prologue & trial phase
Nervously I'm walking up the driveway to this huge villa in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles. I'm having a job interview, well, it's more like... okay, a friend of mine got me into this. Her brother knows someone, who knows someone or something like this.
Well and now I'm here. I hope I don't get killed. It's a job with a dog, so... yeah.
Just when I was about to knock at the door someone opens it, greeting me with a huge smile, showing perfect white teeth. He's blonde with blue eyes.
"Hi! You must be Amara, right?" His voice is soft and friendly.
"Yes! I am, uh, huh! And you are obviously... Chris Evans. Nice to meet you!" I say.
Like, fuck, nobody seemed to tell me this job interview is with CHRIS FUCKING EVANS?!
He laughs. "Obviously yes. Please, come in." He steps aside to let me in before closing the door. A Boxer-mix puppy comes running towards me.
"Oh hi, who are you sweet boy, huh?" I bend down and extend my hand to him so he can sniff on it, but he just jumps onto it.
"Dodger, stop it!", Chris says in a semi-authority voice before giggling. "Sorry, he's young. I try to teach him, but well..."
I laugh and take Dodger to my chest, holding him with both arms while gently tickling his tummy. "Don't worry, young dogs need some time to learn things. So, is this the beautiful dog I would work with?"
Chris nods, gesturing me to follow him into the garden where I let Dodger down again.
"Yes, that's Dodger, and well, I'm gone for weeks or months sometimes but I rescued him. I don't want to leave him somewhere so... I need someone, or well, I would like to find someone who's able to travel around with me and care about him when I'm at work."
I nod and watch Dodger play around with his toys before I look at Chris.
"So like a dogsitter but around the world kinda?"
He laughs. "Yeah. Weird, huh? Well, sometimes I don't need anyone because I'm home and have enough time to care about him but then again sometimes I have weeks of having absolutely no time. That's why I need someone who's experienced with dogs but is free in their private life, you know?"
I nod, smiling. Well, free in my private life? Definitely. After my last break up I'm completely free. It's sad.
"Would you be able to do this? I mean, we'd see how it is at first, if you two come along. I'm still in Los Angeles for some weeks before I need to work abroad. But... would you be able to travel?"
I fetch Dodger his small ball he let down on my feet. "I would, absolutely. I think we'll come along just fine. He's really cute."
"Great! So, uh, we can sort out everything and make a contract so... well, so you're sure to get this job and I'm sure to finally found someone. How's your schedule next week? For getting to know each other and to see how Dodger is with all this?"
"I'm free, just tell me when you need me."
*
It's the second week now I'm kind of in a trial for my new job. It's 6 in the morning when I pull up at Chris' house. I get out of the car to be greeted by him.
"Hey! Are you ready?", he asks, smiling.
I just give a tired sound from me while putting my hair into a ponytail.
"You didn't say this job involves running at 6 a.m. actually. I'm not okay with this."
He laughs before patting my shoulder. "Come on! Dodger's crazy to run today." He starts running and I follow him.
"This job is not only caring about dogs, it's getting you fit at the same time!"
"I am fit!", I playfully punch his shoulder while running. "I don't need to run every day to stay fit."
"Actually, you need to work out for that because otherwise you'll become fat at some point. Do you want that?"
I moan and follow him. "Dodger, help me!"
Dodger barks before jumping in front of me, eager to get some scratches. I laugh and scratch his ear before running on.
Getting along with Dodger was really easy, he already loves me and I lost my heart to him completely. Being around Chris is really easy, too. He's such a nice guy, our relationship is more like a friendship than him being my boss and I'm being his employee.
We're working out together like now, which I really hate, but we also spend a lot of time together at the park, or at home, playing with Dodger.
We're going to run to the Hollywood Hills park where we can play with Dodger.
Chris is not even slightly out of breath while I'm completely dying by the time we arrive at the park. Dodger obviously doesn't care at all, begging me to throw a stick for him to fetch.
I scratch his ears and look around but I see no other dogs. I throw him a small stick while I greedily take a sip of my water. My mouth dry from gasping for air.
"Are you alright? Or do I need to call an ambulance for you?" Chris laughs at me. His grey shirt is sweaty under his arms and on his back, but he looks perfectly fine for a 5 mile run. Like he did barely run.
"Honestly, at this point... I don't care you're going to be my boss." I show him my middle finger while I bend over and prop my arms on my thighs to get more oxygen in my lungs.
He just laughs again, shrugging. "You need to be fit if you want to take care of a dog! And who said you're going to work for me? This is only trial phase, baby, and you're sucking at running."
I laugh and straighten up, facing him. "You wouldn't find anything else with vet experience who could easily travel around with you just to take care of your dog! Even if it's a really super cute dog, who needs some training, huh?"
I get down on my knees, scratching Dodger behind his ears. I take the stick out of his mouth.
"But we'll make it, right honey? Yes... yes, I love you too..."
I throw the stick again and get up.
"How come you're such nice to Dodger but not to me, huh? Like, I'm not used to it to be honest. And how come you're able to travel around? Like... don't you have a boyfriend or girlfriend something waiting for you at home?"
I drink again before I look at him.
"Dodger is cute, and dogs love when you talk to them. They can sense if you say nice words or not. Also I'm very nice to you, too, but you're forcing me to run with you before breakfast! This is humiliating!"
"Come on, you love it!", he interrupts me.
"I hate it!" I laugh. "This is awful. And to your second and third question: I was engaged but he dumped me some weeks ago for, uh, for a model. I don't know, we were in a relationship for 6 years. So I just broke off and got back to LA, and I think it's just time for a change. I was trying to find a job for a while now, but I don't want to work in a vet office. I could cry the whole day when I see abused animals. Or dying animals, oh god..."
He nods, smiling. "Can relate to that. Well... I'm glad it turned out how it did because I'm really happy that I found you. I think we can end trial today, don't you think?"
I laugh. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, why? Should I be worried?" He smirks at me.
"No, everything's fine. Is it because your work is sooner than later?" I look at him. "When does the filming start?"
"Uh, next week already. In London. So, well, if you really want... I'd take you with me, and Dodger of course. It would be great, really." He smiles.
"You can count on me. I've read the contract and I already signed it, so..." I laugh. "It's really nice not having this typical boss-stereotype, you know? I think this will be great."
"Yeah it's really easy to get along with you. A huge bonus point is you're not freaking out. Hey, you didn't even asked for a selfie or an autograph!" He laughs.
"Well, why should I? You're just a man, with a freaking cute dog."
Dodger comes running back to us, barking. I smile and can't believe this is real.
I'm going to London with a famous actor to care about his dog. What will it be like?
Will I be all alone all day long or will I be actually a part of the cast, kind of?
"Let's go back, so we can sign the contract and seal everything. I need to get you to London somehow next week. I'm thinking about renting a small house or flat for the time we're there, would be way more comfy than different hotel rooms I guess. At least for Dodger. Would that be okay for you?"
I look at him and take another sip of water. "Sure, at least I'd like to have my own bed, but I can arrange with everything."
He laughs. "Well, I'd go for different bedrooms, that shouldn't be a problem. Don't worry. You ready to go?"
He hands me the leash and I put Dodger on it.
"Yes. I'm ready to die."
We both laugh before we're running back to his huge villa.