THE BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS

INTRODUCTION (Ruby POV)

"There's a parking lot on the main street, go up to the second floor and leave the car there... There's an area reserved for members of the club... Done..." I whisper reading the instructions on the small piece of paper while walking slowly. "Turn left and then right when you reach the bakery... You'll find a small cul-de-sac... Here I am... Oh my God, I don't know if I can do this..."

I stop abruptly to take a deep breath, I felt I was getting dizzy for a second and thought I was going to pass out but it was just my anxiety skyrocketing, probably. The truth is that I knew the parking lot already, the bakery and the dead-end street, with the cobblestones always clean, two trees providing shade to a small bench on the sidewalk and the gorgeous building at the other side with a door painted in red, because I came here yesterday to take a look discreetly. I walked in the bakery and bought a non-vegan bun that I didn't eat to be able to monitor the area but I saw nothing suspicious, there were no paparazzi on the street, as they told me, and no sign of a celebrity or a famous businessman. Discretion is the key, that's what the person who wrote the note and the telephone number for me assured me, and I found out it was true.

But that doesn't ease my anxiety and I wish I could turn around and run away the same way I did yesterday but this time there's no coming back: I've made an appointment with her. "It'd be very rude if you don't show up after calling her, her time is extremely valuable... Don't you dare to disappoint her, it's not a good way to start..." That's what they told me and I understand it, seriously, my time is valuable too and I hate when I get stood up... but I don't know if I can do this. It's crazy and I don't know if it'll work... It could be a big mistake... Even if this person swears it worked for her my circumstances are different, my past, my problems, my depression... My head is a mess right now for many reasons and I could end up badly hurt.

"Oh my God, I don't want to do this..." Actually, I don't know what I want but I can't go on like this and must find a way to fix it or I'll have to leave everything behind: my career, my friends, my future, and go back home. That would make me feel worse and besides, I'm pretty sure the problem would come with me, it wouldn't stay in Los Angeles because I am the problem and my damned head too. "Come on, Ruby, be brave..."

I tug at my jacket to get rid of a wrinkle and take a last look at my reflection in the bakery window before walking towards the small street. "The Boulevard of Broken Dreams," I read on a sign but the name is not reassuring me, this alley looks nothing like a boulevard, at least not the ones I visited in Paris, and I'm here to live my dreams, not to see them shatter. The red door is my destination and I knock three times on the wooden surface following the instructions of the note, my tattooed hand shakes a little but I try to hide it running my fingers through my short dark hair while waiting and feeling increasingly nervous. There's no one on the street, no one looking through the building's windows, no paparazzi, no one knows I'm here... Everything's fine.

"Welcome, Miss Langenheim. Madame is waiting for you..." the doorman whispers kindly opening the door for me and closing it immediately behind my back.

"Dull..." I think when I see him. Neither young nor old, average height, tanned skin and brown eyes on a face with symmetrical features... If I ran into him at a party or a photoshoot, I'd forget him in three minutes... I guess that having a discreet doorman, not only concerning his attitude but also the way he looks, is deliberate. "Get in the elevator, it's the last floor, you can't get lost since there's only one door..."

"Thank you," I answer pretending to be calmed while walking through the checkered tiles on the floor. Walls are painted in a cream color, there're several wooden chairs in Scandinavian style that look comfortable, side tables made of glass and steel and bouquets of flowers in white porcelain vases. Everything looks elegant, top quality, without stridency and designed to provide a discreet luxury atmosphere like the one of a good European hotel. To be honest, I admit the decoration has managed to soothe my nerves, it's obvious that the owner of this building is a woman with good taste and that gives me confidence. I guess that's deliberate too.

There's a mirror in the elevator perfect to take a last look at my reflection. I look like a teenager going to her first job interview: a plain black suit, white shirt, a designer bag, I applied a subtle makeup to be able to highlight my green eyes, high cheekbones and pink, plump lips... Everybody says my face is pretty and I feel better when I wear makeup and get my hair done but my legs are shaking too bad today. Fuck, I never get so nervous to go to an audition. Anyway, I look good, it's been a while since the last time I got dressed up since I always wear sweatpants, Crocs and an oversize T-shirt when I'm at home.

The elevator bell startles me and the doors open. The hall shows a dark hardwood floor and a gorgeous oriental carpet in blue and silver shades, a crystal chandelier and nothing else... only a wooden door. I check my watch quicky: I got here a minute earlier than the agreed time... Perfect, she won't scold me about that. I take a last deep breath and knock on the door instead of turning around and running away. This is ridiculous... it could be the biggest mistake of my life. Or maybe she'd be able to solve my problem...