“Who is it?” Spencer said. “Can you put me in touch, maybe give me a recommendation?”

Mrs. Amberson smiled her slowest, most toothpaste-commercial-ready smile.

“There’s some money on my writing desk,” she said. “Do me a favor and run to the corner deli and get me a pack of licorice? I have such a craving for it. I’ll make a call or two while you’re gone. And pick up one of those organic protein smoothies they make. That’s for you. Make sure to drink it. They’re delicious.”

After Spencer sprinted from the room, Mrs. Amberson looked to Scarlett.

“One of the first goals will be to put ten pounds on him,” she said. “Muscle mass. Also, I wonder if that girl Stephanie is ever going to stop being so annoyingly professional and finally ask him out. That is a situation to watch over the next few weeks, O’Hara. I’m sure there’s something we can do about that…I like my clients to be happy and fulfilled. Keeps them out of the tabloids.”

“You’re not an agent,” Scarlett said. “You don’t have clients.”

“I’m not an agent yet. But I will be as soon as I call one of my lawyer friends and have her draft me up a contract for your brother to sign. I’m perfect for this, Scarlett. Molding people. Forming relationships. Lunching. What do you think I should call it? I was thinking AA for Amberson Agency—but that acronym is taken. But hey, most actors have belonged to the original AA, they might just want to join the new one as well. I could get a gorgeous monogram made. The cards and stationary will be exquisite. A double A, linked together and overlapping. Oh, that’ll look like an M, won’t it? Maybe I’ll just do back-to-back A’s, then.”

As usual, Mrs. Amberson’s priorities were well in order.

“I’ll need an assistant, of course,” she went on. “Someone reliable. Someone invested.”

“I start school in a few weeks,” Scarlett said warily. “There’s so much to do and…”

“Then it’s perfect! You couldn’t find a better after school job than this. What is there to lose?”

A lot, actually. Like her sanity.

“We’ll have to go to shows, premiers, gala events! Who else is going to pay you to be entertained? Starbucks? I don’t think so. Maybe we’ll need to do a few teeny-tiny phone meetings during the day, but that’s easily manageable. It won’t be disruptive at all!”

Scarlett felt a familiar thrumming in her head. Working for Mrs. Amberson in the summer was one thing, but during school was an entirely different matter. There would be no time for a job like this, a job which was clearly the path of doom, destruction, woe, failed classes, possible imprisonment…

“I’ll pay you a commission,” Mrs. Amberson said, giving Scarlett a sly look. “If this business is a success, which it will be, you could end up making your entire college tuition. And what will you be working for? Success for your brother! Happiness for your family! Think about that, O’Hara. In the meantime, I know wonderful people in the design department at the Manhattan Theater Club. We can get a whole new set built. This starts now.”