C8 Chapter 8

~CAMILLE~

I step out of my apartment carrying my bag in my right hand and using my left to wear my shoe. It’s past 8, and I’m already late for work. I am definitely going to get an earful from the manager. Alice has been waiting for me for the past 30 minutes, and she has been honking since. When I reach outside, I meet her waiting in her black ford, with a frown on her face.

“What in the world girl? It’s almost 9!”

“I am so sorry.” I apologize quickly as I rush into the car.

“Why did you take so long?” She questions me before starting the car.

“I didn’t wake up early.”

She grins at me, “You were dreaming about the sex with rich playboy from the other night, yeah?” She teases.

I roll my eyes. Oh, Alice, she’s not going to drop it.

“Oh please, Alice. Can we not talk about it? Let’s just go to work.”

She nods, “You know I am not going to drop it, right? We still have to talk about it after work.”

I roll my eyes, “Yeah yeah, whatever.”

“I have a lot of work on my plate; I really don’t know how I am going to survive throughout this week. The writer that the manager has given to me is giving me a headache. She is just too proud of herself, just because her books sell well. She can literally take a whole week to give me a chapter, can you even imagine that?”

“One chapter for a whole week? Is it a comic? Who’s the writer?” I ask as I stare at the annoyed expression on her face. I can tell this writer is really stressing her out.

“You would know her, it's Catherine. Wouldn’t it be understandable if it was a comic? It’s a novel with no more than 60 chapters in total, for God’s sake!”

Oh, Catherine! She's quite popular. Her books are very nice and readers love them, but I didn’t know that she would be the type to be giving problems like this. “Why don’t you complain to the manager?”

“And who do you think will get blamed? The writer who is bringing income to the company or the editor?”

I heave a sigh, “The editor, obviously, but we still bring income too though. I mean, we bring in writers for the company.”

“As if they value that. Sometimes I wish I have my own editing agency.” She sighs. “I am just trying hard to cope with her because I don’t want to lose my job.”

I smile widely. "And then I would write for you." I giggle. I'm not the best writer and I had written few drafts for fun and reviewers I gave loved it, but I don't really trust if I can make a good writer. Editing had always been my thing and I do well in it but writing? I don't know.

“Don’t worry, everything would be fine.” I place my hand over her shoulder.

After a while, we finally arrive at the publishing company where we work. Art Pro Publishing House ranks among the top ten in the country, and landing a job here is a privilege I don’t take for granted. The pay is good, the staff welcoming, and the name alone carries weight. Some of the most successful writers publish their work through us, and the company not only pays them fairly but pushes their books into the spotlight. Scripts, newspapers, magazines—everything that leaves this building carries the kind of polish people expect from the best.

I step out of the car at the same time as Alice. I still remember the day she started working here. Back then, I assumed she’d be like the others—entitled, spoiled, impossible to deal with since her family has money. Not exactly billionaires but they are well-to-do. She was never supposed to work in a place like this.

Her father wanted her in Harvard, studying medicine, not wasting time in an editing company. They own a hospital and has this tradition that they must all be involved in medicine. But Alice didn’t bend. She went against him, chose her own path. She rarely talks about her family, but I’ve learned enough to know one thing—anything tied to them casts a shadow over her.

The both of us walk into the building and quickly make our way over to the workers station to take our seats after signing in. As soon as we take our seats, Mr. Ron, the manager, walks over to us with a deep frown on his face.

“And why are the two of you just clocking in?” He questions us, folding his hand across his chest.

Alice and I quickly stand up.

“We um…” Alice starts to explain. “We got caught up in traffic.”

He gives us a disbelieving look. “Caught up in traffic, yeah? The two of you should see me in my office later.”

Okay, we’re dead.

“Camille.” He calls my name.

“Yes, sir.” I answer quickly.

“I have a very important task for you. I choose you for the work because you’re actually one of the best editors we have here, and I can only trust you with this.”

“Thank you very much Sir.” I catch Alice smiling proudly at me from the corner of my eyes and I smile inwardly. “What task is it Sir?”

“There’s this writer that every publishing company wants to partner with because his works has never failed in toping charts. His name is Lester Lambert. You should know him. I want you to get him to work with our company. If you succeed in doing that, I guarantee you a promotion, but if you fail, just start looking for somewhere else to work.” Wait what? Somewhere else to work?

And Lester Lambert?! The very same author of The Demon’s Lifeline? That book sold more than a million copies in just two weeks of its release. It has been the book topping the chart for months now. Lester Lambert has published most of his books on his own without working under any company, and it’s been impossible for companies to get him to work with them. Is my manager actually asking me to get him to work with our company? How does he expect me to do it? My connections are definitely not going to be enough.

If better editors with higher connections have tried and failed, what difference would it make if I do?

“But sir, it’s not even easy to see him. How am I going to get him to work with us?”

