What was Seth going to tell his staff? He had just come out of a meeting with the Fox executives to be told that "American Dad" and "The Cleveland Show" were not going to be renewed for the upcoming season on Fox. A part of Seth was relieved. Now he would be able to concentrate on making movies and music; but what about the staff? The actors would always be able to find work. The writers, animators, PR and advertisement teams would have a harder time.

Seth sat in his office, wondering how everyone would take the news. He had called everyone to a meeting at the end of the day. He had to do it before the internet made it common knowledge and there was no way his staff deserved to find out that way. He didn't know how to tell them. Would they blame him?

He looked over at the digital clock sitting on top of his filing cabinet. It read 14:55. He had 2 hours and 5 minutes before he had to face the crowd. Feeling suffocated, he left his office and decided to go outside for some fresh air. He walked out of the Fox building, cursing under his breath. The afternoon heat washed over his body and he contemplated for a minute going back inside to the air conditioned room he felt suffocated in. Instead he walked over to a park bench underneath the shade of a tree. A good place to clear his head.

As Seth walked closer, he noticed the bench was already occupied by a woman sitting crossed legged and reading a book. The closer he got, the stranger this woman looked. She couldn't be older than 26 judging by her slim figure and youthful appearance, but her style was completely unique. She was wearing a pink knee length skirt with a netted petticoat, a white tank top with lace along the neckline, a black waistcoat left unbuttoned, all complimented with pale pink ankle Converses.

Seth sat down next to her clumsily making her glance up from her book briefly. He rested his arms on the back of the bench and sighed deeply. The girl looked up from her book again and glanced in Seth's direction. He didn't look at her, but up at the tree they were sitting under.

'Excuse me' said the girl, 'are you ok?'

Seth looked round to see big brown eyes in thick rimmed circular glasses that took up half of her face, all surrounded by the longest and curliest auburn hair he had ever seen.

'Yeah.' Seth said in a deflated tone.

'Really? Because you sound pissed off!'

'Thanks for pointing that out.' He said a little annoyed.

'That's ok.' She said grinning.

'You didn't understand that as sarcasm, did you?'

'Bad day?'

'You can't begin to imagine.'

The girl folded the page down of her book and placed it in her lap. 'Do you want to talk about it?'

'No, not really.'

'Ok.' She opened her book again and carried on reading. Seth tried to get back to his thoughts, but found the girl very distracting.

'They've cancelled two of my shows.' Seth said. The girl looked up from her book again.

'Who has?' she asked. Seth said nothing, but pointed to the giant "FOX" sign on the building ahead of them. She looked at the building and looked back at Seth. 'Shit, that sucks!' she said.

'Yes.' Seth nodded. 'It does suck. And in approximately 2 hours I have to tell the cast and crew that we have had our last month. There are 200 plus people who work for me on those shows, and I have to tell most of them they don't have a job.'

'So you're in a bit of a sticky situation.'

'Yep. I'm stuck. I don't know how to tell them. They're all friends and I can't part from them on bad terms.'

'So, these friends, how long have they worked for you?'

'Some as little as 4 years, others as long as 15 years.'

'So then they trust you?'

'They must. I mean, they have for this long.'

'And what reasons did the bastards at Fox give you for the cancellations?'

'Something about viewing figures and critics.'

'Well then that's all you need tell them. You explain the meeting you had, let them know you fought for them and how tough it is to tell them because they have been with you for so long and you're really sorry. If they are your friends, they won't blame you.'

'So basically you're saying I have to rip the band aid off and be honest?'

'That would be the best way.'

'Thanks for your advice.'

'You're welcome.' The girl looked down and smiled bashfully. As she did a group of high school girls in their miniskirts and halter tops walked past and laughed at her. She just rolled her eyes at them.

'Didn't that bother you?' Seth said pointing at the girls as they walked off.

'Please. If it bothered me do you really think I'd leave my house dressed like this?'

'That's true.'

'Besides, I'm a girl with weird hair, weird fashion sense and a weird personality. I've come to expect it.'

'Well good for you.' Seth sat up and gazed at her. 'I'm Seth by the way.'

'I know. I'm sitting here hoping that Family Guy is safe for next season.'

'Don't worry. As long as teenagers continue to have it on in the background while they're having sex, it's here to stay.'

The girl laughed. 'Wow. Me my housemates must be some of the only people who watch it for the comedy rather than the background noise. The repeats of your show have kind of become a late night ritual in our house.'

'I'm glad you like it.' Seth sighed. 'Well I'd better go and face the angry mob.'

'I hope everything goes ok.'

'Thanks.' Seth stood up. 'Sorry, what was your name?'

'Pandora. Pandora Palmer.'

'Pandora. That's a unique name.'

'People do tend to remember me!'

'Well it was nice to meet you Pandora.' They shook hands.

'It was nice to meet you too Seth.'

Seth walked back to the building. Just as he was about to walk through the glass doors, he looked back to see she was once again buried in her book. Pandora was definitely not a girl he would forget very quickly.