Author note: This story is heavily influenced by something, which I will reveal in the final chapter. I want it spoiler-free. So, if some of you have guessed it, you can share your enthusiasm by sending me a PM (and not putting it in the review box). I welcome that:) So, thank you for understanding!

First-person descriptions are Will's thoughts, whereas words in bold-italics are thoughts of other characters.

Enjoy reading and please review!

Year 2005

Salem

I am seriously searching for a book in the literature section of the Salem Public Library. Suddenly, someone's fingers accidentally brush against mine as we are about to get the same book from the stack. "Sonny…" That just comes out of my mouth from nowhere, as I look at him, wide-eyed.

All these 6 months, I have been watching him from quite a distance.

But today… this close?

"How do you know my name?" he says with a blink. I'm hearing his voice for the first time. Tranced. His face is almost expressionless… But there is a shine of brilliance in his beautiful brown eyes, and I can see his lips curved up a bit. Is it his slightest smile? Gorgeous.

All those feelings for him that I had safely kept locked in my heart were forcing themselves out through my mouth, in vain. "I...I like you, Sonny…Oh no! I mean…I'm sorry. Please take the book!" I pout and my eyelashes flutter nervously as I take a step back. But, then… his eyes soften and his smile widens…

It was pure bliss, back then…

8 years later…

Philadelphia

The alarm screams, making me spring up from the bed in my temporary accommodation.

At age 24, I, Will Horton, have become a totally jaded adult.

"Are you sure? I had made it clear with the interview panel that I have worked and intend to work on core literature" I say, with little annoyance, lifting my shell glasses over the bridge of my nose. "Well, it says, you have been assigned to the 'chick lit' department at Green Sea Publications" the lady in the general affairs, Erika, points her finger at the line printed on the form and grins like she doesn't give a damn to my view. Why should she? I just nod with a smirk and follow her toward the editorial department. God, I shouldn't have signed the frigging contract!

"Isn't working on glossy books a dead-end job for a guy?" I ask Erika, as she presses the elevator button with her well-manicured index finger. "Well, it's true that this department was a mess but since the new manager joined last year, it's been really good. They won the top sales award recently!" Erika smiles with pride.

Whatever, I will just give it a try for a week or two. If it doesn't fit for me, I don't mind paying 50 per cent back, for I have saved enough in the last 2 years. Hey, I'm not stingy, though.

"Hello, everybody! I would like to introduce to you all, our new editor, Will Horton!" Erika says loudly but pleasantly. But, what the hell! Nobody seems to care. Some are scratching their head, while some are literally snoring face down on the papers scattered on their desks! I think 'Dead Sea' would have been an apt name for this group.

"Uh oh, I guess something's gone wrong with the 'cycle'" Erika flashes an embarrassed smile at me. "The 'cycle'?" I ask with a puzzled look. "Yeah, you'll know soon. Good luck!" Erika vanishes.

This is definitely a bad omen.

"Hi there!" I lightly pat on the shoulder of a redhead looking at his manuscript. Looking closer I realize he is sleeping. "Huh, what?" the man shakes his body and looks at me with a squint eye.

"That's what I want to know. Sorry. I'm the new guy here" I say.

"Oh...I heard someone's joining…is it today? Ok... I'm Joy" he lazily offers his hand, with no streak of real joy on his face. "Sarah?...SAARAAH?" Joy shouts. "Arrghh… I heard you the first time, Joy!" a lady stands up with a frown as she slams a bunch of papers on the table and struts forward. Her hair looks like hydra tentacles spreading out of a high bun. Is it the latest fashion? Or, fatigue?

"Welcome to Green Sea, Will! I'm the assistant manager here" Sarah greets with reddened eyes. Maybe lack of sleep.

"Sarah, I don't think it's possible for me to finish this overnight…" almost sobs a…well, an Asian lady, I think. Her already small eyes seem to have shrunk further, appearing like two horizontal lines with bags underneath. Colorful drawings of a girl with varied facial expressions were spread like a Japanese hand-fan on her desk. "Oh Romi, nothing's in my hand. Sorry dear. JK's order" Sarah squeezes the shoulder of the illustrator and introduces me to her.

"Sorry, Will. The manager has gone to attend a conference in Germany. He'll be back tonight" Sarah says as she takes me around the vast floor. "Oh. I heard there's some mistake with the 'cycle'?" I say, walking a step behind her. "Yeah. We just received the sub mat from the author" Sarah sighs. "You mean the substitute material? When is the release date?" I ask curiously. "Ah, in seven days…at the stores" Sarah's eyebrows shoot up as she smiles and hands me some manuals. "What? This in UNBELIEVABLE!" I rub my temple.

It's lunch time now. I'm sitting alone in the lounge, even though Joy reluctantly offered his company while clutching the corrected papers to his heart. I can see a few people belonging to the other departments having a good time, indirectly teasing the poor 'chick lit' guys sitting at a corner table and hurriedly gobbling their sandwiches. Wait. Did I just hear someone say "a collection of weirdos"? Ugh!

Since my dad is the CEO of the famous Horton Book House, I have always liked books. I wanted to work on books that people will want to treasure. Especially, the hard-cover ones…each one is a work of art! Once into my high school in the UK, I started working part-time at the UK branch of my dad's company. After graduating from Oxford with a degree in literature, I joined as a junior editor. My first assignment was from a popular author. Though the pressure was tremendous with me being new, the end result was fruitful. Seeing a book, into which you poured all your heart, sell is the happiest moment in an editor's life.

When my second book also became a success, jealousy surfaced among many people. I could hear random voices at a closer range in the cafeteria and in the corridors…"This month's top seller is Will Horton!" "What? Again?" "Oh, it must be easy once you get in through a high-level recommendation" "Tell me about it! He got the star author even though he just joined. Look at us…busting our asses and still getting the low-ranked ones" "One should be born with a silver spoon, I guess" "ha ha ha, well said!"…

Those words were painful to hear…Is it because of my mistake in the past… what I did 8 years ago? For every sad thing that happened in my life, my mind would immediately think of that as the reason for my suffering.

All these years I have been thinking about him…hoping that he has forgiven me… Oh snap out of it, Horton!

So, I didn't have to give any explanation to those small-minded people… that I was not reigning under my dad's shadow. It was nothing but my sheer hard work, talent, and dedication to my job.

And, I quit, despite my dad's hard feelings.

But, after coming back to the US, here, I feel I've made a big blunder by not looking before leaping into this deep well.

Ok. Enough of mopping like a teenager. I just need to figure out how to quit this job as well and find something that's worth my potential and passion. Maybe, I will get an idea of the know-how and probably some helpful tips with the so-called amazing, successful manager of this department to climb up the ladder and then, I will flee this odd place.

(to be continued...)