, and I’m happily living my best life with the both of them.”
“Oh, well all right then. But keep it up and trust me, things won’t end well.”
Devon stood up and headed toward the exit. Lisa followed her in silence, texting away on her phone as they waited for their cars. After several minutes, Devon turned to her friend.
“Sorry if I overstepped my bounds. I just care about you and Charles, and I wish I could find a man half as good as him. I don’t want to see you lose him.”
Lisa chuckled cockily. “Thanks, girl. I appreciate that. But don’t worry. I won’t.” When her car pulled up, she sauntered toward the curb. “I’m actually heading over to Brandon’s for a nightcap. Call you tomorrow!”
“Wow. Really? Okay. Have fun, I guess…”
Devon watched Lisa speed off. The thought of going home alone flashed through her mind, and images of Jason soon followed. She wondered what he was doing at that moment, and whether he was with his newly minted fiancée.
Stop it, she told herself, dashing toward her car the second it arrived. Your day will soon come…
Chapter Six
Devon stared out of the backseat window, smiling dreamily as warm air caressed her face.
“Almost there!” her Uber driver announced. “Welcome to Los Angeles!”
“Thank you,” she replied, unable to take her eyes off the stunning mansions set along the bright, palm-tree-lined streets.
It was Saturday morning, and Devon had just arrived in L.A. Considering the last-minute rush to get to town, she’d anticipated everything going wrong. But so far, the move had been flawless. Her flight was smooth, her car had arrived the night before and the movers were already at the house unloading her things.
One thing that had thrown her off, however, was the barrage of text messages she’d received from Jason in the middle of the night, asking why she hadn’t told him about the move.
When she didn’t respond, he sent another message congratulating her and asking if they could have coffee before she left town. She ignored it as well. An hour later he sent one final message, apologizing for the way things had ended between them and wishing her the best.
Devon couldn’t help but feel vindicated now that the tables had turned, and she’d played the player. No longer could Jason view her as the chubby, small-town girl who’d work at the local newspaper and be his loyal buddy forever, because here she was, heading to her new home in Beverly Hills and starting an exciting job on Monday morning.
“Here we are, miss,” the driver said, pulling into the winding driveway of a sprawling villa. An elaborate wrought-iron gate opened, and Gabby came running out.
“Deeev!” she screamed, throwing her arms around Devon the minute she stepped out of the car. “It’s so good to see you!”
“You, too! I can’t believe I’m actually here!” Devon laughed, struggling to steady herself as Gabby rocked her back and forth.
The women giggled excitedly as they walked around to the trunk and grabbed several bags. “And I’m so glad you’re here,” Gabby said. “I love L.A. and all, but it’s full of phonies. Thank goodness I have somebody genuine who I know I can trust.”
“I feel you on that,” Devon said before thanking the driver and following Gabby past the elegant main house toward the backyard. “Even when you think you know someone, things can still go left and throw you for a complete loop.”
Gabby turned to Devon, her expression softening. “I agree. That was beyond foul of Jason to treat you the way he did.”
Devon stopped abruptly. “Wait, how’d you hear about that? Does everybody know?”
“Oh, no! Lisa told me, but she swore me to secrecy. I haven’t mentioned it to anyone. I swear on our sorority shield.”
Devon rolled her eyes. “I was actually planning on telling you myself, but I’ve been so busy with the move that I haven’t had a chance. Leave it to Lisa to beat me to it.”
Gabby wrapped her arm around Devon and led her toward the guesthouse. “In Lisa’s defense, she wasn’t trying to be messy. She just wanted to give me a heads-up in case you seemed down when you got here and needed some support. Don’t be mad at her.”
Devon’s attention briefly shifted from Gabby to the massive backyard’s lush greenery and shimmering blue water waving across the swimming pool. “Whoa. This is absolutely gorgeous,” she gushed. “But anyway, I’m sure Lisa meant well. However, she should’ve let me share that with you. I’d be wrong to tell you all the mess she’s gotten herself into.”
“If it’s about Brandon, she already did.”
Devon burst out laughing. “Of course.”
Gabby and Devon approached their tri-level guesthouse, which was a smaller version of the main house.
“This looks amazing,” Devon breathed. “Seriously, is this really my life?”
“Yes it is, ma’am,” Lisa said, throwing open the door. “Welcome to your new crib!”
Devon walked in and looked around the plush, modern living room and sleek kitchen. “Ooh! This place looks even bigger and better in person than it did in the photos.”
Gabby rolled Devon’s luggage toward the staircase. “It’s a lot more spacious than it seems. There’s a powder room on this floor, my bedroom and bathroom are on the second floor, and yours are on the third. I’ll take you on a tour of the main house once you get settled and introduce you to the owners, Cindy and Phil. If you’re hungry, the housekeeper made a fruit, cheese and sandwich platter when she cleaned earlier today. It’s in the fridge.”
