Chapter 212: Sketch Dailey
Friday, January 20th, Afternoon
The parking lot was a block and a half away from the address she was given. Ellie sighed as she parked the car given to her to use. This vehicle was pulled from storage in the carriage house at Leighton. It was an older Chevrolet Trailblazer, she couldn't remember when or who bought it, but her dad maintained it. Taking two or three breaths, she got out of the vehicle and walked to the passenger side. Opening the passenger side door, Ellie reached into the car and pulled out her messenger bag. Ellie closed the door behind her and looked around the parking lot. She slung the bag over her shoulder and, using the remote, locked the car doors.
Slowly, Ellie walked out to the road where she needed to be. Strangely, she knew the address, and she knew it was a six-plus story building. As she walked down the street, she came up onto the building. Ellie looked it over and noted that it had an Art-Deco style. This style reflected on the building's construction in the first half of the twentieth century.
After two more deep breaths, Ellie walked into the building lobby and looked around the place. The lobby was decorated and well detailed, but it was showing its age. The lobby is in dire need of a rehab. Looking around, Ellie removed her sunglasses; they were cheap sunglasses; she didn't want to look too pretentious and wear her Bella's. She liked the Bella's over the Chastity Davis Specials, but today her sunglasses were the twenty-dollar corner store model.
Finding a reflective surface, Ellie stood before it and made a few adjustments to her outfit. Her outfit was more in line with what she would wear in North Carolina than what she wore in New York City. With her fingers, Ellie placed a few stray strands of her curly light blonde hair back into place.
Slowly, Ellie walked over to the building's directory and looked up where her appointment was. The offices are on the fourth floor in Suite 420. Nodding, Ellie walked over to the building's desk.
"How may I help you, Ma'am," The person behind the desk asked.
"I have an appointment at Sketch Dailey," Ellie said, and at the last moment remembered where she was and added, "Sir."
The person behind the desk nodded and took out a sheet of paper; he doodled on it. "Okay, just head down the hallway to your left, and you'll find the elevators. Just take one to the fourth floor, and you'll find the signs to their suite, Ma'am," he said.
"Thank you, Sir," Ellie said.
"You're welcome, Ma'am," The Person Behind the desk said and handed Ellie the sheet of paper.
Ellie took the paper, smiled, and walked down the hallway. At the elevator, Ellie pushed the call button and waited. Once the elevator arrived, Ellie rode it to the fourth floor. Once she got out of the elevator, Ellie looked and found the sign to the suite of offices.
Ellie walked down the hallway to Suite 420. Studying the door, which had the suite number on it, she shrugged. Underneath the number was a sign that said, "Offices of Sketch Dailey."
Finally, after a few deep breaths, Ellie opened the door and walked into the reception area for Sketch Dailey. Someone was sitting behind the reception desk. Ellie studied the person; all Ellie could do is describe them as mousy looking. Ellie wasn't even sure what pronouns to use with them. Ellie also took a scan of the lobby, which she noted was rather plain. The money they spent wasn't spent on this room.
"Welcome to Sketch Dailey, how may I help you?" The Receptionist asked/
"Hello, I'm Elizabeth Scott. I have an appointment with Ms. Dwerryhouse," Ellie said.
The Receptionist nodded and checked their computer screen. They nodded and looked back at Ellie. "Ah, yes, Ms. Scott, Mrs. Dwerryhouse is expecting you," The Receptionist said.
"Thank you," Ellie said.
The Receptionist nodded, "Please have a seat, and Mrs. Dwerryhouse will be with you shortly," They said.
"Thank you," Ellie said and took a seat in one of the few chairs in the lobby. Ellie adjusted her messenger bag and put the piece of paper the man in the building lobby gave her into it. Taking the time to study the lobby, Ellie looked around again. The chairs were mismatched, and the reception desk looked like they repurposed it. Also, to note, there was no nameplate to help Ellie with The Receptionist's name or chosen pronoun. After a few minutes of contemplating the room, the inner lobby door opened, and a woman of average height with dark brown hair stood in the doorway.
Ellie studied the woman as she looked around the lobby. The new person walked over to The Receptionist, and they had a quick exchanged. Finally, the woman walked over to Ellie and nodded.
"Elizabeth Scott?" The woman asked.
Ellie stood up and offered the woman her hand, "Yes, Ma'am, I'm Elizabeth Scott," she said.
The woman took her hand and gave it a firm handshake. "I'm Sophia Dwerryhouse, welcome to Sketch Dailey," she said.
"Thank you, Ma'am," Ellie said.
"You're welcome, and please call me Sophia, I'm too young for this ma'am stuff," Sophia said.
"Yes, Ma'am," Ellie said.
Sophia laughed, "Please, follow me," she said.
