When we get back to our department, Ryan is standing by Jeff's desk. Eric introduces the men as I go into his office to check on the food situation. Lewis has come and gone like a ghost, magically setting up the provisions along the deep windowsill.  I slip past the cluster of men and back to my desk. I put on my headset, preparing to tackle the rest of the day's agenda.

Miranda and her agent, Andrea Schwartz, come out of Andrea's office. I watch Miranda preen in front of Fin for a minute. She twirls her finger through her chestnut hair. I can tell from the shine that she had it freshly blown out at the beauty bar by the office this morning. She is really working it as she throws her head back to laugh at something.

I grimace and turn back to my computer screen to open some emails. I hope I'm not that obvious when I flirt with Holden. But I'm sure there are people that roll their eyes at the way I let him walk behind me in the hallways.

Behind me, I hear Eric offer Fin a small tour of the office. Fin's voice grows louder as he walks closer to my desk. "That's not necessary. I'd be chuffed if Millie joined us for the meeting though."

In my peripheral vision I see his hand reach onto my desk and pick up my Beckett book. I swivel my chair around. It squeaks as usual. Fin is undisturbed by it, flipping through pages and reading some of my notations in the margins. He walks toward Eric still holding it. "I have a feeling she knows her onions."

Miranda's mouth is hanging open and Eric lifts his eyebrows. "Of course Millie will join us."

I'm an echo. "Of course..."

I move to follow them, but I still have my headset on. It yanks from head, tangling with and dangling on my hair. "Ouch!" I hiss.

Fin turns at the mini racket I'm making. I sit back down and Miranda creates a distraction. She leaps from her seat, coughing. "Excuse me. Sorry. Something went down the wrong way."

While the attention is on her I rip the headset from my hair. She snickers as I pass. "Smooth."

I roll my eyes as I joke back. "Always. I owe you one Miranda."

Fin is preparing his own tea when I walk into Eric's office. My book is beside his cup. I close the door and he turns to me. "Can I fix you a cup of something Millie?"

"No thank you. I've had my coffee already this morning. Besides you really should let me do that for you." I step toward the tray.

"Tosh! I'm a big boy and can manage my own cup."

He points toward one of the chairs in front of Eric's desk and then turns back to finish making his tea. Eric raises his eyebrow at me again but speaks to Fin.

"So... I was thrilled when you decided to do this job for the History Channel. I will give credit where credit is due and admit that Millie actually was the one to suggest we reach out to you. I wasn't sure if you would have the time or the inclination for such a small job."

Fin sits in the chair next to me. He tucks my book on the seat beside him and crosses his legs, resting his ankle across his knee. The motion stretches his khakis tight across his thigh. He adjusts his leg and it brushes against mine slightly. He turns toward me with a sheepish grin. "Sorry."

I look into his eyes, which are even better close up. They look like black coffee. They fill my stomach with heat the way a cup of coffee would too. I don't move my leg away. "It's fine."

Fin smiles wider and his eyes crease. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Right Millie?"

I nod. Eric clears his throat and stands to make himself a plate. Fin turns to address him.

"Well Eric, it all fit perfectly. Obviously a marathon of documentaries and classic films about the Crusades makes sense for me to introduce. I've actually seen most of the ones they're showing, having watched them when I had to gen up for my Templars audition. Plus, my Mum is a history teacher, so she loved the idea. And the timing was right since I'll be in New York all summer."

Eric sits down and points to Fin with a piece of cantaloupe on his fork. "That's right... you're doing Shakespeare in the Park this summer. Cymbeline? Correct?"

Fin nods. "I'm playing Posthumus. It's quite blinding really. Theatre is where I got my start. And as much as I love working on Templars, I miss the energy of the stage... the immediacy of the audience... it's very genuine and pure."

Then he sips his tea and pulls my book out from beside his leg. "Which brings me to this..."

I reach my hand out to take it, but Fin doesn't let go. We both grip the paperback. It builds a bridge between us.

"I've accepted the role of Clov in a special one night presentation..."

I finish his sentence. "... of Endgame at BAM?!"

Fin shows off those magnificently imperfect teeth again.  "Precisely!"

He cocks his head as he appraises me. "It's been very hush-hush. The press release is going out today though."

