Conversations
1052 Words
“I remember,” Kerem’s voice had interrupted the process of Audrey opening her phone. She looked up, meeting Kerem’s eyes once again, his admittance giving her a pleasurable warmth. His gaze was sad and serious. “I felt so bad that day, that my manager interrupted us. I don’t know what it was but it seemed a very important meeting, the two of us.” He continued, speaking in a soft but firm tone, his eyes never wavering from hers. Audrey bowed her head, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
“The picture was a wonderful retribution,” She insisted, smiling at him. The smile was returned with one of his own.
“Kerem! Don’t keep Audrey all to yourself,” Pierre appeared at their side, chiding his co-author. Kerem didn’t say anything as he allowed Audrey to show them out of her cubicle, around the main floor of Blank Multimedia, and ending up at the small kitchen in the back, talking and laughing randomly. Audrey couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so free and open to talk to anyone.
“So, Miss Marchand.”
“Audrey, please.”
“Ok, Audrey… you must tell us how you became a fan of our writing and why,” Pierre chirped, the room becoming silent as Audrey turned her eyes onto Kerem.
“The thing is… I was having a hard time a few years ago. That was until I stumbled upon your books and your words… they uplifted me and made me see a new light. In particular, Kerem’s writing I became intrigued with,” Audrey gave a weak smile, unsure of how they would take this bit of information. Pierre gave a knowing laugh, nudging his friend.
“I’m so glad that my writing has been able to help you,” Kerem leaned in, lowering his voice. At this, Audrey remembered another thing.
“Do you know your manager Wyatt Langlois?” Audrey looked around, wondering where the agent had disappeared to, missing the look that Pierre and Kerem gave each other.
“Of course! How could we not? He is our manager after all. He’s a really good guy! Very funny,” Pierre winked just as Marius turned the corner and approached them.
“We are ready for lunch,” He announced, looking at all of them in turn, ending up with his dark, cloudy eyes on Audrey. She raised her eyebrows in surprise, shocked that the time had flown by so fast. Pierre piped up, obviously excited with the thought of food, and led all of them out of the kitchen.
“Would it be ok if I sat next to you during lunch?” Kerem’s voice intruded her thoughts, his voice as soft as a whisper. Audrey, pleasantly surprised once again, nodded her head as her nerves kept her from thinking of any works to say. She never imagined in a million years that she would get to enjoy a lunch sitting next to her literary crush. They entered the large meeting room where they had met that morning, pizza boxes spread out on the long table in the center of the room, most of Blank Multimedia’s employees standing around eating and talking in groups. The news of collaborating with Claudel publishers being the main topic of discussion.
Kerem pulled a chair out, offering it to Audrey, who took it in a hushed word of thanks. He took the seat next to her, his eyes never leaving her own. Pierre, finding an opportunity, began to mingle with one group after another, his voice echoing through the crowd. “So, which of our books is your favorite, if you don’t mind me asking?” The room seemed to fall away as if it was only the two of them left.
“All of them,” Audrey answered truthfully. Out of all the books she read of Kerem and Pierre’s they all had become her favorite. Kerem studied her, and Audrey thought he was testing her to see if she was telling the truth. Kerem smiled sheepishly once more, letting his pearly white teeth to show through.
“I guess that is fair. Many writers at Claudel Publishers find your writing to be very refreshing. I myself don’t think could pick out a favorite of your writing,” Kerem’s chocolate brown eyes squinted happily. “That’s right. I, too, am a fan of your writing Miss Marchand. I would very much like to have a private conversation with you sometime, about writing,” Audrey lowered her gaze, sure she was blushing with his words. Here she was sitting next to her Kerem, the one writer she looked up to above all others and he wanted to have a private conversation with her? She thought she would die with Kerem sitting so close to her, staring at her in a very serious nature, until Pierre saved her by approaching them.
“Kerem! I like it so much here! Everyone is so friendly!” Pierre took a seat on Audrey’s other side, reaching across the table for a slice of pizza. “Let’s come here to work on our writing from now on!” Pierre suggested. Kerem stood, excusing himself as he grabbed Pierre’s arm and pulled him away from the table, talking to his co-author in a nearby corner.
“Seems like they get along well with you,” Audrey felt someone stir next to her and she didn’t need to turn to tell that it was Marius. “Just remember that you belong to me. Only me,” Marius’s voice was so low now that only she could hear, his breath brushing her ear. She reached up grabbing the necklace that hung over her chest, steadying her heartbeat as Marius left and Pierre and Kerem returned.
“Let’s eat,” Pierre smiled as he came back, sitting next to her once again. He helped place a plate of pizza in front of her as Kerem resumed the seat he had occupied previously.
“I apologize for him. Sometimes he can be a little airheaded,” Kerem playfully rolled his eyes. Audrey smiled, not feeling quite as light-hearted as before, garnering a different expression from Kerem before his eyes looked up and behind her. A glass of water appeared in front of her.
“For you,” Marius interrupted their conversation. Audrey didn’t look at him, only continued to twirl the pendant on her necklace, looking around the room instead of at anyone in particular.
- Writer
