„I can’t believe it.“ 

„I know.“ 

„I mean, I really can’t believe it.“

„I know.“

„This is insanity, Eve. Insanity!“ Sandra said, being in deep shock. 

She just learned from her best friend what has happened this afternoon and tried to process. 

Sandra was having long red wavy hair, green eyes and a sporty body-shape. Like Eve she just turned 30, being single. Sandra was also an assistant at the same company Eve was still working for. Both girls were sitting at Eve’s sofa and enjoying a glass of white wine. 

„How could you not recognize his face? What the hell is wrong with you?“ Sandra continued talking. 

Eve rolled her eyes, taking a sip. 

„You know I have trouble remembering faces.“ 

„But this was Justin Timberlake. Justin.Timberlake. Everybody on that planet knows his face. You hear me? Everybody!“

„Now you’re officially overreacting.“ 

Sandra shook her head. Then she emptied her glass, asking for refill. Eve stood up and went into her open kitchen. She grabbed the wine out of the fridge and returned to the sofa. 

„Leave the bottle here. I really need a lot of alcohol tonight.“ 

Eve chuckled. 

„You’re nuts.“ 

„And you’re… honestly… I have no words to describe what you are…“ Sandra replied. 

Eve sat down next to her again, taking another sip.

„On top of that, you screwed up the job interview.“ Sandra continued blaming. 

Eve took a deep breath. 

„It wasn’t meant to be. I mean, there was coffee on my blouse twice. Twice, Sandy. This was a sign. The universe was very obviously trying to stop me from doing that interview.“

„Ya, probably. But at least you met JT. And you were bold enough asking for his damn shirt.“ 

Eve smirked. 

„I think this is a cool story.“

„Despite of the fact, that you had no idea who you were dealing with, I totally agree.“

„He’s really a nice guy. No superstar attitude or something. Honestly, I’m impressed how down to earth he was.“ 

„And he flirted with you.“ Sandra added, with a shady grin in her face.

„I wouldn’t go that far claiming that.“ 

„He said your perfume smells good.“

„Because it’s a fact. My perfume smells good.“

„Yes, but men don’t say those things without having a hidden agenda.“

„Sandy, please don’t work up into this, okay? He’s married to a Hollywood actress, right? I don’t think I can compete with such a woman.“

„Her name is Jessica Biel, in case you didn’t know.“

„Of course I didn’t know.“ 

Sandra rolled her eyes. 

„You’re impossible. How can it be you know nothing about celebrities?“

„Because I simply don’t care.“

„Then why you applied at a record company?“

„You want an honest answer?“ 

„Of course I want an honest answer.“

„I can walk from here to their office. It takes me less than five minutes. It seemed comfortable, not standing in the traffic jam anymore.“

„I completely understand, as I hate the L.A. traffic, too. But you really should have prepared yourself better.“ 

„I know.“

„Did you google the boss in the meanwhile?“ 

Eve frowned. 

„For what reason should I google this guy after screwing things up?“ 

„Just to make sure, he isn’t another celebrity, which you didn’t recognize.“

„I don’t think so.“

Sandra gave her friend an skeptical look. Then she grabbed her phone out of her pocket.

„What was his name again?“ 

„Chasez.“ 

„First name?“ 

„Dunno.“ 

„Fine, let’s try just the last name.“ 

Eve was curious now and moved a little closer. Both girls were staring at the screen, waiting for the google results. 

„Oh fuck,“ they said at once.

Sandra scrolled hectically through the browser. Then she opened Wikipedia. Both were busy skimming the article. 

„Here you go! He’s a member of *NSYNC. It makes totally sense. Justin was also in the band.“ Sandra said excited.

„Oh. Ya… now everything makes sense.“ Eve repeated, getting lost in thoughts.

Sandra scoffed. 

„Chasez was in a boyband. And you dared talking shit about pop music. I totally understand why he was pissed off.“

„I wonder why Justin didn’t tell me, that he knew the boss. He just said his best friend was working there.“ 

„Well, he didn’t lie to you. He just didn’t tell the whole story.“ 

Eve’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. 

„Jesus! I told him the boss was an asshole!“ 

Sandra laughed out loud. 

„You couldn’t screw up things any harder, girl.“ 

Eve grabbed her face and deeply sighed. 

„Ya. I agree to that.“ 

„But you must know, *NSYNC was a big deal back in those days. I liked their music,“ Sandra said next. 

„I know. You listen to every shit,“ Eve teased. 

„I really mean it. Their songs were good. Bye Bye Bye? Tearin’ up my heart? Any bells ringing?“ 

„I have an idea what you mean,“ Eve said annoyed. „I also lived in the nineties.“ 

„This fact makes things even worse. I can’t stress it enough: How could you not recognize Timberlake’s face?“

Eve rolled his eyes again.

„Get over it, Sandy. It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m pretty sure I’ll never see him again. Or his grumpy bandmate.“

Eve woke up in the next morning by the sound of her cell. She was still half asleep, as she grabbed the phone from her bedside table. There was no caller ID. 

„7 AM. What kind of person calls at 7 AM?“

She decided to let it ring and returned into sleep. 

Half hour later it rang again. Being terribly annoyed, Eve took her phone and picked up.

„Yes?“ she said, her voice still being sleepy.

„Did I wake you up?“ she heard a male voice saying. 

„Who is this?“ she asked confused. 

„JC.“

„Who?“ 

JC rolled his eyes. He tried hard not making an inappropriate comment. 

„JC Chasez.“ 

Eve needed a second to sort her mind. 

„Um, are you sure it’s me you wanted to call? Did you mix something up?“

„I didn’t mix anything up, Ms. Harper.“ JC said with serious voice. 

„Okay. So, what do you want? Did I forget something in your office?“ 

„Honestly spoken, you make things really hard.“ he replied, being annoyed from her offhanded tone. 

„I make things… hard?“

JC rolled his eyes again. Her innuendo was completely out of place. But he decided ignoring her boldness. 

„Are you still interested working for me, Ms. Harper?“

Eve’s heart dropped. 

„Is this the reason you called me?“ she asked in disbelief. 

„It is,“ he replied, his voice being still serious and stern. 

„Oh… um… are you really sure you didn't mix anything up?“ she stammered. 

Josh sighed, trying hard to keep himself calm.

„Answer my question.“ 

Eve was overwhelmed. This was the last thing she expected to happen. She believed she was still dreaming. 

„Depends,“ she finally said. 

„From what?“ he wanted to know. 

„If you’re willing to accept my salary requirement.“ 

„I am. But I want you to know, I have high exceptions in your work.“

„I can deal with that.“ 

There was a short pause. 

„Your notice period is four weeks, as I can tell from your CV,“ he said next. 

„That’s right.“ 

„Can you make it sooner?“ 

„Um… ya… I can ask my boss, if I can leave earlier.“

„Good. Inform me, as soon as you know.“ 

„I will.“ 

There was another pause. 

„Ms. Harper?“ 

„Yes?

„I start work at seven.“

„Well. I don’t,“ she said sassy. 

„Not, yet.“ 

Then he hung up, without saying goodbye. Eve needed a moment to process. 

„Did this really just happen?“