20XX/10/03/ - Noon
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Arriving on the seventh floor of the old office building Liz stealthily made her way to her desk. She wasn't a particularly organized person and keeping her workplace tidy wasn't her strong point either. Several pens were scattered on the desk, burying a dozen “Post Its” under them. Whenever Liz had an idea for an article or found out a new piece of information on the topic she was currently doing research on, she would drabble it on a piece of paper and stick it on whatever free space was left on the table. Her boss, Meredith, would often fall into despair while trying to find something in all the chaos. Liz, however, always knew exactly where everything was, much to Meredith's astonishment. Well, it clearly helped that the young woman wrote everything in different colors, assigning one color per topic. So, one could argue that there was a certain type of system in all the mess. A systemized chaos so to speak.
Barely having sat down, Liz could already hear an annoyed “Achem.” behind her.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vGtiOuAbW
Uh, oh. Of course, she saw me sneaking in just now. Gulping, she slowly turned around on her revolving chair and was faced with her boss who had a rather sour look on her face. 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqgAaHnYEn
“Well, hello there Meredith! What brings you to my humble working space right after lunch break?”I might as well try to play it innocently. Who knows, it might work.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdPuC9eJWk
“Elizabeth Glaze!” Or not. Full name means bad news.
Clearly agitated, the woman in front of her wasn’t in the mood for her antics. Scowling, she started one of her lectures. Lectures which Liz had heard more often than she would’ve liked. 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIkl2q4Utt
“You are late. Again! How many times did this happen this month now?” 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNIWpBwREM
“Uhm, I don’t know. I mean, who’s counting rea-“ 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3Jbp3kMVG
“That was a rhetorical question!”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAuT2oqNlt
“…Oh.”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVpj2RsNCA
“Don’t Oh me young lady! You know I don’t mind you being two or five minutes late, but fifteen?! One could write a small column in that amount of time! And if I add up the amount of time you’ve been late this month – you could have finished writing a whole book in that time!” 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7ysoFz7y1
Now that is clearly an exaggeration. I haven’t been late that many times. 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7e7TR58XNC
…Have I?
Liz wanted to interrupt her boss and explain to her that it wasn’t her fault this time, but she knew that interrupting a Latina when she was this angry wasn’t the best idea one could have. Something she had learned by experience – an experience she’d rather forget. Normally, Meredith was a very chill boss. The Mexican woman in her late thirties gave her writers a lot of space in organizing their way of working. As long as one met the set deadline she didn’t really care on how her employees organized their work time or what they did to acquire their information. But the two things that ticked her off were tardiness and being unpunctual. Two things that fit Liz’s character to a T. How she was still alive and kicking at this point was a mystery to her. Maybe it helped that Meredith actually considered her her best writer.
“…you know I hold your work in high regards Liz.” Ah, back to calling me Liz again. I’m safe. Sensing her boss calming down, her clenched muscles relaxed. Liz hadn’t even noticed how tensed up she had been. But then again anybody would feel intimidated by the temper of a woman with as much passion as Meredith. Although having settled down a bit, she unfortunately wasn’t completely done with her lecture yet.
“But you always being late, it sets a bad example for others. Especially for Violet.” 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3Ioboersh
“Who?” Liz perked up. 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjYnT0GPOs
“The new girl.” 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOAX85J3Ch
“We have a new girl?” Seeing the quizzical look on her employee’s face Meredith let out an exasperated sigh.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelORjYdjxG
“Liz I thought as a journalist you would pay more attention to your surroundings! Violet has been with us for three weeks now! She was assigned to cover the serial murder case in our neighboring town. The one where the killer abducts his victims before murdering them by slicing their throats.”
Slowly a look of realization spread on the brunette’s face. “Aaah, Milton! Now I remember! There really are quite a lot of murderers out and about right now. Really dangerous times we live in right now.” 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO9gjiddun
Meredith blinked. “Yeah, well… Anyways, now that you remember Violet, what I was saying, you set a bad exa-“456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnewNbkGW6i
“No.” 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTtzlPswJj
“Wait, what?” 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQY6Ev0Z0v
“I don’t. Remember her, that is. I mean, I remember the case. But I still have no idea who that Violet girl is supposed to be.”
Meredith couldn’t believe what she just heard. “Liz! How can you not know!? Her desk is literallyright behind yours!” 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmeEmcWy1C
Woah, why is she so angry at me now??? I’m not required to be besties with everyone here. Besides I’m pretty sure I’ve never even seen that girl before.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcO70aeS5A
… I think. Well, at least I for sure haven’t talked to her.
Admittedly Liz was now a bit curious about the mystery coworker so she leaned sideways to catch a glimpse past her boss at the desk behind hers. Huh?456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOp3Xembw0
“Meredith…” she started in a doubtful tone. 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTETixjF5L
“Yes?”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJOSkcvbCq
“There’s nobody there.”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qq0hPj6MK
“What?!” Surprised, the older woman turned around herself. And really, the chair where Violet was supposed to be sitting was empty. Smirking Liz asked in a teasing tone “Meredith have you pulled a few all-nighters again this week? It seems your sleep deprived self fancied itself a new employee.”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZaXea7nz4
By the look her boss gave the brunette after that remark it was clear that she was about done dealing with her so-called top-writer today. “Very funny, Liz. Oh, just what would I do without your comedic input?” 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVoKLPAADs
“Well-“ 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB7LL0ZYjt
“Don’t comment on that.” 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIMc5DaUd5
Damn.
“Anyways, actually it’s very much possible that Violet is over in Milton right now. Apparently another woman was kidnapped yesterday night.” 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPwqW9ktxd
Oh, reaaally now. You could have said that before.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYsjIvOhYW
“Don’t give me that look. I just happened to forget about it for a second with you stirring me up like that again.” Meredith crossed her arms before deciding she’d had enough of Liz for the time being. “I guess I’ve wasted enough time lecturing you. For now. I’m afraid it falls on death ears anyways.” 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglLfPK4vAh
Wow, someone’s being salty today!
“That said, you better start typing soon young lady. We have to cover this morning’s events in tomorrow’s issue. I expect your article in my office in three hours max.” With that her boss turned on her black heels and strode back to her office followed by a fake enthusiasm exclaiming “Yes, Ma’am.” from Liz. 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcqPwJf4yQ
Sometimes I wonder whether I’m the only person here whom she actually pays attention to. I’d be happier if she’d decide to forget about my lateness too.
A sigh escaping her lips the brunette began working on the desired article. However, doing that meant she’d have to recollect the events from this morning. Meaning she’d have to go over her interaction with him again. 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OLCoyf1Mu
Now that I think about it… I wonder if it’s the same for Meredith. Is handling me equally as irritating to her as dealing with that cop is to me? 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpgPBfwB8f
Pondering about that possibility a tiny spark of guilt rose up inside Liz as she started typing on her laptop.
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Dear Whoever456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwFshHa54M
Do you remember,456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡts2H5tlJEo
It’s me old, Whatshername456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYMK7sQAmu
Against The Current - Forget Me Now
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