26

Ricardo watched as Miles made another trek to the coffee stand. After three days, Blake apparently still hadn't figured out what to do with his assistant. The director shook his head. A guy like Blake was used to having people do things for him, so it was odd that he couldn't find anything else for the young man to do.

As Miles passed the director's chair, Ricardo waved him over. For a moment, the assistant looked confused, but quickly realized that the director outranked the actors.

"Yes, sir?" he asked as he approached.

"Miles, it seems that you're rather busy getting coffee for Mr. Herrington," Ricardo began, looking pointedly at the cup in his hand. "I had intended that you do more than just that. So it's time to start being a proper assistant - please inform Mr. Herrington that I would like to speak with him. Now."

"Yes, sir, Mr. Jarvis," Miles replied, his eyes widening slightly. He wondered if he was about to get fired. Shoving that thought from his mind, he hurried back to Blake's trailer. He knocked twice, as he had been told, waited for a count of three, then opened the door.

Blake sat at his makeup counter, letting Anna put the finishing touches on his face. He gestured towards the counter, where a half-dozen other coffee cups sat. "Just set it down."

"Yes, sir," Miles replied. "Mr. Herrington, Mr. Jarvis would like to speak with you. Now, please," he added.

Blake glanced over at his assistant, a little bit surprised that he was delivering a message along with the coffee. "All right. Once Anna's done, I'll go."

"I think that's all," Anna said, brushing a final dusting of powder on the actor's forehead. "You'd better not keep Mr. Jarvis waiting - he gets cranky on hot days."

"It's California," Blake said with a laugh. "Every day is a hot day." Still, he rose from the chair, grabbed the latest cup of coffee, and started towards the door. "Say, Milo, why don't you clean up those coffee cups while I'm gone?"

"It's Miles," the assistant started to correct him, but Blake was already out the door.

"Just ignore that," Anna advised as she packed up her makeup supplies. "He doesn't quite know how to deal with you yet. Funny, since he whined like a baby when Sophia got her first assistant. Of course, you don't have boobs, so..."

Miles gave a short laugh. "Somehow, I don't think breasts would make this job any easier," he replied.