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“No problem. Don’t worry, you’ve got this.” Riley walks off. I don’t understand how she can be so relaxed. I know that her exam’s a big one. She mentioned it before and it only slipped my mind since I’ve been flipping out over my stupid ex taking my computer.
“Good luck,” I call out to her. She turns back around and waves, not breaking her stride. “You too. Go on and kick ass.”
I’m left wishing I had Riley’s easy confidence and it’s not the first time but I can’t think about that now. I’m already flustered from all of this crap thanks to Owen. I’ve got to get my mind settled and I’m trying to slow my breathing down even as I hurry off to one of the good cafés that I know is around the corner.
Thankfully it’s not too busy. I’ve got barely a couple of minutes to spare to grab a coffee before my interview starts. After a quick glance in my compact mirror and a quick adjustment to tidy my hair up, it’s on.
I clear my throat as the session starts up. Zan Stokes appears on the screen and she already looks distracted. I’m not going to let that shake my determination to nail it. This meeting is going to go so smoothly, it’ll be the best interview ever. I straighten my spine and put on my best smile.
She finally looks at the screen. “You’re Elena Olson?”
“Yes, Ms. Stokes,” I say brightly. “Thank you for taking the time to interview me. I’ve been wanting to work for City Scan for a long time.”
Her mouth twists up with deep disapproval. “Call me Zan. So tell me, Lana. Why do you think you’re the right fit for us?”
I catch myself an instant before I correct her. She couldn’t sound more bored, but I’m ready. I studied every single job siteI could find and memorized exactly how to start out like they all recommend.
Zan’s expression doesn’t change as I speak clearly and hit the high points. I’m in the middle of my best one when she interrupts me.
“As you know, City Scan’s a newer, more up-and-coming magazine than the others we’ve been publishing for a longer time. It’s highly targeted to hit a specific audience. One that’s interested in diving into deeper, behind the scenes type of stories. Not just skimming headlines.”
“Yes, absolutely. That’s exactly the kind of research and writing that I want to do. I’m excited to grow with City Scan and be a part of its future.”
“Okay,” Zan says absently. Maybe it’s not me, maybe she sounds painfully bored all the time. For my own benefit, I decide to stop talking until she asks me the next question. “One of our regular staff writers who’s been with the company for a long time is taking a leave. You’d be filling in for her until she comes back. It’s a temporary contract position but if you work out, I might consider giving you the chance at a more permanent position in the company.”
“That sounds great.” I try to inject a note of enthusiasm even as my heart drops a little bit. I was so hoping for more steady work now.
It doesn’t matter, I remind myself. Anything that can give me a foot in the door to a major, well-respected news magazine is helpful. I haven’t gotten any writing work at all since I graduated. This is a significant step forward.
“Of course I’ll need to see some brilliant work from you for that to happen,” Zan says. “In the meantime, you should get to know what the City Scan style truly is. Talk to some of our other writers. They can help you out with some tips. I don’tknow where you’ve worked before, but it’s likely that we run a different show here.”
She doesn’t know where I’ve worked before? So much for that résumé I spent all that time preparing so carefully to make it look like I had experience.
“Most of the staff’s going out for drinks tomorrow evening,” Zan continues. “It’s a regular thing they do and you should join in. Get to know them and how they work. Of course I don’t have time to train you and none of them do either, but they can tell you the basics of what you need to know. If you like, I’ll get the details to you.”
Zan’s eyebrow arcs up. I get the very distinct feeling that this event isn’t optional.
“I’d love to go.” I wait and she doesn’t say anything more as she jots something down. “Does this mean you’re hiring me for an assignment?” It’s probably not the right thing to ask flat out but still. I need to be absolutely sure about what’s happening since Zan hasn’t actually come out and made me an offer.
She exhales sharply. Everything about her seems to have an angle to it, right down to the sharp cut of her hair and the line of her ruby red lips. “I don’t know yet. If I assign you a story, it’ll be on a trial basis only. I’ve got four other writers I’m trying out at the same time, all for different publications.” Zan’s impatient manner shows itself again. “Whoever works out the best will be kept on and will replace my other writer until she’s back. That’s at least a six month period which might possibly be extended. I need to have someone I can rely on completely to fill her shoes. I’ll find out if I have a story for you in the next week or so. We’ll see how it goes. If I give you something, that’s only the very first step. You’ll have to impress me with what you can do.”
“I will, Zan. I’m looking forward to the oppor–”
“Someone will be in touch with you,” she says and disconnects abruptly.
I can’t believe it. I swallow some of my untouched coffee. It’s cold and I don’t even care. I want an extra buzz to match my mood.
I’ve got a chance.
I float out of the coffee shop. An actual chance at having a real shot at writing a feature for a major magazine. My name would be in City Scan and be seen by millions of people. I could be published, which would finally make me a real writer. I’m still lost in a happy daze when I get back home.
I nearly drop Riley’s computer when I find my ex in my living room.
“What the hell, Owen?” Carefully I set her laptop aside and stalk over to him, knocking his feet off of my glass coffee table with a slap of my hand. “You told me you were working. You can’t just show up and hang out. You don’t live here anymore, remember?”
Owen shrugs as if he doesn’t know he’s irritating the hell out of me. “You said you needed your laptop back, so I brought it over. Guess your meeting wasn’t that important if you went out, huh.”
I clench my fists. I knew he was lying about working. It’d be so satisfying to slap his face. I wouldn’t actually do it but I enjoy the thought sometimes.
