Reputation and Rumours

"When was the last time you worked like you loved literature?"

Will asked as we sat, analyzing the depths of Sparks' upcoming novel. Dressed in his usual black formals with an undone collar button, Will skimmed through the script like middle-grade teachers checked the finals.

"Yesterday evening." I added, hiding a half yawn. It's a lie.

 Work started at ten today, and I walked straight into his office to save my ass from any unnecessary scoldings. If you were me, I would suggest the first thing you do in the morning before showing up at Will Turner's office is to get a cup of strong espresso. His lectures on editing ethics were as horrible as having history class on a Monday morning. Dare you yawn or blink an eye! He'd make sure you register every word in your brain or make you work to the core.

"This is stupid, Eva! Sparks writes for young teens, not for doctorates in English Lit. Have you gone through the manuscript properly?" He said irritably.

"Yeah, I think Sparks has topped the language flow prose. It would be a good chance for the young demography to explore." I defended Sparks. 

Sparks was our celebrity teen fic author for about a decade. They turned in a week ago complaining they don't feel like writing in lousy languages anymore and wanted to try out something more serious and stoic.

"You don't get it, do you?" Will put in firmly.

"Get what?"I asked in hysterics. 

That's classic jerk-Will for you!

"Do you know the majority of targeted demography these days are inclined to OTT and Entertainment industry? They are these freaking teens."

"And, you suggest?" I asked, folding the corner of the paper I was holding.

"I suggest that these kinds of books aren't for someone whose primary problem in life is to get rid of pimples! Come on, Eva! Half of the time, they seek to escape their boring lives, not a full-on literature spree with a dictionary." He said, and I thought the world slipped from beneath. What?

That wasn't going well! The author, Sparks, had worked hard to make this one work. Yes, the language was too elite for young teens, but the story line was moving. I was in tears when I got through half of the story.

"We can't proceed with this novel." Will put it in shortly. 

I felt horrified.

"No! You can't just discard it! Sparks is our all-time best-selling author. We can't do this to her! What am I going to tell her?" I said, feeling aghast.

"Eva..." Will said, and I found myself restless.

"No, now's not a good time for this, Mr.Turner...What am I to do?" My head was spinning.

"Cut off with the drama. I said we can't proceed with the novel in this genre." Will chimed.

"How's your saying that twice gonna change anything?" I said with haste. My mind filled with a hundred ways to convince Spark that their work wasn't deserving of the slush pile, but our CEO was a real-time bastard. Worse than what they have in cringy romance novels.

"You can add the manuscript to a different genre, Mellon! It's high time to give Sparks a break in Contemporary Fiction. That genre is better suited! What'd you say?" Will said with a spark in his eyes.

"I can?" I said with a ray of hope in my eyes.

"Why not! Didn't you say that Sparks wanted to try something different? It may be their thing!"

Will added with a warm smile. His always-stoic expressions transited into a beautiful poetic epiphany as he gazed at me over the desk. Beautiful.

"Mellon?"

"Hmm"

"It's time you work as a senior editor."

"What?" Wow. No wait, how?

"Miss Mellon? Did you hear me? I need a new proposal from the Creative Dev team. Do you have an idea?"

"Oh, yeah. No, wait. I mean, I will get back to you shortly." Dammit. 

What the hell is happening to me? His smile is a sweet distraction, but it doesn't work if I want to be distracted from him. I have to get my act together.

"Okay. Sure. See you then, Mellon." Will said with a smirk. Was this done on purpose? Evil son of a Greek God!

I exited the office room and found my heart racing erratically. The hints of Will's cologne in my nostrils made it impossible to wipe off the memory. A sweet Summer afternoon at Bexley's, with the Sun right out of our window and Will Turner's once-in-a-blue moon smile projected towards me. My eyes landed on Josh, sitting in the cubicle opposite to mine. I can't think of Will Turner when I am already dating Josh. Can I? 

"Staring at your lover boy there, Eva?" I turned to find a pair of maroon lips, which turned into a smirk.

The gossip-monger of Bexley dressed in a fiery orange formal skirt and a designer, white blouse that screamed 'First edition, Zara's'. Shiny red Jimmy Choos clank when she walked on the marble tile. What happened to her funeral dress code? I wondered. She left her hair open to show off her sleek bob with those overpriced highlights. If I talk more about her, we won't be different.

She had a lean build but was bestowed with great curves to flaunt. Remember one of those girls in high school who are way perfect and out of your league? Amanda Richards was one of them, up by a notch. It was hard keeping up with their kind, especially when you had one asymmetrical boob.

"None of your business, Miss Richards."

"Drop the formalities, Eva. Call me Ammy." She chuckled, and I felt a shift in her tone.

"Yeah. Sure. What brings you here, Ammy?" I said with pretended politeness.

"I have got some unfinished business with your loverboy. Hi Josh!" She said and waved in Josh's direction.

I despised her talking with Josh.

"Oh, no probs." I said, ready to sit down and shut up, but Amanda stopped me midway.

"Whoa. Mind a moment here? I thought you were sleeping with Will Turner before dating Josh. He must be hot and all that. If I were you, I'd do the same."

She said and left in a hurry.

What the absolute fuck was she speaking? It wasn't like she was asking me personal questions. She just plainly confirmed her own set of shitty rumors without verifying them!

I decided to use the girl's room before I got accustomed to a load of bullshit Amanda was spewing behind my back.

***

I adjusted my hair. The attire for the day was funeral clothes for fun, as usual. I had decided on a French roll and was happy about my lipstick shade - flamethrower red. I popped my lips at the reflection in the Ladies' room mirror.

"Hey, have you heard about the chic from CDV?" A voice came from the lavatory. I didn't notice the stalls occupied when another one joined in.

"The one that got the big promotion? Yeah, I have." A rather shrill voice said.

"Maybe we should try seducing Will for a pay raise. I have heard she just walked into his office and rocked his world."

What the fuck? I didn't mean to eavesdrop on their conversation, but things seemed to get serious.

"Amanda from HR told me she saw Will hooking up with Eva after the Awards Convocation. Did you see how shamelessly she kissed him at the party?"The voice chuckled.

Were they talking about me? What's with the nonsense?

"You know how she is! A sly temptress. Now she's dating that chocolate boy from Marketing. Josh's the name."

Heavens! That bitch Amanda.

The three chatty, back bitching voices joined each other in laughter. Anger flowed through me. Why was I paired up with a guy I hated for a period that lasted longer than six months of my damn life? Amanda Richards, what the hell had I done to you for ruining my reputation!

As I stormed out of the restroom, I had a different set of thoughts that practically involved either punching a certain someone, or crying like a coward under a blanket. I decided on the latter one and saved the tears for the night.

I passed Joshua's cubicle. He was still talking with Amanda. My anger turned into self-loathing, and I couldn't help but blame myself for things. Fuck you, Will Turner, and your utterly kissable lips! And fuck Amanda Richards for being a two-legged bitch in my life!