Devon’s mouth fell open. “Wait, we’ve got a housekeeper?”
“Yes. Her name is Alma, and she’s an absolute doll. She cleans the main house as well as the guesthouse.”
Devon spun around slowly. “I’m telling you, this is all so surreal.”
“Why don’t you go check out the space upstairs and put your things away? I’ll be right behind you with a pitcher of iced tea.”
“Sounds perfect,” Devon said, bouncing up the stairs two at a time with a huge grin on her face.
*
“Is that not the most beautiful home you’ve ever seen?” Gabby asked after showing Devon around the main house.
“I’m literally at a loss for words. I can’t believe people even live like that.”
“I know, right? But hey, how lucky are we to be living amongst it?”
“Extremely. No worries. This’ll be us one of
these days…”
“So what do you want to do now?” Gabby asked as she and Devon walked back inside the guesthouse.
“I think I’ll go unpack then read up on Fingers Crossed Productions’ policies and procedures.”
“Good idea. While you do that, I’ll run to the grocery store and pick up a few things, then later you’ll have to let me take you out for a celebratory dinner.”
“It’s a date,” Devon said. As she headed upstairs, her cell phone buzzed. She pulled it out and saw a text notification from Jason.
“What the…” she sighed before opening the message.
Hey, Dev. I know you’re not speaking to me, but I heard from Lisa you already left for LA. Hope you made it safely. Would love to hear from you. Please reach out whenever you can. Wishing you the best out there…
Devon dismissed the slight pull she felt in her chest and tossed her phone onto the bed. She then grabbed her production company binder, stretched out and began paging through the table of contents. But after a few moments, a sudden urge overcame her.
Don’t do it. Dooon’t do it, she told herself before ignoring her own advice, reaching for her cell and opening Jason’s Instagram page.
A cold feeling of regret crept in the minute she laid eyes on the first post. It was a photo of several invitations. The caption read, Guess what, fam? Amber and I are planning our engagement party! Comment down below and let us know which invitation we should choose. Oh, and don’t forget to follow our joint account, @JasonAndAmberForever!
“You have got to be kidding me…” Devon mumbled.
She took a screenshot of the post and texted it to Lisa, asking whether she’d seen it. Then she read the caption several more times while contemplating her next move.
Do I respond to this man, which would show growth and maturity, or continue to ignore him, which would make me look bitter and stuck on him?
Devon thought about how she’d worked to move past the night of the reunion and was now living her best life in L.A. Plus she and Jason had been such close friends for so long. While things between them may not have gone the way she’d hoped, underneath it all, she did still care about him.
“Growth and maturity for the win,” she said, grabbing her phone.
Hey, Jason, she typed. Long time no chat. Hope all is well. Just wanted to congratulate you on your engagement. Wishing you the best. ~D
After sending the message, Jason replied almost immediately.
Hey, D! Thank you for that. Hearing from you means the world to me. I hope this means you’re open to forgiving me and staying in touch. Good luck in La La Land.
Devon was suddenly overcome by a calming sense of peace. While she may not have been completely over what had happened with Jason, this was the first step in her moving past the situation and focusing on her new life.
In that moment, she was beyond grateful for new beginnings.
Chapter Seven
“Hello, everyone,” Devon heard someone belt out behind her. She turned around and watched as a petite young woman with short spiky brunette hair and red vintage cat-eye glasses rushed to the head of the table. “Sorry I’m late. I was in a meeting with the director. My name is Caroline Jennings, and I’m the production coordinator here at Fingers Crossed Productions.”
It was Monday morning, and the production assistants were gathered in the conference room of Showstopper Studios, the location where Here to Stay was filmed.
Devon took a deep breath and glanced over at the other four PA’s. Josh and Anissa had been on board since season one, and she along with Cameron and Bailey were the newbies.
When Devon reached for a bottle of water, she noticed that her hand was trembling. It didn’t compare to the rumbling nerves rolling around her stomach. She balled her fingers into a fist, hoping no one else noticed.
Calm down. You got this, she assured herself.
“First off, welcome to the set of Here to Stay,” Caroline said. “I’m so happy to have you all here with us as we kick off season two. We’ve got a fantastic cast and crew working on the show, and I’m confident you’ll really benefit from this invaluable opportunity.”
Devon and the rest of the group looked around at one another and smiled excitedly.
“Anissa and Josh are back from season one,” Caroline continued. “Cameron and Bailey are new to this show, but we’ve worked together on other productions and it’s always a pleasure. And Devon, who’s here all the way from Indiana, is new to the world of television.”
