Free The Perfect Christmas by Kate Forster

shoe.
    ‘Wearing these shoes is what I imagine Chinese foot binding was like,’ she said as she rubbed her feet. ‘I said I’m an eight but I think I should have taken the eight and a half.’
    ‘Yeah,’ said the girl. ’I’m an eight in some shoes and a eight and a half in others.’ There was a pause and then the girl spoke again. ‘Your dress is amazing.’
    Maggie looked down at her figure-hugging lilac Lanvin dress and sighed. ‘It’s okay, I guess. Took me and my stylists over half a year to organize this outfit and I wasn’t even presenting. Sometimes it’s exhausting being perfect,’ she said dramatically and laughed.
    The girl smiled shyly and Maggie shook her head. ‘Are you
sure
you’re not an actress? Have you ever tried it? Even modeling, perhaps? The camera would absolutely love you, you’re incredibly beautiful.’
    ‘I never really thought about it,’ said the girl, blinking a few times and frowning. ‘My parents think being an actor is a waste of time and education, unless of course you’re on Broadway in some obscure Russian play.’ She laughed.
    ‘Maybe,’ said Maggie defensively. ‘But my house in Malibu is evidence that they’re wrong.’
    Dylan laughed politely. ‘I guess I’ve just never even thought about acting.’
    Maggie narrowed her eyes at her. Was she being disingenuous or was she serious? False modesty was something Maggie couldn’t stand, along with liars and cheaters, which often made her wonder why she was still living in LA.
    ‘What do you want to do?’ she asked.
    ‘My mom would like me to do law, but I can’t see myself doing all that arguing every day.’ She said, ‘If I get to choose, I guess I’d like to be a social worker or something. ’
    Maggie’s head snapped up.
    ‘What for?’ she said. ‘Social workers are assholes. They say one thing, but do another.’
    ‘Really?’ asked the girl with a frown. ‘I just like helping people.’
    ‘Then I suggest you find another way,’ said Maggie roughly as she stood up, shoes in hand.
    ‘Okay,’ said the girl, looking intimidated.
    Sometimes, Maggie knew, she could be almost too candid, too raw. But this was also what made her such a powerful presence on screen. She wasn’t afraid to show her character’s pain on her face or in the way she moved.
    Softening, she smiled at the girl.
    ‘I haven’t introduced myself, I’m Maggie Hall,’ she said, extending her hand. She hated it when big stars just assumed everyone knew who they were. Manners were free, as Zoe always reminded her clients.
    ‘I know who you are,’ said the girl shyly, taking Maggie’s hand. ‘I’m Dylan Mercer.’
    ‘And now I know who you are,’ said Maggie warmly. ‘Great name, you really could be an actress,’ she said again, laughing.
    ‘And you could be an agent the way you hustle,’ Dylan laughed back. ‘I’ve been watching all the business going on here tonight, it’s crazy.’
    ‘I know,’ shrugged Maggie. ‘I could have been, but I like the free clothes too much.’ She winked at Dylan, looked a little closer at her and shook her head. ‘God you remind me of someone,’ she said. ‘Hey, can I have your number? I mean, I know you don’t want to be an actor, but sometimes I need an extra assistant. And you did say you like helping people. Maybe, if you’re interested, you could do a few errands for me here and there?’
    Dylan nodded excitedly, pulled a pen from her pocket, and wrote her details on the back of a card from the events company.
    Maggie took the card and handed her shoes to Dylan.
    ‘Hold these, would you?’ she said as she put the card into her clutch purse and smiled. ‘Thank you, Dylan, I’ll be sure to keep you in mind.’
    Turning she walked towards the door.
    ‘Your shoes,’ said Dylan, holding out the strappy Givenchy’s.
    ‘Keep them,’ said Maggie with a toss of her shining blonde head ‘I don’t need them. You might make something on eBay with them; the shoes of Maggie