Elena (Sample)

Below is a sample of a story I've been really loved writing, but I've been stuck for a while trying to get things figured out. I'm hoping to get back to working on it soon. Life seriously gets in the way, sometimes...

I scrambled to my desk, attempting to keep my coffee upright and spill-free, hearing my cell phone ringing away with a call. Setting the mug down with a thump, I flipped open the phone.

“Hello? Elena Rodgers speaking.” My chipper voice didn’t really match how I was feeling. I still hadn’t a taste of my coffee yet. It sat on the desk taunting me while I heard a voice on the line.

“Hello, m’dear. This is Rose McLaughlin, I’m responding to your wonderful little message you left me.”

I instantly sat straighter in my chair. This was the woman I’d been trying to get a hold of for nearly six months. Rose McLaughlin, one of the greatest mystery writers of all time, was actually speaking to me.

“Mrs. McLaughlin, I’m so thrilled to hear from you. You are truly one of my favorite authors and…” I heard the word vomit coming up, but there seemed to be no way for me to stop it. Thankfully, she cut me off.

“Yes, dear. I know. You love my books. Who doesn’t? However, I wanted to call you back about your little request for an interview. Now, normally I don’t do interviews with such small publications, It’s a waste of my time, m’dear,” she sniffed, then took a moment to clear her throat. I waited impatiently for her to finish.

“Anywho, what I mean to say is that I would like to accept your adorable offer of an interview. I’m sure it’d be such a thrill for someone such as you to have the opportunity to speak to me in person.”

I thanked God that Rose McLaughlin could not see my face at that moment. I’m sure she would have been appalled at seeing my jaw on the floor. This woman was incredible; her ego was the size of the planet. But, her books were simply genius and I would be an idiot to pass up this interview.

Collecting my thoughts, I responded quickly, “That sounds great Mrs. McLaughlin. I will send you the details this week. I am very honored that you chose to call “Mystery Monthly.”

But Rose McLaughlin was done with the conversation; she was yelling to a servant in the distance about the temperature of her tea. I listened for a moment before hearing the abrupt sound of the dial tone. I felt a goofy grin spread over my face. I finally got the interview. Rose McLaughlin is infamous for refusing every interview she’d been offered. She had even refused Matt Lauer from The Today Show. Twice. But to finally land a big-name interview, especially with someone as popular as Rose McLaughlin, I was ecstatic. No, more than ecstatic. I was literally seconds away from jumping for joy amidst the snobby people I called my co-workers and flaunting the fact that me, Elena Rodgers, was going to interview the world famous Rose McLaughlin, one of the best mystery writers of the century; heck, maybe even of all time.

I darted from my desk to go get everything together. The coffee could wait. I had some serious preparations to do, including spreading the news… to my boss.

My boss, Gillian, was in a state of disbelief when I told her the great news.

“You mean, you got the interview with Rose McLaughlin?” She laughed to herself, “ I was thinking, Mike or at the very least Frank would be the ones called and rejected. They’re our best writers! But you…” Noticing my sour look, she backpedaled. “You’re just so… new.”

That was better than I expected. I couldn’t ask too much from Gillian, she was just surprised, that’s all. This magazine doesn’t get too many interviews with world-famous authors, especially with their least experienced writer.

Gillian went on, “Not that there’s anything wrong with being new. It’s just, well, this is a big deal.” She pulled her glasses off her face and set them on the desk, searching my face for signs that I recognized that this interview was, in fact, a big deal.

I sighed, “Gillian, I got this. You know that there is no one more excited about this interview than me, no one is as dedicated as me. Seriously, don’t worry.” I waited, watching her brown eyes scrutinize my blue ones, searching out the truth. Gillian was normally so laid-back. Most of the time, we find her in her office, bare feet on the desk, listening to her sound machine, with her eyes closed, centering her “chi.” But after spilling the news of the interview, Gillian was the most alert I’d ever seen her since I started working here nearly a year ago. Gillian was right. This interview is big and I  really can’t screw it up.

After what seemed like hours, Gillian relented, “I trust you, kiddo. I know you’ve got what it takes. That’s why I hired you! You’ve got that inner light. It shines so brightly, Elena. It shines for all the world to see….” She smiled and closed her eyes. Gillian was entering trance mode. Time for me to make my exit.

“Thanks, Gillian! You won’t regret it!” I scampered out of the plush chair, ready to get back to my desk. I was almost out the door when I heard Gillian call me.

“Yes, boss?” I waited by the door, tapping my fingers by my side, silently praying she hadn’t changed her mind already.

“I’m going to send Andrew with you, Elena. He’s one of our best photographers. He’ll make the interview come to life! I know he’ll bring Rose McLaughlin’s spirit and life to the pages of our beloved magazine. Is that alright?”  Still in meditation, she peeked one eye open to look at me.

I hesitated. Andrew Connelly was the best photographer who worked with the magazine. But the guy is a total jerk. At least, that’s what I’ve heard. I heard from Mandy, who works in PR that her friend she went on a date with him. Apparently, Andrew spent all night talking about how he only dated models and that he was seriously lowering his standards by grabbing dinner with her. Mandy spent plenty of nights trying to boost her friend’s self-esteem back up, after Andrew Connelly so easily knocked it down with his callous remarks.

But Andrew’s personality isn’t the only thing wrong with him. His ego is insane. It doesn’t help that the guy is built like a Grecian god, with the good looks of Brad Pitt, no, he has to actually be good at what he does. The worst part? He knows it.

But I had to think of my situation. I need a photographer, and Andrew would be phenomenal. Maybe Andrew wouldn’t be so bad….

 Yeah, and maybe pigs can fly.

Gillian, both eyes open now, noticed my uncertainty and jumped in. “You know, Elena. It’s necessary to have a great photographer there with you, and Andrew…” She was no doubt thinking of how gorgeous he was, as evident by the dreamy smile plastered on her lips. She broke out of it, realizing I was still in the room. “Well, Andrew Connelly is the best, you know. An interview of this caliber needs all the experience it can get. You’ll be covered with Andrew there. Now, I won’t take no for an answer. I’ll call Andrew up now and get it all settled.” Her eyes went back to their closed, meditating position. Feet were propped up on the desk now. I was being dismissed. “Namaste, Elena.”

As quietly as I could, I snuck out of the office, breathing a sigh of relief. I made my way back to my desk, thinking of the interview, the opportunity to meet Rose McLaughlin, and achieving success as a journalist. Visions of a corner office at the New York Times danced in my head, but were popped with the sudden flash of Andrew Connelly. He could be a problem. I can only hope that Andrew will be smart enough to take the pictures and leave me alone so I can get some serious work done. I collapsed in my desk chair, suddenly exhausted after that meeting with Gillian. Noticing my coffee cup, I took a swig. Blech. I grimaced as the cold coffee entered my mouth and promptly threw the cup in the trash.

Well, no time for coffee anyways. I had plans to make. I had an interview with Rose McLaughlin in two weeks and I needed to be ready.