Eric's fork clatters on the plate as he puts it down. "How did you know about it Millie?"

I turn away from Fin to answer Eric. "Holden auditioned for it over a week ago. He borrowed my book to prepare and when he came in to sign those contracts this morning, he returned it. That's why it was on my desk. He said they cast a big name..."

I turn to Fin again. "I didn't know it was you." I pull the book a little closer to me.

He tugs gently on the book bringing it closer to him again. "Well if he's done with it, can I borrow it Millie?"

I let go and smooth my skirt across my lap. My hand accidently brushes Fin's leg and I feel the heat in my stomach build. My fingers are so close to his thigh and it makes the heat travel down between mine.

"I'm not sure why you would want to. It didn't bring Holden any luck. Besides I'm sure you have your own copy already."

Fin taps my book on his legs. "Well I am a jammy bastard and already have the part, so while I need no luck there... " He doesn't finish his thought as he opens the cover. "And certainly I have my own copy, but I'm very keen to have a shufti and read all the scribblings you have in the margins here."

Fin gradually drags his finger down the side of the page and looks back up at me with those delicious eyes. I've never wished to be a piece of paper before, but today I do. Now my mouth and my panties are wet. I swallow. "You can keep it if you like."

"That won't be necessary. I'll gladly return it." He smirks and snaps it closed. "In fact, I'll give it back to you in a fortnight when you're my guest at the performance."

While this feels very flirtatious, surely he means it as a professional invitation. My body is purely reacting because he's so handsome and I'm starving at this point in my love life. Besides, I can't imagine that this celebrity sex symbol would be asking me, an assistant at his agency, out in front of my boss. It would cross too many lines. Then again, why does he want to network with an assistant? I should politely decline just so there won't be any misunderstanding. I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of one of RAA's hottest clients.

I open my mouth, but Eric is already answering for me.  "Of course she'll go. You were a theatre major weren't you Millie?"

I correct him. "Dramatic Literature." But I don't correct the fact that I would have said no five seconds ago.

Fin leans down and puts my book into his bag. He pauses with his hand still pressed inside to look up at me. "Perhaps I should offer you two seats? So you can bring a date?"

His face hovers just above my knees. I'm struck with another wave of desire as he looks exactly like my erotic dreams made flesh. Well maybe not exactly. There were fewer clothes on him in my head. I'm glad I moisturized my legs this morning as my body heat is strengthening the scent of the vanilla lotion.

"One is fine. I don't have a boyfriend." I rub my foot along the back of my calf and squeeze my knees together tightly.

Fin looks down at the motion as he pulls out the ticket. "Brilliant!"

He hands it to me and I clutch it in my fist. "Thank you."

Fin lifts his bag onto his lap. "I've got rehearsal today so I really shouldn't faff about here anymore. If there isn't a mob of paparazzi waiting outside I might give the subway a try. Although the last time I did, I got myself horribly lost. I've a terrible sense of direction."

He chuckles and we all stand up at the same time. Fin keeps his bag in front of his lap as he shakes Eric's hand. "Thanks for the chin-wag Eric. Just so you know...  I'm always open to voiceover work. If any interesting projects come across your desk like a video game or such..."

Then Fin bites his bottom lip and nods at me. "Or if you have any other ideas that you think I might fit properly into... let me know."

I had a lot of ideas of where he could fit last night. Thinking of them makes me unable to meet his gaze. I look at his lips instead. I neglected to admire them before because I was so preoccupied with drinking in his eyes. They're full and pouty and slightly darker where he just bit them. Now I can't take my eyes off his lips.

Eric pats Fin on the shoulder."Why don't you let Millie walk you out? Since you have such a terrible sense of direction and the office is a bit of a maze."

Once again Fin holds the door for me. The entire commercial department, plus a few other assistants from other divisions, are squeezed into the common area as we emerge from Eric's office. Fin graciously shakes hands with everyone as he says goodbye. I stand off to the side patiently waiting. It's really hard not to gawk at his butt in those skinny khakis, so I turn my head to stare down the long hallway and avoid temptation.

Fin touches my elbow to get my attention. "Lead the way Millie."

I remain silent beside him through the halls as he says polite hellos to anyone we pass on the walk to the lobby. When we step through the glass doors we stop and he turns toward me. My heels are beginning to hurt my feet. I shift my weight and it brings me a bit closer to him.

