to your job,” I say, waving him on. “I’m leaving.”
I walk away, on the verge of tears, but I refuse to cry. This is beyond humiliating, but I can’t let what happened back there bring me down.
Everything happens for a reason, right? Or is that just something people say to make you feel better?
The hiring manager was wrong about one thing. Everything hasn’t been handed to me. My parents were well off, but I worked my ass off through high school and college at everything I did. Mediocre was never enough. When I put effort into something, I do it with my whole being. Yet that sour-faced lady took one look at me and made a snap judgment. I’m still so pissed off just thinking about it that I could scream right here outside the Sunset Press building.
“Charlotte, wait!”
I turn around at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. There’s a young girl running toward me. It’s Patty, the receptionist.
“I’m so sorry about what happened,” she says, breathless. “Some higher-up wanted their nephew to get the internship, and they pulled some strings.”
“Figures,” I mutter angrily.
Patty hands me a piece of paper with several names and phone numbers scribbled on it. “My advice would be to go to one of the trendier, up-and-coming online news sources. I’ve listed several for you located here in Miami. The one I like best is the Gritty Voice . They’re a huge success with the millennial crowd, and they’ve been nominated for several awards. If I were you, I’d check to see if they’re hiring.”
I nod, looking over the list. “Thanks, Patty. That’s really kind.”
“You’re welcome, hon. Good luck to you.”
I’m still bummed as I head back to my car, but I try to tell myself everything will be all right. Who knows, something better could come along. Just because it didn’t work out with Sunset Press doesn’t mean I came here for nothing.
Power of positivity, and all that crap.
At least I have this list, and who wants to work for douchebags like Minerva Rodriguez anyway? Luck just may have been on my side after all.
I buckle my seatbelt and hear my phone ring. Vanessa’s picture fills the screen. I pause for a second, debating. I think it’s time I answered her. She doesn’t deserve this, and honestly, I could use a friend right now.
“Hey, Ness,” I begin.
“Good God, where the hell have you been, Char? I’ve been looking all over for you!”
“I know, and I’m so sorry,” I say, sighing. “I just needed to get away for a little while.”
“Where are you? And why do you sound like that?” Her voice sounds panicked. “Did you hear about Miles? Dammit, I was really hoping you hadn’t found out yet.”
“Found out what?” I sit up in my seat, feeling tense. “What’s going on, Vanessa?”
She makes a painful hiccup-like sound, followed by a deep breath. “Better you hear it from me than anyone else. Here goes…Miles asked Gwen to marry him. The wedding is happening in Savannah once the semester is over.”
TEN
Max
Mom sits down at her vanity, and begins to read. After a few moments, her eyes turn glassy with tears.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, confused. “Did he say something mean in the letter?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong, Mommy?” Fiona mimics me, latching on to her skirt.
“Just the opposite,” she answers us, a smile on her lips. “Your father wants me to know that even though we did everything backwards, like moving in together, and having children first, he loved me from the moment we met. He knew then that he wanted to spend his life with me.” She draws her hands around my neck, straightening my bowtie. “He says that he’s glad we waited to get married because this day wouldn’t have been as perfect without the two of you here to share it with us. We are a family, and today we’re putting a stamp on it.”
“A stamp?” Fiona asks curiously. “Like to put in the mail?”
“Not a literal stamp, baby
I walk away, on the verge of tears, but I refuse to cry. This is beyond humiliating, but I can’t let what happened back there bring me down.
Everything happens for a reason, right? Or is that just something people say to make you feel better?
The hiring manager was wrong about one thing. Everything hasn’t been handed to me. My parents were well off, but I worked my ass off through high school and college at everything I did. Mediocre was never enough. When I put effort into something, I do it with my whole being. Yet that sour-faced lady took one look at me and made a snap judgment. I’m still so pissed off just thinking about it that I could scream right here outside the Sunset Press building.
“Charlotte, wait!”
I turn around at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. There’s a young girl running toward me. It’s Patty, the receptionist.
“I’m so sorry about what happened,” she says, breathless. “Some higher-up wanted their nephew to get the internship, and they pulled some strings.”
“Figures,” I mutter angrily.
Patty hands me a piece of paper with several names and phone numbers scribbled on it. “My advice would be to go to one of the trendier, up-and-coming online news sources. I’ve listed several for you located here in Miami. The one I like best is the Gritty Voice . They’re a huge success with the millennial crowd, and they’ve been nominated for several awards. If I were you, I’d check to see if they’re hiring.”
I nod, looking over the list. “Thanks, Patty. That’s really kind.”
“You’re welcome, hon. Good luck to you.”
I’m still bummed as I head back to my car, but I try to tell myself everything will be all right. Who knows, something better could come along. Just because it didn’t work out with Sunset Press doesn’t mean I came here for nothing.
Power of positivity, and all that crap.
At least I have this list, and who wants to work for douchebags like Minerva Rodriguez anyway? Luck just may have been on my side after all.
I buckle my seatbelt and hear my phone ring. Vanessa’s picture fills the screen. I pause for a second, debating. I think it’s time I answered her. She doesn’t deserve this, and honestly, I could use a friend right now.
“Hey, Ness,” I begin.
“Good God, where the hell have you been, Char? I’ve been looking all over for you!”
“I know, and I’m so sorry,” I say, sighing. “I just needed to get away for a little while.”
“Where are you? And why do you sound like that?” Her voice sounds panicked. “Did you hear about Miles? Dammit, I was really hoping you hadn’t found out yet.”
“Found out what?” I sit up in my seat, feeling tense. “What’s going on, Vanessa?”
She makes a painful hiccup-like sound, followed by a deep breath. “Better you hear it from me than anyone else. Here goes…Miles asked Gwen to marry him. The wedding is happening in Savannah once the semester is over.”
TEN
Max
Mom sits down at her vanity, and begins to read. After a few moments, her eyes turn glassy with tears.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, confused. “Did he say something mean in the letter?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong, Mommy?” Fiona mimics me, latching on to her skirt.
“Just the opposite,” she answers us, a smile on her lips. “Your father wants me to know that even though we did everything backwards, like moving in together, and having children first, he loved me from the moment we met. He knew then that he wanted to spend his life with me.” She draws her hands around my neck, straightening my bowtie. “He says that he’s glad we waited to get married because this day wouldn’t have been as perfect without the two of you here to share it with us. We are a family, and today we’re putting a stamp on it.”
“A stamp?” Fiona asks curiously. “Like to put in the mail?”
“Not a literal stamp, baby
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