Chapter One- Stress, Work, and Love
Gabriella Montez sat with her head on her desk, almost passed out from boredom. Seriously, was this what work was supposed to be? She was supposed to be filling in for the sports writer in their local newspaper that she worked on, but how was she supposed to know what to do? She knew nothing of sports. Supposedly, she had to get the latest scoop on the new football player for England's team.
"What are you doing in here, little miss?" A deep teasing voice emitted from the front of her office space. She snapped her head up, blinking tiredly.
"What?"
"Well, why aren't you enjoying the party?" His british accent was mockingly light.
It was the annual holiday party, her paper did it every year. "Jason, I have to finish up on this assignment. I'll come out later."
Jason's laugh filled the room and he stepped towards Gabriella, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Well, don't take a long time. I want you to enjoy the party, like everyone else. And don't be stressed before Christmas, you might forget to give me my present." He grinned slightly, making Gabriella giggle.
"I won't forget your gift, Jason. Now shoo, I have to finish!" Gabriella shooed her best friend and coworker out of the room, shaking her head in playful way.
She sat back down on her computer and sighed, focusing her eyes on the computer screen.
"God, I swear I'm going to get carpal-tunnel from typing so much. Either that or I'm going to go blind from staring at my computer screen too much!" Gabriella quietly muttered to herself, squeezing her eyes tightly before opening them up again and getting back to work.
-
And hour later she hurried out of her office, frantically rushing downstairs to make what was left of the party. She came into the main room to find a few people mingling here and there, and leftover streamers lying on the ground. Champagne glasses were sprawled on the tables, empty. A couple custodial workers were sweeping up the mess and the few people who were mingling had just left. She bit her lip, groaning. An arm found its way around her shoulders and she looked up into a pair of warm hazel eyes.
"I missed it again, didn't I?" She had promised herself this year, she would make it.
"I'm so sorry," Jason whispered in her ear as he pulled her head into his chest.
Gabriella felt tears sting in her eyes and she let one fall. "Why?" she whispered. "I haven't a life, Jason. I've missed every Christmas party since I started working here six years ago. I'm pathetic." She knew she was a workaholic. It was her greatest asset and weakness. She always got things done on time, and got a great salary because of it. She had worked her way up the business ladder, landing her the prime spot on the paper staff. But, nowadays she felt like the weakness overrode the asset. Her job was her life. That was it. She never took any vacations and barely ever celebrated holidays.
"Shh, shh..." Jason whispered into her ear. His heart broke to see her so...broken. His best friend, his coworker, his non-blood related sister was breaking down in front of his eyes. "I know exactly what you need," he smiled, his normally playful tone coming back.
"What is it, Jase?" Gabriella asked, hesitantly.
"You need a vacation, Gabby. Seriously. A two week, no strings, no work vacation."
Gabriella rolled her eyes in an effort to keep the light tone going. "Ah, Jase, no way. You know me. I can't do that. Not with all the work."
Jason's tone darkened and he gently lifted Gabriella's chin so that she was looking at him. "Gabriella, listen to me. Two weeks would do a world of good for you. Trust me, please. You have the best job in this company. Hell, you've probably got the best job in England. You have more say in what goes on here than our boss does. You could afford to relax a few weeks. And besides, if you lose your job, you can always move in with me and I promise to take good care of you." He ended with a sarcastic note, and laughed to himself, looking down at Gabriella. A look of worry had crossed her face.
"You think I will lose my job?" She muttered, creases on her forehead from fear.
"I was joking, Gabby! You need to go on vacation and buy yourself a sense of humor." She buried herself in Jason's warm shirt and closed her eyes. A vacation did sound good.
"And hey, here's something..." Jason said, a suggestive look in his eyes. He knew he was pushing a rough subject, but he plowed through. "Maybe you could find someone...who you...you know...like in a special way..."
Gabriella pushed him away, looking down. "Jase..." she pleaded.
