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“I did have a question, though,” Mercedes adds, and Carly nods. “Whatever happened with all that? I looked for hours for a follow-up article but I didn’t see one.”
“Oh, I’m not really sure. Our boss, Mr. Klein, didn’t even want me to publish the first one but I’ve got a few friends over there, and they helped me sneak it past him. He was furious when it came out and wouldn’t even hear me out on a follow-up article.”
Mercedes rolls her eyes and sighs. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Hence, why we’re here,” Carly adds, looking over to me, and I smile at her.
“Right, of course. Well, follow me and I’ll give you a quick tour of the office.” She waves her arm for us to follow behind her, and we make our way down a hallway that branches out into a large open room with private offices lining both sides of it.
“This is our conference room of sorts. We meet in here once a week to talk about articles coming up and the schedule. We usually rotate pieces so there is something new on the blog for fans each day, but Ali, your column would be twice a week. We’ve already got so much interest in an advice column, and I can’t wait to get the first article out.”
Both Carly and I nod as she explains everything, and the longer she goes on, the more excited I get. I already feel inspired to write, and I’m anxious to get settled in my office and get to work.
Mercedes points to one of two doors at the front of the room and says, “That office is mine, and Ali, yours is the one right next to me.”
My eyes widen, and I wonder how I got the office right next to the boss, and I catch Mercedes smiling at me out of the corner of my eye. “The advice column is kind of like a new branch of the blog so essentially, we would be partners.”
“Wow, I wasn’t expecting that.”
She smiles at my response. “Go ahead and check it out while I show Carly to her office and then we can talk some more.”
I agree and head toward my new office while Mercedes takes Carly into one of the offices on my left. A smile spreads across my face as soon as I walk in the door. It feels right, like I’m supposed to be here. The walls are purple but the rest of the furniture throws off a somewhat masculine vibe that balances the space. There is a large glass desk in front of a wall of windows that looks out into the city I love. In front of the desk are two pristine white lounge chairs that look like you just sink into them and never come out again.
“Like it?” Mercedes asks, stepping into the office behind me, and I turn to face her, grinning.
“Yeah, I love it.”
“There was this study that said purple promotes creativity but you’re welcome to change it if you would prefer something else.”
I shake my head. “No, I really do love it.”
“Good, sit down and let’s chat then.” I move behind the desk and sit in the office chair while Mercedes sits in one of the lounge chairs across from me.
“So, like I said, we’ve had a ton of interest in the column already, and I’ll have one of the interns bring you the letters. You can go through and pick a couple that you want to answer first. I’d really love to do one a day during launch week just to kick things off right.”
I nod, looking down at the desk calendar laid out in front of me. “And when were you thinking launch week would be?”
“Uh, well, kind of this week. Do you think you can write a response a day?”
“Okay,” I laugh, looking down at the calendar again. “Yeah, I think I can manage that.”
She claps her hands together and smiles. “Perfect. I’ll have those letters here soon.”
“Thanks, Mercedes,” I say, and she smiles as she stands and leaves my office. I take a deep breath and lean back in my chair, looking around my office and soaking up this feeling of happiness that I’m unaccustomed to feeling at work. My phone buzzes on the desk, and I scoop it up.
Storm:
How you feelin’?
I bite down on my lip as I try to fight back a smile. It’s just a simple text but it makes me practically giddy.
Me:
I’m good.
I set my phone on the desk, staring at it intently and willing it to buzz again. When it does, I jump and snatch it up.
Storm:
