Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
“I figured you may need these. You’ve been here for over ten years. I’m certain you’ve accumulated a lot over time.” Honey ignored her and kept moving, shoving papers, decorations, trophies and other stuff in her wicker baskets. Her heart pounded in her chest and angry tears burned her eyes.
This time, she didn’t blink them away. This time, they fell to her blouse, darkening the magenta satin button-down shirt she adored. Once she was finished, the two brutes walked her out of the building to her car in the parking garage. One held a big box of her belongings while the other loaded her baskets in the trunk of her White Toyota Prius.
“Good luck to you,” the Black guard muttered. “Keep ya head up. You know how they do us.” He snickered, as if it were somehow funny.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” the other guard questioned, irritation registering on his face. “Who’s they, man?”
She didn’t wait to listen to their pending argument. Getting in the car, she started the engine and the radio began to play The Weeknd’s, ‘Save Your Tears.’ She laughed at the irony, shook her head, and drove like a maniac out of the large winding garage, onto the street. Grabbing a tissue, she dabbed the corners of her eyes and began to sing along with the lyrics.
I’ll just have a pity party tonight, then pull myself together. I better polish up my resume but knowing Teresa, she’s already started to blackball me.
Right as she pulled up to her apartment building on Fruitland Drive, her cellphone rang. She placed the call on Bluetooth as she maneuvered into her parking space under the covered awning. It was the Managing Editor, Michael Silver. Big boss man. She turned off the music, took a deep breath, and answered.
“Hello, Mr. Silver.”
“Hi, Honey… I, uh, I heard you left today.”
“Left? Is that what they call it now? I’m on probation which is the waiting room for being fired. Once the nurse calls me back to see the doctor, it’s a wrap.” She was met with a light, breezy chuckle, which surprised her.
“Honey, I love ya, I really do. You’re an amazing talent. Please don’t take what happened today personally. You’re a gifted lady and your portfolio and work history speaks for itself, but the bottom line is that your actions have cost us a lotta money in court over the years, and you keep getting into trouble. Trouble that’s not necessary and could’ve been avoided.”
“But I—”
“No, I’m not going to go back ’nd forth with you about this. You’re smart. You know what you did was a mess. You know you’ve overstepped boundaries, and it’s not up for discussion. What is up for discussion are several assignments I think you can put your arms around in the meantime. It’ll help you prove yourself, so you can get out of this jam with Teresa, come back after the three months, and it’ll allow ya to still be on the payroll throughout your probation.”
She swallowed and closed her eyes. Michael Silver was a gorgeous silver fox, with a silver tongue and a silver spoon in his mouth—hailing from a rich family originally from Long Island, New York. He had moved to L.A. over thirty years ago to pursue an acting career that never took off, then went into journalism instead and blew up big time. He was actually damn good, and earned his stripes with hard work and dedication. He was also a well-known pervert that never got caught doing his dirty work. But rumors had spread for years, nonetheless. The 59-year-old was divorced four times, had three adult attorney children, and the man was in great shape, especially for his seasoned age.
He was still holding tight to his playboy card, and was more than likely a damn narcissist according to many stories she’d heard about him over the years. Despite all of that, if you knew him, he could help you in the industry. And if he liked you, he’d make you a deal. Unfortunately, it often involved removal of one’s bra and panties and feeding his role-playing kink. Some cops and robbers bullshit.
“What assignments, Mr. Silver?”
“Well, they are all remote, the same city, actually. I got a call yesterday from an editor pal of mine from the Denver Bulletin, who could use some help. The first assignment is about some new restaurant chain opening in Denver, Colorado.”
She sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. Well, at least it’s better than the story they made me cover about the missing garden gnomes leaving people’s yards mysteriously in the middle of the night.
“Okay, and is the focus the launch of these new restaurants, or something else?”
“It’s the launch, and the eclectic menu. It’s unique from my understanding, and if all goes well, they’ll wanna build some in L.A. in the next year or so. If we get the jump on the story, it’ll make it even better. The other assignments are smaller and will take less time, but they’ll keep you busy. So, how ’bout it?”