“Oh wow,” Anissa said. “How long have you been in L.A.?”
Devon folded her hands tightly in her lap as all eyes turned to her. “A couple days,” she replied, clearing her throat in hopes of steadying her shaky voice. “It’s been quite a whirlwind, but I’m really excited to be here and can’t wait to get started.”
Caroline nodded her head. “Good. That’s a great attitude to have. Make sure you keep that same energy when you’re sent on a coffee run after working a fourteen-hour day! But seriously, feel free to come to me with any questions or concerns.”
“Will do. Thank you.”
Josh gave Devon a thumbs-up. “And we’re all here for you too if you need any advice or support.”
“Awesome. I really appreciate that.”
Caroline passed folders and walkie-talkies around the table. “As production assistants, you’ll report to me, but your job is to pretty much do whatever’s asked of you by the cast and crew. We work together as a team, and the ultimate goal is to produce a great show.”
Devon hung on to Caroline’s every word as she rigorously took notes.
“These walkie-talkies are your lifelines,” she continued. “Keep them on you at all times, along with your cell phones. Staff members will reach out to you at any given moment, so be prepared to answer every call and text.”
Devon grabbed her walkie-talkie and made sure the volume was turned up, then pulled her cell phone out of her tote and set it down on the table.
“These packets contain general information that you need to know about the studio, production company and your personal areas of focus. While you’re expected to fulfill all requests, we did try and connect each of you with staffers who match your career goals. Your primary workload will come from them.”
Devon turned to the first page of her packet. Listed under Job Duties was the phrase, Complete any and all tasks upon request.
“Yes!” Anissa exclaimed, pumping her fist. “I get to work with the assistant director this season.”
“And I’m in wardrobe, right where I belong,” Bailey said, clapping her hands.
Devon frantically searched the page for her assignment. There wasn’t one. She pressed her fingertips against her forehead, wondering whether this had anything to do with her lack of on-set experience.
“Everything okay, Devon?” Caroline asked.
She quickly sat up. “Yes! Everything’s fine.”
“You should be more than fine. You should be ecstatic. Did you see your area of focus?”
Devon’s brows wrinkled in confusion. “No. I didn’t think I was—”
“Turn to the second page,” Caroline interjected.
Devon practically tore the packet apart trying to get to page two. When she did, she saw at the very top Area of Concentration: Assisting the head writer.
She gasped, rereading the words several times before looking up at Caroline, who was now chuckling softly.
“Is this correct?” Devon asked, practically choking on her words. “I’m going to be working with the head writer?”
“Yes, it’s correct. You’ll be assisting Lena Wright.”
“I just…I didn’t expect this. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I know your ultimate goal is to write for television, so pairing you with Lena just made sense.”
Devon resisted the urge to jump up and hug Caroline, who was now walking toward the door.
“Any questions?” she asked the group. “No? Okay then, le
t’s go downstairs so I can introduce you to everyone. Things are still a bit chaotic since this is our first day back from hiatus, so we’ll be playing it by ear. Sound good?”
“Yes,” everyone said in unison.
“All right then, let’s go.”
On the way out, Devon tapped Caroline on the shoulder. “Thank you again for pairing me with Lena. I am so excited to work with her.”
“Good. In this business we could all use a little help. Oh, and by the way, Gabby and I are really cool. We always look out for one another.” Caroline winked at Devon, then walked out.
My girl… Devon thought to herself, following Caroline with an extra pep in her step.
*
Devon’s jaws were clenched, and she could feel hot droplets of sweat forming underneath her arms. She was sitting across from Lena, staring at the various awards and photos scattered around her office.
“Listen, Cory,” Lena said into the phone, “I need you to calm down. Tell Lucinda I said you can have two graham crackers with almond butter. Just two. After that, you need to finish your homework like she asked. Now let Mommy get back to work. I’ll call you back in a bit. Love you.”
Lena disconnected the call and groaned. “Do you have any children?”
“No, not yet.”
“Well, don’t rush it. Take your time, because they’re a lot to deal with.”
Devon eyed Lena closely as she shuffled through the pages of a script. She appeared to be in her late thirties and was attractive in a tomboyish kind of way. Her dark, slightly frizzy bob fell right above her shoulders. Her makeup-free olive skin was flawless, and her slender frame was hidden underneath an oversized white cardigan.
Lena pushed the script off to the side and looked up at Devon. “I know you met with Caroline this morning, and she gave you a general idea of how things work around here. A lot will be asked of you by everyone, but you’ll be working pretty closely with me and my assistant, Madison. I’ve got six writers on my team, and you’ll be assisting them as well.”
“Got it,” Devon said, writing everything down.
She Gets What She Wants Page 5