"So I'll call your assistant next week with the detailed agenda for the History Channel shoot. Or would you prefer I call your London agent?"

He smiles at me and runs his hands through his curls again. "Don't be daft. I let my assistant stay home in London with her family. No need to involve either of them with the time change and all. Just ring me."

His suggestion makes more sense of course, but surprises me anyway. "I... I mean... we... don't have your cell..."

Fin flips open his bag and pulls out a pen. He grabs my hand and writes his number on it.

I look at my palm. "You didn't have any paper in that bag?"

He laughs. "Reminds me of my days on the pull at uni."

"On the pull?" I bend one knee to pick up my foot behind me and flex my calf. I let my high heel hang from the tips of my aching toes.

Fin looks down at my foot and licks his lips. "I'll translate it into American."

He affects a New York accent. "It reminds me of picking up girls in college."

I suddenly realize that he is definitely hitting on me and he's doing it in front of the two biggest gossips of the entire company. "Oh!"

I peek around him at the receptionists. Their eyes are glued to us. My stomach somersaults and I hope they can't hear what we're saying over the ringing phones and the calls they're directing.

Fin is still holding my hand. So I put my foot down and slide it back into my shoe in one motion as I let go of him.

He wags the pen at me. "That's my personal number. So I'd appreciate it if it doesn't end up in some department database or company rolodex for any old plonker to call me. That's just for you."

I bite my top lip and nod. He scratches his stubbled chin and smiles. "Well now that's sorted. I'm off. I look forward to speaking with you soon Millie."

I feel myself blush a shade of scarlet that I know is impossible to hide or ignore. "Same here." 

I watch him walk into the elevator bank. I wave goodbye with the hand he wrote his number on. It's already starting to smear with my nerves. As soon as he's safely out of sight, I bolt back to my desk to copy it before my sweat glands obliterate it.

But Eric is waiting for me by my desk. He has a shit-eating grin on. "That went better than I expected."

Miranda is on the phone but I can tell she's trying to rush her call so she can eavesdrop on our conversation. Eric notices too. "Come into my office."

I grab my cell phone from my desk to enter Fin's number as I follow. When I look up from my phone, Eric is already spreading cream cheese on a bagel. "He likes you Millie."

"He was just being nice. Jaded New Yorkers like us aren't used to polite Brits." I gesticulate in a half-wave, as I try to dismiss Eric's astute observation with a sleight of hand.

Eric points at my palm. "What's that then?"

I pick up Fin's dirty cup and carry it to the tray on the windowsill. My back is to Eric when I answer. "He gave me his number so I could call him with the details of the shoot day without the hassle of the London time difference."

"Make sure you add it to the client sheet and enter it into my phone." He takes a big bite.

I turn to face him and lean against the windowsill. I look down at my palm and flex my fingers a few times. "Um... he asked me not to put it on any RAA databases."

Eric coughs on his bagel and then sips his coffee to wash it down."That violates everything you've been taught about company protocol Millie!"

"What exactly did you want me to say to him Eric? This isn't like turning down a special request from Holden. This is a huge star that you want to book more work with." I walk to the chairs and sit.

He narrows his eyes at me. "Holden isn't the best example to use if you want me to relax Millie. I've witnessed him flirt shamelessly with you."

"And I've handled Holden for the past two years without incident Eric. Besides it wasn't like that..."

"Then what was it like Millie?"

Eric stands to add his dirty cup to the tray. I sigh.

"He told you about avoiding the paparazzi and taking the subway... I can tell he just appreciates his privacy and wants to maintain some sense of normalcy. Keeping a tight hold on who gets his number is probably part of that."

There's a knock on the door. I stand and open it. Lewis is waiting with his cart to take the catering tray back upstairs. I'm grateful for the distraction this offers. It helps break the tension in the room.

"Hey is there any tuna salad left upstairs Lew?"

"I know that Eric doesn't appreciate the smell of it so I didn't put any on this tray. But of course I saved you some upstairs Miss Millie."

Lewis smiles at me and Eric wrinkles his nose. "Walk up with Lewis and get your lunch."

Hopefully if I eat the tuna, Eric will leave me alone for the rest of the day, at least to avoid my breath.