The Editor's Favorite

Chapter 6

I stand there in shock with my back to the door. Jeez, this couldn’t be happening. It’s like something out of a book or a movie. Or that scene in The Wedding Planner where JLo’s savior is also the groom whom she’s planning the wedding for. 

He stares at me in silence as all these thoughts flow quickly through my mind. His green eyes aren’t soft like they were this weekend as he led me into his apartment. That’s gone, leaving the hard gaze of a professional behind. His suit is tailored to show off his athletic physique, the sleeves of his white Oxford rolled up showing his strong forearms. He was wearing a vest over his shirt and... is that an old-fashioned pocket watch attached to it? Good lord, this man - MY BOSS, I remind myself - is sexy as sin - day or night. 

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I got your last name…” he says, breaking the tense silence. 

I clear my throat nervously, “James. I’m Claudia James.” 

He stares at me for a moment and I wonder what’s going through his head. 

“Well, Ms. James. We here at The State of the Empire are happy to have you among this year's crop of interns,” he says impersonally. “If you’re here that means that your work is phenomenal and you have true potential. We won’t go easy on you here. Every word of praise is earned and we dole those out sparingly. We’re building a brand excellence and I expect nothing less from every person who works here. Are we understood?”

I silently, and slowly, nod my head.

“Great. You’re dismissed.”

I turn to leave the room, my hand is on the knob when his voice directly behind me stops me. Damn, I didn’t even hear him move. 

“And Claudia, just so you know, we don’t take kindly to people…. Sneaking off without handing in their resignation letters, or saying goodbye, at the very least. If you’re overwhelmed, please speak to your mentor.”

I escape the office, closing the door behind me softly, and let out a huge breath I didn’t know I was holding in. Everyone is staring at me. They’re on phone calls, typing at their computers, but they’re looking at me like I’m an alien. Or maybe that's the paranoia speaking, I am the new girl after all. 

I take a deep breath and lift my chin a bit. Just a little bit longer and I can escape to dinner with the girls, they'll have wise words for me.