The Writer's Dilemma

Let The Hardships Begin

            Jocelyn interrogated Audrey as soon as she exited from the CEO’s office, making sure that Marius had remained professional in their meeting. At seeing the work schedule, Jocelyn’s face turned red with fury. “No one treats their employees like this anymore!” She exclaimed. Audrey slapped a hand over her agent’s mouth.

                “Would you please!” Audrey pushed her agent into a cubicle, ducking in after her. “It’s for one month. If I do it well my career… our career will take off,” Audrey begged her. Jocelyn huffed but visibly relaxed.

                “I’m not sure if a month with him,” Jocelyn flipped her head back towards the CEO office, “is worth it. Just promise me you will be careful.” Audrey nodded her head. “Don’t forget to complete your previous assignment,” She mentioned drearily, taking her leave of the cubicle. Audrey sighed, wishing she could go home, instead she walked back to her own cubicle and began to revise the previous work she had been working on.

                Her cellphone chimed alerting her to a new text message. Opening her phone, she noticed it was from Wyatt.

Wyatt: How is your day going? Anything new you are working on?

                Audrey smiled, feeling happy that someone had taken notice of her work.

Audrey: I was awarded a new assignment today. I think it will progress my career but I’m not thrilled about it. I hope you’ll still like my work. How is your day?

                Audrey reviewed a few more items of her previous assignment before another chime sounded.

Wyatt: I’m sorry to hear that. You should write what you like to write about instead of focusing on your career. I’m sure no matter what you write I’ll enjoy it. Marius and Pierre had a schedule today so I’ve been following them all day.

                Audrey suddenly felt giddy at the knowledge of that information.  She felt happy for the first time since that morning.

Wyatt: Would you like a picture? I can’t give you

Clearance to give it to the press though.

                Audrey choked on her saliva, spluttering as she raced to message Wyatt back.

Audrey: Yes! You literally have the best job ever!

                Less than a minute later a photo popped up of Pierre and Kerem, the two of them standing in front of a green screen making funny faces. Kerem’s face was full of laughter, contagious enough to bring a wide smile to Audrey’s face. The night continued in this manner, the back and forth messages and a little revision in between. She finally sent the final email to Jocelyn as the clock ticked eleven. Audrey stretched, yawned, and began putting her things away when a knock on her cubicle got her attention.

                “Jocelyn, I finished the assignment,” She blurted out without looking who it was. There was no reply. In the corner of her eye, she noticed a much taller figure leaning against the wall of her cubicle. Marius had his hands in his pockets, his eyes menacingly searching her face.

                “Let’s get dinner,” he offered. Audrey clenched her fingers in a ball.

                “That doesn’t sound very professional,” She began to pack her things again, preventing herself from doing anything crazy.

                “We’ll talk about work.”

                “Is this an order for rule one?”

                “Depends on your answer.”

                Jocelyn suddenly appeared at the entrance of the cubicle, looking between the two of them. “I received your final layout and I’ve sent it along,” Jocelyn announced. Audrey nodded, relaxing with her appearance.

                “Maybe another time,” Marius left as quickly as he appeared.

                “He asked me to go to dinner,” Audrey explained before Kim could begin to harass her. Jocelyn clucked again. “Don’t start. It’s late and it has been a long day. Let’s go,” Audrey pulled Jocelyn along to the bank of elevators and out to the bus. They separated a few stops later. As the bus reached her stop, she received another message.

Wyatt: Make it home?

Audrey: Just arrived.

Wyatt: Pretty girls shouldn’t stay out late.

Audrey: Usually I don’t but work took a little longer to finish. Thanks for the compliment

                Audrey gushed to herself as she walked into her shared apartment. She knew her parents would already be asleep. She walked straight to her room, dropping all of her things on the floor by her bed.

Wyatt: I won’t keep you up. Get some rest. Good night.

Audrey: Good night.

                Just as Audrey was preparing to turn her phone off and go to sleep a notification popped up. Kerem had started a live video on his social media. Audrey quickly clicked into it, allowing it a few moments to process before Kerem’s sleepy face appeared on the screen.

                “Hey everyone! I’m tired today after a day full of events. Look forward to more writing from Pierre and me soon! I hope that tomorrow will be better and brighter for all of you! Good night! Good night!” His video ended shortly after, followed closely by Audrey closing her eyes.

