The Promise of Forever

Chapter One

"Alright, boys, girls and non-binary pals! That's a wrap for today!" Charlie, the stage manager and producer of my afternoon talk show hollered. 

There was hustle and bustle on set as Adelaide Hershey and Mia Westman, two of the newest and hottest actresses stood up and turned to me with a smile before giving thanks and going their separate ways on the set.

"Well done, Bree, that was a great interview," Charlie said to me as I walked towards him.

"Thanks, Charlie," I beamed at him. "Addie and Mia were great. I can't wait to air this episode."

"You only have to wait two more months," He winked, causing me to laugh before he headed off to chat with the lighting guy.

That's how things normally work on my talk show - we tape tons of interviews and then normally air them at a later date unless the episode revolved around current events, which this interview did not. 

My talk show, the Sabrina Show, has been on the air for 3 years now and is still going strong if the ratings are anything to go by. The network I work for took a huge gamble by giving my own talk show when I started out with daytime television but it paid off. In the three years since I've started the show, we've won 2 Emmy's for the show. 

After thanking the crew for their great work as I did almost every day when we filmed, I headed up to the 6th floor of our building where the offices were. Every show host and/or producer is entitled to an office in the building which I appreciate when I need some downtime.

"Hey, Tar," I greeted my assistant as I stepped into our office foyer which was where her desk sat.

"Hiya, Bree," She beamed at me. "Good show?"

"Brilliant," I confirmed. "Adelaide and Mia are great."

"I can imagine," She beamed. "There aren't many messages, just a few from L'Oréal, Estee Lauder and a lady called Karolyn Merrit. She wouldn't say who she was but it sounded very urgent," She told me as she handed me three post-it notes with numbers and messages on them.

I frowned at the one with Karolyn Merrit's name and number on it. I've never heard of her before.

"Were the ones from L'Oréal and Estee Lauder important?" I asked her.

"Not super," She confirmed. "Miranda from L'Oréal just wanted to congratulate you on the campaign. It's going great over there and the lady from Estee Lauder just wanted to confirm your address so they could send you some cool shit."

I cracked a cheeky grin at her. "And let me guess, you told them to send me only hydrating products for dry skin?"

"Isn't that your skin type?" She asked innocently and then we both laughed.

"As if," I laughed. There was an unspoken agreement between Tara and me that whatever makeup brands sent me that I couldn't use, whether it be because they didn't match with my skin type or I just didn't like it, would end up in her collection. I love filling up baskets for her with makeup that I know she'll get good use out of.

Tara has been my assistant and friend for the past 3 years and we get along famously. Her sense of humour always gets me through the day and she's a hard worker who is always willing to do whatever needs to be done at the drop of a hat, whether that be flying to another country with me to attend an awards show or simply popping into the pharmacy to pick up a bottle of Valium for me.

After requesting a coffee and a croissant from the bakery across the street, I headed into my office and took a seat in my comfortable chair behind my desk before dialling Karolyn Merrit's number.