“I am sure it’s not going to be much of a hassle. I hear the writer is very respectful and very easy to work with, so how you are going to get him to work with us is your own problem.”

Scrap what I said when I said all the staffs here are welcoming, not all of them. This man is always giving impossible tasks to us and expects us to perform magic.

“But sir…”

“You should even be happy that I gave this opportunity to you. Do you know what it means to be Lester Lambert’s editor?”

Well I am not his editor yet, and I don’t even think that would be possible. The writer don't even work with publishing companies, getting him to work with us won’t be easy. I can already foresee my life in chaos this week.

“Sir…” I am able to press on, but I pause when Alice nudge my shoulders gently. I quickly understand that she’s telling me to not argue and just agree.

I heave a sigh, “Okay, Sir. I will do it.”

Mr. Ron smiles, “Good, now that’s the spirit. I am looking forward to hearing from you, okay?”

I roll my eyes inwardly, “Yes, Sir.”

He turns to Alice, “When are you going to submit chapter 35 of Catherine’s book, Alice?”

“Um, she hasn’t written it yet.” Alice answers and I can detect the annoyance in her voice.

“Why are you always taking forever to submit her work? Don’t you know the readers could lose interest if it takes too long?”

Alice sighs, “I will try to get her to speed up her update time, Sir.”

Mr. Ron shakes his head, “Alright, be quick about it.” He turns around and starts walking away.

Alice slumps into her chair with a frown on her face.

I take my seat as well, “I think you should complain to the chief editor about this writer.”

“What difference would it make, Cam? The chief editor would ask me to bear with her because they can’t drop her half way and besides, her books are really loved by the readers.” At this point, I would prefer to deal with Catherine than do this task of bringing Lester to Art Pro.

“True.” I nod, reaching for a file on my desk when two figures stop in front of me. I don’t need to look up to know who it is. Tessa and Ashley. My co-workers. Once my classmates. They never liked me, and the feeling is mutual. They’re irritating, smug, and impossible to ignore.

“Hey, Camille.” I hear Tessa say, and that’s when I raise my head. What on earth do they want?

“Hello Tessa, hello Ashley.” I feign a smile at them.

“Um, there’s going to be a reunion dinner and everyone from school is going to be there. We were wondering if you will come.” Ashley says.

A reunion? I don’t really have time for that right now. I've never attended any, what makes them think that would change?

“No I won’t.” I answer honestly.

“But why? It’s been so long since everyone saw each other, and it would be on a Sunday, everyone would be free.” Ashley presses forward.

“I can’t make it.”

“Oh, sorry, we totally forgot Max broke it off with you. It would be awkward for you to be there…”

My throat tightens, and I swallow hard. Forgot? That’s a lie. They know damn well Max dumped me.

“I’m sure he’ll be there with his wife, Ava. That would be too much for you.”

The words cut deep, deliberate and cruel, and they don’t even bother to hide it.

“Yes, we’re sorry we asked, you should take your time to heal, okay?”

I clench my hand in a tight fist as I bit my lips. Although, that wasn’t the reason why I don’t want to go, but they’re still right. If I don’t go, it will seem as if I am still moping over that douche bag but if I go, I will only be punishing myself, it’s not worth it.

“Can you two fuck off? She said she’s not going.” I hear Alice say to them in an annoyed voice.

“I feel bad for you, Camille. I can imagine how it feels to get betrayed by the two people you trust the most. People can be very…”

I stand up and turn to them which makes her stop talking. “You don’t have to feel bad for me because I have already moved on as well. I am even in a relationship right now.”

What the fuck did I just say?

The two of them stare at me in shock and I can see the shock expression on Alice’s face from the corner of my eyes. You should have just shut the fuck up, Camille! How do I get out of this, now?

“You… You are in a relationship?” Ashley asks in surprise. The shocked expression on her face is really satisfying but how am I going to get out of this now? What if they ask me who my boyfriend is?

“Who is your boyfriend?” Tessa asks. I said it!

I gulp hard and run my hand through my hair, “That is none of your business.”

Tessa scoffs, “I don’t believe you, I am pretty sure you made that up.”

“Why don’t you come to the reunion dinner with him?” Ashley asks with a smirk.

Great! Nice one, Camille!

“I don’t need to prove anything to you guys. Please leave me alone, I have to work.”

“Don’t worry, we will help you tell Max and Ava about how you are faring.” Tessa says and they both laugh before walking away.

Ugh!

I slump into my seat and slam my head against the desk.

“A boyfriend. Really, Camille?” I can sense the disbelief in Alice’s voice. “You could have just ignored those stupid girls!”

Exactly! But how was I supposed to do that when they were making it seem like I’m the one still sulking about my failed relationship with my ex, Max. Though, they are right. I have to go to that reunion and show those betrayals than I am doing perfectly fine, but how am I going to do that without a boyfriend? Do I even need to do bother about it?