"Come on, Gabby. I'm just telling you to think about it. You need a little adventure in your life. Consider it, love."
Taylor McKessie opened her blinds in her Los Angeles, California mansion. She let the already warm air fill her air-conditioned room. She shut the window quickly and climbed down the windowsill, ready to start another day as Taylor McKessie: Movie Trailer Editor Extrodinare.
She hopped on her warm bed again and casually flicked the television on.
"Good morning, Hollywood! It's going to be another hot day today, with temperatures rising to the low hundreds! Pack up those bags and head to the beach, the weather is perfect for catching a wave! And here's Michael for this week's forecast! Michael, when are you going to stop that hot weather and give us some clouds?"
Taylor pressed the 'Power' button on the remote control and made her king size bed, neatly. She could already feel the heat rising in her room, so she stood up on her bed to turn the ceiling fan on. Her feet found their way to her walk-in-closet and she picked out her outfit for work today.
After she was done pulling on her cargo shorts and tank top, she skipped downstairs and into her office.
"Hey Jim, hey Pam," she greeted her two work partners. "I'm glad you see fit to waltz into my house, without any word to me."
"We've worked with you forever, can't you let your two best friends into the office where they work? You were still asleep, sleepyhead, and what were we supposed to do? Wait outside in the scorching weather until you woke up?" Jim joked, rolling his eyes. Taylor shook her head, laughing and plopped down on the rolling chair opposite Pam and Jim, ready to start work.
-
After about a couple hours or so, the team had shied away from working and moved on to personal conversations.
"So, I hear you two lovebirds are going on vacation," Taylor brought up. Pam's cheeks turned a lovely shade of scarlet at the mention of 'lovebirds' and Jim rubbed her hand reassuringly.
"Yes we are," he said, proudly. "To beautiful, cold Scranton, Pennsylvania. We heard it's great there, and we are looking forward to cooler weather."
"I can't wait!" Pam squealed, excitedly. She turned to Jim and kissed him full on the mouth, which Jim responded whole-heartedly to.
Taylor grinned. "I wish I could have that."
"What? A vacation? Because you could use one." Pam asked, after she had pulled away from Jim reluctantly.
"Haha, thanks Pam," Taylor said, sarcasm dripping from every syllable. "Well, yes a vacation, but what you guys have. Love." At this point, both Jim and Pam were blushing furiously and Pam giggled.
"I guess we are in love," Jim said, nodding his head.
Pam sighed, sarcastically. "I guess so. I'll just have to grin and bear it."
Now it was Taylor's turn to sigh. When was she going to have that? Pam noticed Taylor's sudden quietness, and she and Jim exchanged sly glances.
"Well, if you go on vacation, you could have that. Maybe find a man..." Pam mentioned, lifting her shoulders as if to say, 'It could happen.'
"Oh, hush, you! Maybe I will," Taylor said, although she knew that she probably would never get out of work long enough to have a vacation. Her team knew of her history with men. She had never had one that had stayed more than a week. All her boyfriends had left because of her obsession with her job.
"Oh, come on! Go to somewhere cold, or somewhere peaceful!" Jim urged.
Taylor stared into space a little, think about her options.
Hmm...a vacation would do me some good.
"Maybe. I'll think about it."
"You are your boss!" Jim exclaimed. "I could book it and everything."
Taylor shook her head. "Nah, I think I'll go on Google today or something. I'll find something, don't worry. I promise."
Pam and Jim smiled. Taylor was finally giving in to their pleas. They had been bugging her to go on vacation for months now, and she was finally giving in!
AN: Sorry it took so long for me to update! Schoolwork has been eating my time. I wrote a pretty long chapter, for me. (Usually it is a bit shorter than this. I am trying to get in the habit of writing longer chapters.)
Yay for Taylor's coworkers! I love Jim and Pam. Cookies for someone who tells me where it's from! (Although I know some of you of course know.)