Ellie smiled and followed Sophia through the door into the office proper. As she walked through the office, Ellie noted that they used an open concept for the floor plan. After some quick math, Ellie figured out most of the staff had just a four-foot by two-foot area of desk surface. Everything was extremely minimalist in design. Ellie figured this was either for the cost or a conscious design choice, maybe even for philosophical reasons. The decoration was what could be called a minimalistic industrial style, which included an open ceiling, exposing all the bones and pipes of the building.
Noting as she walked through, there was a conference room, and next to it was an open collaboration area. There were a few doors to offices, and that's where Sophia is bringing here. This office was a completely different world than what Ellie had seen in the West Range of Beaulieu Manor.
At the door, Sophia showed her into the office. Sophia followed Ellie in and closed the door behind her. She showed Ellie a rather basic office chair.
"Have a seat, please," Sophia said.
Ellie took a seat, adjusting her messenger bag. Sophia took a seat behind the desk. Ellie watched as Sophia pulled out a tablet and fiddled with it.
"Well, this is new to us," Sophia said, "I wasn't expecting an agent for New York City based writer to contact us about my online help wanted ad."
"Okay," Ellie said.
"You have a BA in English with a focus on journalism, from UNC-Chapel Hill?" Sophia asked.
"Yes, I did," Ellie said.
"Are you related to Keith Scott?" Sophia asked.
"Yes, he's my older brother," Ellie said.
Sophia nodded, "Okay, also, I didn't expect the list of credits I got from your agents," she said.
"I believe that's an abridged list too," Ellie said.
Sophia nodded, "So, you're quite in demand," she said.
Ellie noted a picture on her desk. It was of Sophia, a blonde woman about the same height; there was also a young boy standing between them. Ellie's eyes darted back to Sophia. "Yeah, they like my name in the byline, but I refuse to use the name they want me to use," Ellie said.
"Interesting, and what name would that be?" Sophia asked.
"Anna Becca," Ellie said.
Sophia nodded, "Oh, really, you're Anna Becca," she said.
"Yes, I am," Ellie said.
"You're the third one this week," Sophia said.
"You'd be surprised how often I hear that," Ellie said.
"Well, she has no pictures of her published," Sophia said.
"I like my privacy," Ellie said.
"Yeah?" Sophia asked.
"Yes," Ellie said.
"Well, Anna Becca had a low profile. So anyone can play her. So, prove you are the writer Anna Becca," Sophia said, "If you can't, this interview is over."
Ellie nodded, "I understand," she said, and reached inside her messenger bag. She pulled out her writing portfolio. Flipping it open, she pulled out a file folder and handed it to Sophia.
Sophia took it and flipped it open. Looking over the content, Sophia nodded and closed the file folder. Sophia handed it back to Ellie.
"You always carry a redacted copy of your contract for the book with you?" Sophia asked.
"I find it saves time, and I only have what the dollar amount redacted," Ellie said.
"I see," Sophia said, "So, you brought your portfolio, and can I take a look?"
"Yes, you can," Ellie said, with a nod, avoiding correcting her speech, and slid her portfolio over to her. Sophia took it and started to look it over. Ellie stood by and watched Sophia go over the writing samples.
Finally, Sophia closed the portfolio and handed it back to Ellie.
"So, you ghostwrote Chloë Peters' Invited by the Shadows?" Sophia asked.
Ellie nodded, "Yeah, that wasn't a fun assignment," she said.
"My wife loved that book, better than her others," Sophia said.
"Thank you," Ellie said.
"You're welcome," Sophia said, "You're good; do you have any ideas to pitch?"
"I've read some of your past articles," Ellie said.
"And?" Sophia asked.
"I read the article on the Club Absolution, and found some aspects wanting," Ellie said.
Sophia nodded, "That piece was by one of our best investigators," she said.
"It became clear he became enamored with the lifestyle and lost his objectivity," Ellie said.
"So, what do you want to do?" Sophia asked.
"A follow-up," Ellie said.
Sophia nodded, "Interesting," she said, and reached over for one of the few file folders on her desk, "I'll mull your idea over, but I'll let you wet your beak first."
Ellie took the file folder and flipped through it. She read the cover letter and closed the file folder; Ellie put it down and looked at Sophia.
"You're experience got you this shot," Sophia said.
Ellie nodded, "I understand," she said.
"Give me three thousand words by Tuesday," Sophia said.
"Yes," Ellie said.
Sophia reached for a phone and pressed a few buttons. It rang a few times, and then a person picked up.
"Hello, Sophia," the person said on the other end. Sophia picked up the headset.
"Yes, Jean, I'll be sending someone over. Process them as a contractor, and the usual," Sophia said, listened, and nodded. Finally, she hung up the phone. Sophia turned to Ellie.
"Elizabeth, head two doors down, and Jean will set you up. I'll see you tomorrow; start time is in the file," Sophia said.
Ellie nodded, "Thank you, and I'll see you tomorrow," she said, and Sophia nodded. Ellie collected her stuff and left the office. She headed off to her destination and the next step in the process.