                Audrey woke with a start, her phone ringing endlessly in her ear. Her eyes half-closed; she answered the call. “My dear Audrey, good morning! I hope you haven’t forgotten rule number two! Also, if you could arrive at work thirty minutes earlier than usual, I would appreciate it very much,” Audrey sat up in bed, her heart drumming madly at Marius’s deep voice. A click notified her that he had ended the call. Audrey growled as she forced her body out of bed and into the shower. Less than thirty minutes later she was walking out of the apartment, her heels clicking on the tile floor, a bag strapped over her shoulder, and a coffee in her hand. The commute to her office building was quieter than usual and the office felt nearly deserted as she dropped her things off in her cubicle. “Meeting room, five minutes,” Marius swung by, knocking on the wall of her cubicle. Audrey sighed, grabbing her coffee and laptop as she left for the meeting room. When she entered, Marius was sitting on a chair at the end of the table, his feet propped up, his hands behind his head. The table was filled with a variety of different food.

                “What’s this?” Audrey questioned, glaring at Marius, who sat forward, leaning towards her with a special gleam in his eye.

                “Food. I remember you always skipped breakfast. I thought we could eat while we discussed our schedule,” He inched closer.

                “We already discussed our schedule. I’m not due to start that till next week,” Audrey followed him closely with her eyes as he approached.

                “I need help coming up with ideas for the first photoshoot. I remember you used to be good with that kind of thing. The deadline is tonight,” Marius flashed her a bone-chilling smile.  Audrey clenched her jaw as was becoming unsatisfied with how things were going.

                “Then, I hope we can keep it professional. There was no need to buy me food,” Audrey sat at the table, ignoring the food in front of her.

                “I’ve missed you. Can’t I do something nice for you?”

                Audrey thought she could feel his fingers tickle the back of her neck, but when she looked, he was still a few feet away from her. She could feel her body begin to shake again. “For the photo shoots, I think it would be best to portray things you like to do,” Audrey ignored him, going into work mode. The smell of the food continued to waft in the air, fogging her brain. Marius sat on the oak table, looking intensely at her, nodding his head. “What are some things you like to do?” Audrey asked. Marius continued to nod.

                “Work.”

                “So, we can do a photo shoot in your office or an office. What else?”

                “Taking walks.”

                “We can do an outside theme, either find a favorite place of yours or a green screen. Those two I will arrange for the first photo shoot,” Audrey sighed, typed away as her stomach grumbled.

                “I must say you do follow instructions well. Your outfit today… suits you,” Marius’s voice became deeper, more intimidating. Audrey briefly closed her eyes, letting her mind go completely blank for a minute as she listened to the clock ticking on the wall. The smell of freshly brewed coffee swirled in the air.

                “Give me two more of your hobbies,” Let this meeting be over, she bit her tongue.

                “Hmmm… shopping… and you,” His voiced lowered even more so. His hand rested on hers for the briefest of seconds, startling her and sending a shiver up her spine. She froze, unsure if she should run out of the room or confront him. “Model kits,” the workaholic Marius returned before she could decide what to do. “I guess you’ll figure everything out. Keep me informed. I’ll send you a list of places I take walks at and the brands of the model kits I use. Dismissed,” He spoke quickly, exiting the meeting room in a hurry. Audrey let out a heavy sigh, feeling like she could breathe normally for the first time since entering. The finished typing a few details before looking at her phone, noting two things: it was normal working hours and Wyatt had messaged her.

                “Why are you here so early?” Jocelyn’s voice floated into the room. Audrey jumped at the voice, patting her chest just above her heart. She whined, holding her arms open for a hug from her agent, explaining everything in whispered tones. She’s going to freak again; Audrey rolled her eyes as her agent went into another uproar about quitting the assignment. She opened her phone to her messages, reading the one from Wyatt.

Wyatt: Good morning! Hope you slept well! I can’t explain it but since meeting you I’m smiling from the moment I wake up till I fall asleep. I feel like I’m no longer alone. Hope your day goes smoothly. This fan is cheering for you!

                Audrey unconsciously smiled, typed as she walked towards her cubicle, Jocelyn continuously complaining in her ear.

Audrey: Thankfully I have met you to distract me from my current assignment. Only your kind words have kept me from losing my mind. I owe you a lot. Thank you!

                The rest of the week followed in the same fashion, Marius called her into work early every day, while Wyatt kept her sane with his sweet message throughout the day.