Molly looked longingly at the coffee shop across the street.
The aroma of the brewing beans wafted through the evening air, a siren call to those caffeine loving souls, near and far.
She sighed and kept walking towards her apartment. Though the coffee at Stephen's was quite literally mind blowing, it also would blow a hole in her almost non-existent bank balance.
Molly was one of those college graduates who despite passing with a decent score, were unable to find a job. After three months of unsuccessful job hunting it was looking like she would have to settle on a life time of waitressing in the local cafes. There was only so much money her mother could lend.
Not for the first time, Molly thought about how things would have been different if her father were still alive. He had passed away right after she finished high school. She had planned on doing medical in college. Later focus on pathology but despite the scholarships being offered to her, she couldn't afford it. So she had decided to do sociology in their town's local college.
As she reached her flat, she shook her head. Wishful thinking.
"Molly!" her roommate Mary called from the bed/sofa where she was busy typing on her phone.
"Hey!" Molly called out, a bit dejectedly as she placed her coat on one of the plastic chairs.
Her best friend immediately looked up from her phone.
"Bad?" It was not really a question.
She slumped on the bed.
"Very bad."
Today she had gone for an interview with a small book publishing company who were in need of an assistant editor. She had done the interview spectacularly. Well she had thought she had done spectacularly. But then they didn't even bother to tell the usual 'we'll call to let you know' as they handed their file back to her.
"Aww! It's ok. It's their loss not yours" Mary said giving her sad faced friend a hug.
Molly smiled at the blonde. She had no idea what she would do without her.
"But I am running out of options. There's only that dress shop in the mall where there's a vacancy. Guess it's that or nothing. The month is almost up and I don't have enough for the rent" she said.
"Don't you worry about the rent" Mary said with a shrug. "I'll pay your share."
"No, Mary. I can't let you keep on doing that. I'm joining at the dress shop tomorrow" she said with finality.
Mary was amazing with computers. She was working for a software company and she was rising quite fast in her career. Molly wasn't jealous. They were childhood friends and she wanted only the best for her friend. Mary was already covering for the grocery and the take outs. She didn't want to take even more advantage of Mary than she already was.
Mary tried to protest but Molly's mind was set. She desperately needed the money.
So Mary let it go. For now.
It had been a harrowing and disappointing day. She really needed to take it out of her system. It was only six in the evening and Molly was going to get some fresh air.
Changing back into casual clothes, she carefully folded the pencil skirt and the cream blouse and put it in her cupboard. It was her only good pair and it was what she wore for interviews.
After agreeing to meet Mary for dinner, she left their apartment and started walking towards the nearby park.
She was just about to enter when her phone buzzed. It was her father's friend, Mike Stamford.
"Hello! Mike" Molly said with a huge grin.
"Hello! Molly" he said in his soft voice.
"How are you? And where are you?" she asked excitedly. Mike was almost like a second father to her. He had offered to cover for her educational expenses, but her mother didn't want to burden him.
Mike was in the cinema industry. He called himself a manager, but it was much more. He traveled a lot and never forgot to bring her a memento from the exotic lands that he visited. She had them all boxed up in her mother's house.
"I'm good. And I'm in London" he said cheerfully.
"You're here?" she asked in disbelief. He had his office in New York, in the center of the Hollywood industry.
"Yes. Was meeting a client of mine. I want to see you. Are you free now?" he asked.
"Um…yeah. Of course! I'm free" she said.
"Good. Meet you in our usual place at seven" he said and cut the call.
Molly grinned. She was going to drink that Stephen's coffee after all.
/-/-/-/-/-/
"I called your mother."
Molly's hand froze midway on the journey to her mouth, the doughnut almost falling from her hand.
Mike had been punctual as usual. As soon as he saw her, he engulfed her in a huge hug and kissed the top of her head.
They had chatted about anything and everything, as they ordered their coffees. Molly had smiled smugly at her coffee cup, before taking a big gulp from it.
As soon as they had settled he dropped the bomb shell.
"Uh…"
"There is a vacancy in a place I know" he started.
"No Mike" she interrupted him. "It's fine. I already have a job" she said.
"You're a terrible liar Molly" he said, taking a sip from his cup.
"Well, I'll find one tomorrow" she said earnestly.
"Being an assistant in a dress shop, you mean."
Damn. Her mother sure talked a lot.
"Listen, Molly. You didn't let me pay for your education. You've got to let me help. It's the only way how I could repay your father."
Mike and her father, George had served in the war together. George had saved his life from a shrapnel.
He looked at her sincerely. Willing her to accept.
"Fine" she said, raising her arms in surrender. It also helped that she wasn't so keen on working at the mall.
"What sort of job?"
"Personal assistant."
That could be nice. Very nice.
"For whom?" she asked. Mike came in contact with so many people that guessing would be impossible.
"Sherlock Holmes. Heard of him?"
Heard of him? Molly wasn't very much interested in movies and stuff. She rarely watched telly, preferring books over it. But then even she was bloody more than aware of Sherlock Holmes.
He was one of the most famous actors in the industry and he just took to acting a couple of years ago. His fans ranged from fourteen year olds (maybe even less) to seventy year olds (maybe even more), mostly females. Mary had once dragged her to watch one of his movies. She had no idea what the plot was, she had just gaped at him (probably drooled also) on the screen the entire time.
Also he was a very private person. Apart from the promotional interviews he never did any other interviews.
And of course she didn't say all of it out loud.
"Yes" she said, barely suppressing the squeak in her voice.
"Oh! Good. Today he was telling, more like lamenting about how he wasn't able to find a good personal assistant. And I instantly thought of you. Okay?" he asked, voice filled with hope.
"Um…Sure" she said, not at all sure.
"Great" he said looking a bit sheepish.
"Uh…You already have the job. I knew you would accept. You're expected there tomorrow. I'll text you the address" he said with a wink and stood up.
Molly simply shook her head at his presumption. They hugged and said their goodbyes.
She rushed to her flat, almost breaking into a run and only after she closed the door did she jump and give a squeal.
Mary rushed out from the shower, after throwing on a bathrobe hastily.
"Oh! My God! I thought you were being murdered" she said with a glare.
After a few minutes during which Molly shared the news with her, loud shrieks and squeals could be heard from the apartment.
AN: I'd like to know what y'all think! :)