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I took it and sat down, glancing around at the office, which was huge. On the interior walls were two paintings of a rugged landscape that resembled Iceland, the hills rolling and interspaced with snow.
"Yes, we'll get right on it. I have my new assistant here and things will get right back on track. Yes, I realize that. We'll be up to speed ASAP. Thanks for your patience. Goodbye."
Sharon hung up and exhaled loudly. "Thank God you made it. I'm going a bit crazy without an assistant. It's been so long since I did any of the organizing, I haven't had anything new to offer our team for two weeks. I need you to get right onto it." She pointed to a chair by the door. On the seat was a file box and on top of the box were what looked like dozens of envelopes of different sizes and colors. Beside the chair were two other file boxes.
Queries from agents looking to sell us their client's books.
While reading mail wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, that file box made me more than happy. It meant I would be able to stay in Manhattan and get some experience.
"I can't wait to dig in," I said with a smile.
"You won't be saying that at after the first dozen. Most of them will be ho hum manuscripts, pale imitators of books already published or books too similar to ones we have already bought. When you read over the offerings, you'll start to see how the gems really stand out from the crowd. Be prepared. Only about five percent are of any real value. The rest go in the circular file."
"I live for this opportunity."
She smiled. "I felt like you do about a dozen years ago. Reading manuscripts is tiring but exhilarating when you find a real great one. I want you to spend some time reading our newest contracts so you get a sense of what we're looking for. Then we'll do some practice evaluations, and then you'll hit the box and start separating the wheat from the chaff."
"I can't wait."
"That's cute," she said and pointed to the troll.
At that point, I decided not to bother her about the money transfer, but I would tell her about being robbed. How else would I explain the troll pencil and Iron Man notebook?
"It was all I could afford to buy on my way over. I was robbed in the subway station."
"What?" Her eyes widened. "You poor thing!"
I told her about the nice old lady and her accomplice and we laughed together for a moment.
"How are you? Do you have some money?"
"No problem," I said and waved my hand. "I have a place to stay and money. No worries."
I smiled and thought about Josh, my knight in bicycle courier armor. I hoped I could trust him. He was right. My boss had enough problems without her new hire giving a sob story about having been robbed.
We talked some more about the job and what it would entail, which involved screening manuscripts and covering the ones I felt had promise and fit with the imprints. I was also Sharon's personal assistant. I'd arrange all her meetings and make sure she had everything she needed before each one. Plus, I'd bring her the manuscripts that I thought showed promise.
She seemed nice enough, if a little frazzled, but I figured it was because the company was new and the office was temporary, as the old building was under renovation. They were trying to build the business so there would be a lot of pressure in the early days to make it a success.
I was determined to impress her.
"Come with me and I'll show you your office space," she said and rose from behind her desk. She led me through the door and down the hall to a room with no door that had a desk, chair, and filing cabinet but nothing else. There was, however, a tall picture window behind the desk. The room was about one-quarter the size of her office, but to me it was heaven.
"We don't have a computer for you yet, so I hope you can use your own and your cell until we get the new phone system up and running and our new computers come. They're on order but aren't due until next week."
"Sure," I said. "I'll bring my own computer tomorrow. Until then, this will have to do."
She smiled when I held up my pencil and notebook.
"After the meeting, you can spend the rest of the afternoon reading manuscripts, so it'll be fine."
"This is all mine?" I asked, impressed at the size of the office.
"Yes. It'll be much better once the renovations are done," she said. "Now, if you wouldn't mind bringing the file boxes in here, I'll finally be able to relax wi
thout staring at them all day, wondering if there's anything of value inside but being unable to actually contact any of the agents."
"I honestly can't wait."
