I thought about the other celebrities who endured public scandals and remembered that everything blew over in a matter of months. In fact, despite everyone initially making Matt Sterling out to be the bad guy in our wedding disaster, he was still Hollywood’s favorite heart-throb and the press was fairly lenient with him.
I knew they would be the same with me.
How bad could it really be?
I ordered my driver to take me out for a day of shopping. I decided I would test out my baggy sweat suit disguise at a New Jersey grocery store, and if it worked I would spend the rest of my day in Manhattan for some much needed retail therapy.
I made sure my long blonde wig was secured underneath my pink scarf, pulled down my oversized shades, and walked inside Market Grocery.
I picked up a hand-basket and wandered down the snack aisle. I picked out several packages of cookies, crackers, and cheese puffs. I grabbed a pound of Autumn Wonder coffee and realized I needed ice cream, lots and lots of ice cream.
“Excuse me,” I made my way past two pregnant women who were discussing different peanut butter brands.
I was about to turn the corner but I overheard one of them say my name. I pretended to be interested in a tub of whipped cream and tuned in to their conversation from the other side of the aisle.
“I don’t know what I would do if I was Phillip Hartford’s wife!” one of them said. “That poor woman! She probably had no idea he was cheating! And how dare Selena Ross do that! She was engaged to Matt Sterling! You would think he would be enough for her!”
“I know! Who wouldn’t love to be engaged to Matt Sterling? If I were Phillip Hartford’s wife,” the other one wagged her finger. “I’d hunt Selena Ross down and kill her!”
I gasped.
“Kill her? It’s not that serious!”
“You’re right, you’re right. No use in going to jail over a whore…I’d just run her over with my truck a few times.”
The two women giggled and pushed their baskets past me.
I kept my tears at bay and took several deep breaths. I was sorry for ever eavesdropping.
Once I collected myself, I walked to the freezer section and spotted a woman who seemed familiar. I looked her over a couple times, eyeing her jet black hair and caramel-colored skin.
She tilted her head to the side and I saw that she was gorgeous. Drop-dead gorgeous.
I instantly realized she was Matt’s personal assistant, but I was struggling to remember her name.
Janet? Judy? Janise? Joan? Joan! That’s it!
I tapped her on the shoulder and she spun around.
“I’m sorry,” she stepped back. “Do I know you?”
“It’s me…Selena,” I slightly lifted my shades. “Um, hi...How have you been? How is Matt?”
“I’m fine. Matt’s great. He’s about to marry to someone he actually loves.”
I rolled my eyes. I guessed that meant him and that writer woman were going to work out after all.
“Are you running an errand for him right now?” I asked.
“No. There’s not much need for a personal assistant when you’re going to be on Broadway. We’re strictly friends now.”
Over the two years that I “dated” Matt, I’d always envied his relationship with Joan. She seemed to be more than just an assistant to him; she was like his best friend. Everywhere he went, she went. Anytime he needed a second opinion, he asked for hers. And anytime I asked him if there was something going on between the two of them, he would roll his eyes and say, “Joan is the most professional person I know, and she’s made it very clear that she’s not attracted to me. There’s nothing between us but friendship. Please stop asking me that.”
As a matter of fact, when he told me he’d fallen in love with someone else at our wedding, a part of me expected him to say that the “someone else” was Joan.
“Oh…” I cleared my throat. “Well, I’m looking for a new assistant.”
“That’s great! Good luck with your search,” she walked away.
“Joan! Wait!”
“Yes?” she turned around.
“I said I’m looking for a new assistant.”
“And I said good luck with your search. Was there something else?”
I sighed. “Matt always said that you were the best thing that ever happened to him, that you were amazing and totally professional…I can’t seem to keep a steady assistant and—”
“I’m aware. That’s why I’m not interested. And actually, now that you’re not dating Matt, I have no reason to tolerate you.”
“Joan, I swear I—”
“You’re rude, egotistical, selfish, and completely painful to be around. Why would anyone want to work with you?”
Ouch…
“Because I’ll pay double?”
She raised her eyebrow. “Does that include Christmas and birthday bonuses?”
“Whatever you want…”
Please say yes.
“If I choose to consider this,” she folded her arms, “which I probably won’t, I need requested days off guaranteed, a signed statement swearing you’ll never disrespect me, and a twenty percent advance. I want everything in writing and I need the contract signed by a notary.”
“Am I really that awful, Joan?”
“Yes. You really are,” she gave me a half-hearted smile and walked away.