Spencer
How To : Hate your job
"What did Paula want?"
This time I appreciated the interruption. I glanced up at Chelsea as she flicked her messenger bag off her shoulder onto her own desk.
"She liked the article. Oh, and we've got a meeting in an hour." I turned my attention back to my computer screen, staring at the blank page. I haven't been able to come up with a new article yet, and I had less than two weeks to get it submitted.
"Meeting? I thought it was Wednesday today," Chelsea frowned.
"It is Wednesday…" I corrected her. Realization dawned on the both of us that our weekly meeting had been rescheduled to one day earlier. It wasn't a problem, except that we were missing a person.
"Where's Madison?"
I frowned. I haven't seen our friend all morning, and usually she was the first to arrive at work, being all sporty and in fact, our health and fitness writer. Madison was the definition of fit – if you were to look it up in a dictionary. But lately, her head was the complete opposite. As strong as her body was, her heart and mind just wasn't. I was aware that she'd been dumped by a girl she'd been seeing for a couple of days. Madison never took rejection well.
"I don't think she's in yet… do you think she's sulking?" I was worried on her behalf. Paula didn't take absenteeism well – not on meeting days.
Chelsea smirked and I had my answer. "Of course she's sulking. She'd completely fallen for this chick."
I jumped up from my desk chair, knowing I could run the two blocks to Madison's apartment and have her at work in time for the meeting. No way I was going to let her ruin herself like this.
Chelsea knew immediately what I was up to. She stuffed a green sweater into my hands. "Here; a sample. Make her wear it, it will bring out her eyes, and she'll feel better instantly."
I admired my best friend. We'd come a long way since high school, both interested in writing but with completely different views on it. Where I'd been longing to write about things that mattered, to more than just women, Chelsea loved fashion. Combine that with writing and it gave our magazine an edge that outclassed all other women's magazines around the country. Chelsea didn't just write about fashion, she was the quintessence of fashion. I really believed that Paula knew what she was doing when she started hiring. I was grateful to have my best friend as a colleague.
"Thanks Chels, I'll see you in a few!"
Madison was a complete mess. I stepped inside her apartment without invitation, and took a quick glance around. All the curtains were drawn. Her bed was unmade – my guess was that she just got up, dishes were piling up, and clothes were scattered everywhere. All very unlike Madison Duarte, but so Madison Duarte when she got her heart broken. Which was very often lately. I frowned at that thought.
"I'm going back to bed, there's no reason for me to be out there," Madison sobbed, jumping back onto her bed as I followed her into her room.
I strolled over to the curtains and pulled them open. "Come on, Mads, the sun's out, it's such a beautiful day!"
She refused to budge, and I sat down on the edge of her bed with a sigh. "We have staff meeting in forty minutes, I won't let you lose your job too." I pulled out the sweater and held it out to her.
Chelsea knew exactly what Madison liked.
"Aaaw, this is for me?" Madison asked, a tiny smile creeping onto her puffy face. "It's cashmere!"
"And it will bring out the color of your eyes. Now come on, let's get you ready for this amazing day," I urged her on.
"Oh, Spence," Madison leaned forward and I pulled her into a hug. I could feel her tears wetting my shoulder.
"Come on, Mads, you need to be strong… You only dated the girl a week." I was never good with dating advice.
My words only encouraged her tears. "Six days," she corrected me. "It was the best six days of my life."
It took us half an hour to get out of Madison's apartment and back to work. Chelsea waited in the lobby and rushed up to us with coffee the moment we stepped through the front doors of IN-NY. She was so good with this. I felt inadequate to give the proper advice or even how to make Madison feel better.
My dating history wasn't any better than Madison's. I hardly dated these days. The last girl I'd gone out with cheated on me after only two days. Before her, I was in a short relationship, but due to career advances, Katherine moved to Toronto. She was an architect. Who liked snow. Apparently. And before Katherine, there was a myriad of one night stands and girls who just never really made me feel like wanting to spend a lifetime with them. I was difficult that way, I know.
"… I just don't understand why? It always starts out so well but then ends in disaster! Why?"
Madison's wailing pulled me out of my reverie and I felt even worse. I didn't know what to say to her.
"Oh, sweetie, give it time, maybe she wasn't the one," Chelsea consoled her.
"I really thought she was," Madison sobbed. Her tears hadn't stopped since I set foot into her apartment. "I mean, the first time Michelle and I had sex, it was life altering. I cried."
Cried? What?!
"You cried?" Chelsea asked, clearly as astonished as I was. Now I know I was no pro in the dating industry, but that didn't sound healthy.
"You mean, you had like one tear rolling down your cheek, right?" I tried to justify this.
Madison lead the way to the elevators, still engrossed in her heartbreak. "No, I cried. It was just so intense and I was really emotional. I mean, I even told her that I loved her."
I nearly choked on my coffee. She told her girlfriend of six days that she loved her? What was going on in Madison's head? "After how many days?"
"Four. It's how I felt, okay?" Madison defended herself.
I was dumbstruck. A quick glance over at Chelsea confirmed that I wasn't the only one who thought this was a bit crazy. Madison was doing everything to drive that poor girl away! I dared to probe a little, knowing whatever she was going to say would be cringe worthy and had probably made matters worse. "Okay… so what did she say?"
Madison's expression changed to dreamy. "Oh, she didn't have to say anything at all." And then she was sad again. "I just… I don't understand why she started avoiding me then. She was constantly busy and not answering my phone calls."
