Ruined by You by Kelly Harper

first thing we saw was the fine marble floor. It was a mixture of blacks and whites, and reminded me of the flowing pattern in a yin-yang symbol. The walls all around the lobby were painted a deep red, and were lined with photos and posters of bands, movie stars, and all manner of other famous people. We squinted to get a better view of them. The only common element, in every photo, was a short, young lady with tightly curled hair. The photos were a timeline of the woman’s career, and it was surreal to travel along with her as she grew up through the entertainment industry. My breath was taken away when I recognized the faces that she was pictured with. There were movie stars, athletes, musicians, and politician. These were the faces I’d grown up with.
    A desk sat at the far end of the room, and a young secretary, with her blond hair pulled back, smiled at us.
    “Welcome to the LG Agency,” she said with a light voice. “How can I assist you?”
    Haden’s eyes were wide as he looked at the pictures and posters on the wall. I don’t think he even heard the girl address us.
    “We’re here to see Lisa Goldstein,” I said. “I think she’s expecting us.”
    The secretary kept smiling. “And what’s your name?” she asked.
    “Maggie,” I said. “Maggie Simpson.”
    The secretary took a moment, and clicked through her computer. Then, her smile widened and she nodded her head, approvingly.
    “I’ll let Mrs. Goldstein know you’re here. It’ll be just a minute.”
    We waited quietly while the secretary excused herself. My nerves were on end when I realized that I didn’t know what was going to happen. I didn’t know what Scottie had told Lisa, and I didn’t know what she was going to expect of me. I was horribly out of my league, and I was certain that I was going to make a complete fool of myself. At least I had Haden with me. But, the idea of making a fool of myself in front of him didn’t make me feel any better.
    A few minutes passed while the secretary was in the back. I tried to calm my nerves by focusing on the pictures all around us. Haden seemed totally engrossed, himself. Finally, the secretary returned and held the door open.
    “Mrs. Goldstein will see you now,” she said, gesturing through the door.
    I smiled at her, and looked awkwardly at Haden. He gave me a reassuring grin, and we walked through the doorway, into the back of the small building. A narrow corridor led us past closed doors, and toward a single door with a huge frosted glass window. All along the narrow hallway were more pictures of famous musicians, actors, and politicians - all with that same girl with the curly brown hair.
    When we arrived at the door, I tapped on it, nervously. I sensed movement from the other side. Haden was pressed close behind me, and his warmth was comforting.
    “Come in,” a voice said from inside.
    I cracked the door open and eased my nose in, slowly. A woman, with a face I now recognized, sat behind a huge oak desk. She had a big smile on her face and she gestured for us to enter. Years had touched her face since many of the pictures were taken, and wrinkles formed at the corners of her mouth and eyes. But, she was still more beautiful than most women half her age, and it was obvious that she took good care of herself.
    “Mrs. Goldstein?” I asked, awkwardly. I tried to hide my nerves as best as possible.
    “It’s just Lisa,” she said, still with the smile. “You must be Maggie. Please, sit down.”
    Her eyes tracked to Haden, as we took our seats. Her brow pinched together, curiously, for a moment.
    “Have we met before?” she asked him.
    Haden’s lip turned up in a nervous smile.
    “I’m not from around these parts,” he said, sheepishly.
    She studied him for a moment longer, and then shook her head, lightly.
    “No, that’s not it. Your face looks so familiar.”
    He rolled his shoulder. “I did a commercial or two back in the day.”
    She studied him for a moment longer before