Exes' Baggage And More

Chapter Two

Macy sighed when she found a pile of manuscripts on her desk. Well, don’t get her wrong, she really likes her job and what she does but she thinks she somehow has the right to be fed up with all these routines, right? Then she turned and saw some of her employees were busy with their respective jobs.

“What time is the meeting with Writer Coangco?” she asked rather loudly, startling some of the employees.

The four employees turned and looked at each other. Hope one of them answers the question. Macy sighed softly. Was she really such a terrifying and intimidating boss that no one would dare to answer such an easy question?

“Who is in charge of arranging the meeting?” she asked again.

An employee raised his hand. "I am, ma’am. Er… Writer Coangco called yesterday and they said that they will come around eleven in the morning.”

Macy nodded slightly. "Prepare everything. Ask the setter whether the sample for the cover has been completed. Ah, contact the printing department too.” She instructed.

"Noted, ma’am!" cried the four officers.

Macy then entered her office and walked towards her desk. She put her briefcase on the chair and took one of the manuscripts and skimmed it. She saw that there were several notes from the employee who was in charge of being the editor for the script. Well, before being declared eligible for publication, all manuscripts must get approval from her before entering the next stage.

Macy sighed and put the manuscript back on the pile. “Hah.. today is going to be such a long day.”

She muttered before she started his work.

*****

Andrew looked at his reflection in the big mirror. He prepared to go to the publisher's office. After tidying up his clothes, he opened one of the drawers and took out a box containing his glasses. Making sure that his cellphone and wallet were in his jacket pocket, Andrew then walked out of the room and saw David who was finishing a bowl of ramen.

"You haven't had breakfast yet?" he asked as wear his glasses.

His agent turned and mumbled softly. “I have to get the keys before coming here.”

Andrew approached his agent and saw a car key on the dining table. "Oh, the car has arrived?" he asked with a big smile.

Well, Andrew missed his car. It took a long time to arrange the shipment from Singapore. Of course, besides bringing all his belongings, Andrew will bring his favorite car, no matter where he goes. He loves it too much.

"That's how it is. I should have just picked it up this afternoon, but I'm sure you don't want to take a taxi, do you?” David answered as he stood up and took the bowl of used ramen to the kitchen sink. "Have you found the editor's business card?"

"Yes, I did. Macy Bianca Cruz. I wonder, is she my age? How is she as a person?"

David shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe she is younger than you. Because honestly, when I first met her, I didn't think she was your age. And I think you can work well with her. Editor Cruz looks so professional with her work. And oh, by the way, she is the youngest editor-in-chief at St. Haven."

“The youngest editor-in-chief?” Andrew repeated.

“I heard that when she was appointed to be editor-in-chief, she was only twenty-seven years old. Her career is so good and she has handled a lot of big projects. I think if the project with you is successful, she will get another promotion," said David.

Andrew's eyebrows rose. "Is that true? Then I wouldn't have to worry, would I?”

His agent patted Andrew's shoulder. “Hey, did you really think I would find an incompetent publisher for you, eh? Don't worry, I've checked her reputation as well as her background. Shall we go now?”

Andrew took his car keys. "We're going in my car!"

“Up to you, Writer Coangco.”

*****

Macy glanced at the watch on her wrist. Almost eleven o'clock. Writer Coangco is coming soon. She put down the last manuscript she checked and prepared to go to the meeting room. At the very least, Macy should recheck all the preparations to prevent any disaster that might have arisen later.

She grabbed her phone and walked out of the room. Macy saw that some of the staff's desks were empty – maybe they were already in the meeting room. So, she headed to the room at the end of the hall.

Her phone vibrated as she was about to open the door. A message from Hani.

Lawyer Kim:

Macy…

The judge has approved your divorce. Tomorrow I'll meet with his Lawyer to talk about Marcus’ custody.

I'll call you back later.

Macy became silent for a moment as she re-read the message. She is now officially divorced. She doesn’t know if she should feel happy or sad. There are no words to describe what she is feeling right now.

Macy kept her cell phone in her pocket and was about to open the door when one of the employees opened it. The employee looked surprised.

"Ah, my apologies, ma’am."

"It does not matter. Everything’s ready?" she asked.

The employee nodded. “The cover design has been sent. You can see it now. Representatives from the printing department will also come. Harry is picking them up.”

“Who will welcome Writer Coangco?”

“Oh, Senior Gil is already downstairs waiting for Writer Coangco and his agent to come. Is there anything else that needs to be prepared, ma’am?”

Macy shook her head. "I'll see a sample cover. You go with Gil waiting for Writer Coangco.”

The employee nodded and gave a little space so Macy could enter the room. After that, the employee left her alone.

Macy went to the big table in the middle of the room and took a seat on one of the chairs. She saw that there were three samples of covers that had been arranged. She looked at the covers carefully – making sure that everything was in accordance with the results of the previous conversation. After that she checked three stacks of manuscripts that had gone through the editing process and had received approval from her superiors. If Writer Coangco doesn't have any complaints about the edited script and the cover for his novel, then they can continue with the printing process.

Macy took a deep breath and looked at the fingers of her left hand. To this day, she is still wearing her wedding ring with Ken. However, after the message from Hani, maybe she should let it go. After all, she is officially divorced. There's no point in continuing to wear the ring.

Macy removed the ring from her ring finger and put it in her pants pocket. She could see a faint circle mark on her ring finger, a sign that a ring has been placed on it for a long time before it wears off.

“Hah… Focus, Macy! Be professional. Think about your personal life later. You are still in the office, think about work. Focus!" she muttered softly.

*****

Andrew pays attention to the lobby of St. Haven Publishing.

Although the company is a little smaller than the publisher offices he has visited in several countries, Andrew has to admit that the interior design of St. Haven is not inferior to the interior of a publisher's office in America or Europe. By prioritizing the traditional Filipino atmosphere but still combined with a warm European-style home style.

Andrew noticed David who was talking to two employees.

“Writer Coangco, this is Gil and Yoon. They are part of the editorial team that is responsible for your novel," David introduced the two men he just had a small talk with to Andrew.

Andrew looked at the two people and bowed slightly and said hello.

“We will escort you to the meeting room. Chief Editor Cruz is waiting," said one of them. Well, Andrew doesn't know who’s who, to be fair.

Then the four of them headed for the nearest elevator. Andrew walked beside his agent.

“They call her Chief Editor Cruz. Isn't that too formal?" he whispered to David.

David glanced at Andrew. “Well, this is different from publisher offices in Europe or America. You'll get used to it later."

Yoon pressed the button for the fifteenth floor and the elevator doors closed. Then the two employees directed him and his agent to the meeting room at the end of the hall. 

“Please come in, Writer Coangco.”

A woman walked up to him and held out her hand to him. Andrew watched her carefully.

The woman then smiled faintly. “Welcome to St. Haven Publishing, Author Coangco. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Macy Cruz, the editor in charge of publishing your three novels. I am looking forward to working with you."

Andrew shook the hand of the woman named Macy Cruz. And at that moment, he swears he felt some odd sensation, so foreign when their skin touched. In addition, he felt there was something about the aura of the Editor. Unfortunately, Andrew can't even name it.

"Andrew Coangco. Nice to meet you, Editor Cruz.”

*****