Chapter 2 - The Letter
1009 Words
The door slammed behind Elsie.
“OUT!”
“I was going!”
Her grandmother’s voice followed her through the open window.
“And don’t come back until you learn how to respect breakfast!”
Elsie stood on the porch, holding the remains of her dignity in one hand and rubbing her forehead with the other.
She looked back at the little cream-colored house.
“I have been banished.”
From inside came her grandmother’s reply.
“Good.”
Elsie sighed.
“Cruel.”
She stepped off the porch and began walking down the garden path.
The morning sun was still warm, and Willowbrook looked exactly as it always did—peaceful, bright, and completely unconcerned with her current suffering.
She had barely reached the crooked wooden fence when someone called her name.
“Elsie!”
She turned.
A tall young man was walking toward her from the neighboring house.
He carried a large envelope in one hand.
His dark hair was slightly messy, and his expression held the unmistakable amusement of someone who had clearly witnessed enough of the morning’s chaos.
Elsie narrowed her eyes.
“What?”
He held up the envelope.
“Delivery.”
She stared at it.
“Are you the mailman now?”
“No.”
“Then why are you carrying my mail?”
“Because your grandmother asked me to bring it over.”
Elsie looked suspiciously at him.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Immensely.”
Ethan Bennett grinned.
He was Mrs. Bennett’s eldest grandson and had grown up in Willowbrook, which meant he had known Elsie for practically her entire life.
He had also developed a particular talent for appearing whenever she was embarrassed.
Unfortunately, that talent had not disappeared with age.
Elsie reached for the envelope.
“Give me that.”
Ethan pulled it away.
“Say please.”
“Ethan.”
“That’s not please.”
“Ethan Bennett.”
“Still not please.”
“I will tell your grandmother you stole my mail.”
His smile disappeared.
“You wouldn’t.”
“I absolutely would.”
He immediately handed it over.
“Here.”
Elsie smiled sweetly.
“Thank you.”
“You’re terrifying.”
“I’ve been told.”
She looked down at the envelope.
Her smile faded.
The name printed across the front caught her attention.
Westbridge International.
Her heart skipped.
For a moment, she simply stared.
Ethan noticed.
“What?”
Elsie didn’t answer.
She turned the envelope over.
Her fingers suddenly felt strangely cold.
“Elsie?”
She looked toward the house.
“Grandma!”
Her grandmother appeared at the doorway, still holding the newspaper from earlier.
“What now?”
Elsie held up the envelope.
“I think this is my appointment letter.”
Her grandmother’s expression changed instantly.
“Your what?”
“My appointment letter.”
Mrs. Bennett, who had been standing nearby, immediately stepped closer.
“Appointment letter?”
Elsie nodded.
“For Westbridge International.”
For a second, nobody spoke.
Then her grandmother’s face slowly broke into the proudest smile Elsie had ever seen.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
Elsie smiled.
“I think I got the job.”
Her grandmother walked straight toward her and took both her hands.
“I knew you would.”
“Grandma—”
“I told everyone you would.”
“You did not.”
“I absolutely did.”
Mrs. Bennett laughed.
“She did. She told me you were going to make something of yourself before you were even old enough to understand what that meant.”
Elsie looked down at the envelope.
Her voice softened.
“I didn’t think they’d actually choose me.”
Her grandmother gently touched her cheek.
“Why wouldn’t they?”
“Because I’m just starting.”
“You’re starting with an excellent degree, excellent grades, and a recommendation letter good enough to make your grandmother unbearable.”
Mrs. Bennett nodded seriously.
“She has been unbearable.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Bennett.”
“It’s a compliment.”
Ethan folded his arms.
“So this is the famous job?”
Elsie nodded.
“Westbridge International.”
He whistled.
“That’s impressive.”
Her grandmother immediately lifted her chin.
“My granddaughter is impressive.”
Elsie groaned.
“Grandma.”
“What?”
“Please don’t start.”
“I am going to start.”
“Please don’t.”
“I am going to tell everyone.”
“Grandma.”
“Mrs. Bennett already knows.”
Mrs. Bennett smiled.
“I’ll help her.”
Elsie looked between them.
“This is becoming a conspiracy.”
Ethan leaned toward her.
“Congratulations, genius.”
Elsie smiled.
“Thank you.”
“Although…”
She looked at him suspiciously.
“Although what?”
“You realize working at Westbridge means you’ll have to behave like a professional now.”
“I can behave professionally.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“You threw a cinnamon pastry at your grandmother ten minutes ago.”
“It was an accident.”
“You also nearly fell down the stairs.”
“I recovered.”
“And you argued that pastries belong to the grain food group.”
Elsie pointed at him.
“That was scientifically valid.”
Mrs. Bennett burst out laughing.
Her grandmother shook her head.
“God help Westbridge International.”
Elsie folded her arms.
“You’re all very supportive.”
Her grandmother wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“We are.”
Then she looked at the envelope again.
Her voice became softer.
“And we’re proud of you.”
Elsie’s teasing expression disappeared.
For a moment, she simply leaned against her grandmother.
The appointment letter suddenly felt heavier in her hand.
Not because she was afraid.
Because it meant something.
It was the beginning.
A new job.
A new city.
A new life.
Elsie looked down at the name printed on the envelope.
Westbridge International.
She smiled.
She had no idea that this single letter would eventually lead her straight into a world of chaos.
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