"Maybe she is just busy. You know, Spence had the same problem with Katherine. It wasn't that they didn't love each other anymore, they just spent time focusing on their careers," Chelsea tried.
Madison seemed to believe that, but I was somewhat offended. Chelsea didn't have to announce my personal life to the entire staff compliment in the elevator. Plus, it was kind of a lie. Katherine did want to get away from me. She took the offer to Toronto without even considering me or our promises of a future together. I felt a pang in my heart, wondering where I'd gone wrong in the dating pool. I knew I was good looking. So was it my personality?
"Anyway, I know why she left me… it's because I'm fat," Madison concluded.
It was the second time I almost choked on my coffee. Chelsea did too. We both confirmed in unison out loud that Madison wasn't fat. If anything, she needed some meat on her bones. Sometimes I really worried about her with her diets and health plans and even taking the gym thing a tad bit too far.
Paula had this crazy obsession that we all had to consume bottled water while in her meetings. Her argument was that it cleansed us and opened our minds to ideas. Yeah, my boss was weird that way.
"Apologies for rescheduling our meeting dear writers, but I've got ladies from The Label here tomorrow and I'm proud to announce that we are in the negotiating stage to start featuring up and coming female artists in our magazine."
That was great news. I wondered who Paula would assign to do these interviews and articles. It sounded a lot more interesting than my How-To column, and even though I really wanted to travel and get more serious issues out in the magazine, a change in the meantime would be good.
My attention was back to Paula after everybody had stopped cheering and clapping.
"Okay, let's start with you, Tara. What have you got for our next run?" Paula asked.
I hated when she put us in the spotlight like that. It made me feel like I did something wrong.
Tara, a petite blonde from Texas, smiled and started rambling about Botox injections and who knows what else. I could never understand how Paula adored this girl with her Texan twang. It was difficult to listen to, especially when she got excited.
"Madison, what have you got?" Paula inquired.
My heart went out to her. I don't think Madison had been able to focus on anything but her breakup with Michelle. The way she wallowed you'd think they'd been married for years.
"Uhm…" Madison was at a loss for words.
"She got dumped," Chelsea interjected.
Paula pulled a concerned face. I'd almost believe that she cared, but I knew she didn't really. "Oh no, Madison, that is terrible news. But I must say, you are looking good today. The sweater really brings out your eyes."
Madison gave a faint smile. I knew that she loved Paula's compliments, despite being fake. "Well, I haven't eaten since we split up."
Paula smiled her light bulb smile. I knew this wasn't going to go down well. "Good for you, Madison! I want you to write about it, how you turned this around positively to lose weight."
I would be insulted. In fact, I was ready to interrupt, but Madison frowned, not having taken Paula's insensitive comment to heart. "I can't write about my personal life."
Paula nodded, then looked around at the rest of the staff. Particularly Tara. "Okay, that's understandable. Who will write about Madison's personal life for our next issue?"
I cringed as Tara agreed. She would rip Madison apart. I had to do something, and quick. And then it hit me… I could use Madison's experience as my next How-To column! That way, Madison wouldn't be exposed, and I'd have something for our next issue. How difficult could it be?
I spoke up quickly, not wanting Paula to accept Tara's offer. "Actually… Paula, can I write about it? I mean, not write an article, but rather, a How-To. You know, using what Madison has been doing wrong as inspiration. We all make mistakes to drive our partners away at some point, some just get over it, right?"
Paula was impressed, and pleased. "Spencer… I love that idea! How to… lose someone in ten days!"
I was confused. "Why ten days?"
"We go to print in twelve days, I want your draft in ten. Oh, and Spencer, you need to date someone to do this. I want to see your notes, and I want something real."
Oh no, oh no, oh no, she can't be serious! I did not do the dating thing anymore! I took a deep breath and was about to retort, but Paula had moved on to the next writer, indicating that she was not accepting any more discussion from my column.
Shit!
I was panicked, but Chelsea and Madison just smiled at me; Madison grateful that I saved her ass, and Chelsea because she's been trying to get me into the dating scene again for the past six months.
I tried to hang around the lobby and Paula when her ladies from The Label arrived the next day. I really needed to get myself out of the How-To column and into something more meaningful. I was even prepared to do both.
"Ladies… welcome," Paula ushered them away from the reception desk. "Thank you for making time in your busy schedules to come and see us; IN-NY is very grateful for this opportunity!"
I only caught their names and had to make a dash for it as Paula eyed me suspiciously. Making my way up the stairs to the first floor, I realized that I'd forgotten my ID card at reception. I was in luck as Paula stopped me as they came up and I'd already turned around.
"Carmen Mendez, Carmen Matheson, this is Spencer Carlin. She is our How-To girl, and an excellent writer, I tell you. Right now she is working on a column called "How to lose someone in ten days". She will date someone for the time period, and use all the things people do wrong to drive the person away!"
Both Carmens smiled, and one spoke up with a sly smile. "I must say, Spencer, I really enjoy your column, and this one sounds viciously exciting!"
I hated the fact that women in suits read my articles, let alone our magazine. It made me feel inferior to their successes – something I was still dreaming to achieve. They were both hot, though. I'd date a woman in a suit any day.
Paula smiled proudly. "Well, ladies, let's go to my office and let Spencer find her candidate for her article!"
I nearly hurled at the thought.
A/N : My intention is to post a Spencer and Ashley chapter with every upload, as there is a certain pattern which you'll figure out pretty soon. But rest assured that the Ashley chapter will be up shortly! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
