Eric is out of the office giving a guest lecture to a business class at NYU. My nerves are frayed from our confrontation this morning so I'm taking advantage of the quiet to send second notices on any outstanding radio contracts that still need full execution of signatures. My eyes are burning from staring at the screen as I jump back and forth between the spreadsheet and emails. I really don't want to make any third notice phone calls next week though, so I'm pushing through in hopes of having them all completed and back by Friday. I send the last email and stand to stretch and rub my eyes when I hear my quick conference alert. I curse to myself as I look back to the screen.

ASasst: We have a CONSIDER that Abe wants you as the second reader on. Can you come up when you have a second?

I read the message over again and mumble to myself. "Interesting."

Carter always opens with a question and then generally proceeds to dole out little bits and pieces of info, making me work for anything more. I've noticed this pattern because I find it extremely frustrating. Most assistants in the office prefer an economy of words on quick conference. I know I do. And since I floated and covered desks in MOPIC before I was offered Eric's desk, I know exactly how hectic that division is. So one would think Carter should prefer less back and forth. But in my experience he enjoys baiting people more than saving himself time. That's why I'm surprised he's eschewing his usual power-trip fueled strategy. I daresay that these two sentences from him even sound polite.

EGasst: Have a few seconds right now. Be up in a minute.

ASasst: No rush. It doesn't have to be right now. It will actually take more than a second. Whenever you have a few minutes.

EGasst: Right now still works best for me.

ASasst: OK. Thanks.

Carter just thanked me and so now my assistant senses are tingling as I climb the back stairs. When I exit the stairwell I see the back of Fin and Marcy's heads as they enter Abe's office. I watch Carter shut the door and sit back down. I wring my hands as I walk down the hallway.

Once I'm standing in front of Carter's desk I clear my throat. He looks up at me and gestures to the second assistant's empty chair beside him. "Brooke is picking up Abe's dry cleaning."

I nod and sit. Carter removes his headset and rocks back in his chair for a second. Then suddenly he leans forward to whisper. "I read your script."

The way he says it makes me wish I had put my blazer back on before I came upstairs, because I suddenly feel bare. But it's hanging on my chair downstairs while his words hang heavy in the air between us. I know he wants me to ask what he thinks. I lean back in the seat and say nothing.

Carter rolls his chair a couple inches closer. "It's good Millie."

I remain as still as a statue. The desk phone rings and Carter ignores it, allowing it to go to voicemail. He grips the armrests of his chair and sits on the edge of the seat. "Actually it's amazing!"

I squint my eyes at him. "After Monday I'm not sure that I can believe what you're saying is true." I gesture at Abe's office door. "How about this for timing? Was that part of the plan?"

Carter shakes his head and wheels even closer to me. "I want to approach Abe with your script."

The phone now has two lights ringing and yet he's still ignoring it. So I can't help but smile because if Carter is committing the sacrilege of letting Abe's calls go to voicemail to talk to me then he really is into my script. And I'm actually flattered that he likes my work. "Thank you Carter. I think..."

He interrupts me with a hand on my knee. "Can you get a drink again tonight to discuss it?"

Before I can answer, the office door opens and Fin is the first person out, followed by Marcy and Abe. Fin's eyes flit back and forth between Carter's hand on my knee and my face. Carter doesn't remove his hand until the phone rings again and he leans over to answer it. "Abe Silverberg's office."

I tune out Carter's voice out behind me as I stand to greet the three people in front of me. Abe is the first to talk. "Ahhh Millie. I was getting annoyed that my phone was ringing off the hook out here. Now I see why Carter was so distracted."

He smiles and chuckles before he pats Fin on the shoulder. "But then again Covington, I understand that according to the tabloids you also find our Millie quite diverting too. There was even a ferry ride to Staten Island of all places if I'm not mistaken. I suppose she's made a bit of extra work this week for you Marcy?"

I blush and reach my hand out to Marcy. "I'm sorry for any inconvenience I may have caused you."

Marcy takes my hand and smirks. "No problem. I'm used to it with Fin as a client."

Her comment hits the mark the way I'm sure she wanted it to. It feels like a punch to my stomach and when Marcy drops my hand I press my palm to the wound. Then I look toward Fin but his exceptional acting makes it impossible for me to determine what he is thinking.

Carter hangs up the phone and stands behind me. Abe starts to speak again. "These two have voracious appetites for scripts and so far they've both been spot on with their coverages."

Fin finally speaks. "Voracious... Spot on..."

Abe nods. "Did I ever tell you that my mother was a matchmaker? Maybe that's where my instinct for being an agent comes from. In a way it really is the same thing. Both are about finding the right people that work well together. She was a real life Dolly Levi and would have been proud that I set these two up for drinks before your show last Friday."

Carter steps beside me, his arm touching mine, with a script in his hand. "I was just giving Millie that script you wanted her to look at. And asking her out for drinks tonight..."

Fin shoves his hands into his pockets. "Marcy, is the schedule in shambles yet? Should we get going to the next interview?"

Marcy looks at her phone. "If we hit any traffic we'll be late to The Tonight Show taping."

Abe shakes Fin and Marcy's hands again. "Then I won't keep you any longer. Carter will walk you down."

I take the script from Carter's hand. "Well I should get back to my desk. It was good to meet you Marcy."

She nods at me. "Hopefully everything goes smoothly at the History shoot. Fin's going to need an easy day after today's hectic schedule. Will I see you tomorrow?"

I shake my head."No. Eric will be there though, so I'm sure it will be smooth."

Carter steps around me and takes a few steps down the hallway. Marcy turns to follow him, but Fin hesitates. He stands there staring at me as Abe goes back into his office. Then he turns away from me and starts to walk down the hallway behind Carter and Marcy.

I follow and call out to his back before they turn the corner out of my sight. "I'm obliged to you, Fin. For your services."

He of course recognizes the lines from Endgame and turns sharply to speak his piece of the scene to me. "Ah pardon, it's I am obliged to you."

Hamm may be blind and paralyzed but I'm not. So I step closer to him, trying to minimize the space between us. I want to look him in the eye so he can see that nothing is going on with Carter, at least not what he thinks. "It's we are obliged to each other."

Fin's eyes are hickory right now. Just like the tree they seem hardened and shock-resistant. He nods slightly before he goes to exit again. So I speak to his back again. "One more thing."

He stops. My voice cracks. "A last favor."

I reach my hand out toward him. He takes it but doesn't smile.

Marcy huffs. "Let's go Fin."

Then he lets go of my hand. When he is gone it feels like the end of the world and I'm left bereft. I wipe the tears from eyes in the stairwell. "Fucking Beckett."

When I'm back at my desk I open quick conference again and type to Carter.

EGasst: I can't get drinks tonight.