A/N: Alright, THIS is the shortest chapter you all are gonna get for the remainder of this story. The same as Chapter 20, I wanted to isolate this scene and you will all understand why.

Without further ado, here's the 22nd chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 22: Choose Wisely

Josh fiddled with his pen as he held a faraway look in his eyes. He had a minor article due tomorrow for his column, but he couldn't focus on it. His mind raced through thoughts of Maya and her mother, second-guessing his decision to use her story for his big project. Letting him in on something as major as that must've taken a lot out of Maya, and he wanted to respect it, not take advantage of it.

Andrew knocked on Josh's cubicle wall, causing the latter to jerk in surprise.

"Oh, it's just you," Josh muttered with a sigh. "What do you want?"

"An explanation," Andrew replied.

Josh's brows furrowed. "Andrew, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Well, someone's snappy," Andrew taunted, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I just wanna know what's going on with you. Ever since the day after New Year's, you've always had this distant look in your eyes. What's up?"

Josh pursed his lips, tossing his pen on his desk and swiveling his chair to face Andrew. Heaving a deep sigh, he said, "Do you remember when I texted you, saying I've found my subject?"

Andrew nodded, folding his arms across his chest. "You never told me who your subject is. You just told me you found one," he noted.

Josh paused, exhaling yet another deep breath. "It's Maya," he disclosed. "My subject is Maya and . . . her mother."

Andrew's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Well, I definitely didn't see that one coming." After a short pause, he added, "What about Maya and her mother? What made you decide you wanted to write about them?"

"Maya's parents got divorced January of last year, and her mother turned into a drug addict after the papers were finalized. Maya resented her mother because of it, refusing to see her or speak with her for eight months. Until very recently, Maya visited her mother for the first time at the rehab center. They talked it out, and now . . . everything's back to the way it used to be between them."

Andrew was silent for a while. Maya's story was something he didn't expect, and he needed a minute to let it all sink in. "Wow," he murmured. "Frosty's such as a happy-go-lucky gal, I didn't know she was going through something like that."

Josh shrugged. "You know what they say: those who have the biggest smiles have the hardest pain," he uttered in a low voice. "She'd built walls around it, Andrew. She could've fooled anyone."

"But . . . what about now? You look like you don't want to write that story anymore," Andrew stated, a concerned look adorning his features. "Do you?"

Josh shook his head. "I don't, Andrew, I don't," he responded. "I've seen who Maya really is as a person, and I want nothing more than to protect her."

"Then, don't do it—"

"Matthews," Filomeno called as he passed by Josh's cubicle on his way back to his office, cutting Andrew's statement short. "In my office—now."

Josh gazed at Andrew, a helpless yet pleading look in his eyes. He didn't want to face Filomeno knowing he didn't have an official story under his belt. Time was dwindling fast, and the last thing Josh needed was Filomeno reminding him that his job was now hanging on the thinnest thread.

"Tell you what, let's grab a beer at Groucho's tonight and blow off steam. You look like you could use it," Andrew suggested.

Josh nodded. "Yeah, sure. I'd like that," he responded.

Andrew patted Josh's shoulder before he returned to his desk.

After his best friend left, Josh made his way to Filomeno's office. He knocked twice on the door, and after hearing Filomeno inviting him in, he twisted the knob open and entered.

Filomeno beamed upon Josh's arrival, gesturing at him to take a seat. When Josh had situated himself on a chair, Filomeno cleared his throat and began, "I heard you have a story for me, Matthews. Let's hear it."

"Mr. Filomeno, I do have a story, but . . . I'm not sure I want to pursue it anymore," Josh informed.

"Which is gonna be your biggest mistake—maybe even regret—if you decide not to go on with it," Filomeno retaliated, still with a smile on his face.

The longer Filomeno's smile stayed put, the more Josh felt that it was meant to mock him.

"Mr. Filomeno—"

"Matthews, your friend's story is exactly what I need for the anniversary issue! I mean, what's more inspiring than a drug addict mother and a resentful daughter reconnecting? That kind of story gives hope, Matthews. It shows that no matter how screwed up you are, you still have a chance to make things right so long as you have the heart to take it," Filomeno stated, his eyes glinting with excitement. In his head, he could already picture the anniversary issue with the headline for Maya's story on the front cover.

Josh shifted in his seat. "I respect Maya and her story, Mr. Filomeno—"

"I know you do, Matthews," Filomeno intervened. "But your friend embodies that courageous heart, and I want her to inspire not only the city of New York but the whole world as well. Don't you want that for her? Don't you want her voice to be heard by everyone? Don't you want her to be recognized for the audacious woman that you know she is?"

Pursing his lips, Josh contemplated Filomeno's statement. After what he'd been through with Maya and all the things he learned of her, he wanted nothing but the best for her. Josh believed that Maya deserved the whole world, and if he had the opportunity to provide her with even just a scrap of that, he wouldn't think twice about taking it.

Filomeno noticed the hesitation in Josh's eyes. Licking his lips, he said, "Remember your deadline, Matthews. It took you two months to get on something, and now you want to throw it away? If say, I allowed you to not pursue this story, how long will it take you to find a new subject? Another two months? Even so, you'd only have a month to work on it."

Josh's eyes cut to Filomeno, prompting the latter to continue.

"Your time is limited, Matthews. Keep that in mind. It's either you continue with this story or you're out of my company. It's your choice . . . but you've got to remember to choose wisely."

"You can't be serious right now, Josh!" Andrew exclaimed as he sat across Josh at their table at Groucho's.

"What do you want me to do, Andrew?" Josh bit back with the same intensity Andrew threw at him. It was a good thing Groucho's was a typically loud establishment. "Filomeno gave me an ultimatum—to hell with him it was a good one, too! I am on his list, Andrew. He wants to kick me out of PV. Did you forget that? I'm not gonna stand around and let him do that. I know what I'm capable of doing and I want to prove that to Filomeno."

"There are more than one ways to prove your worth to Filomeno, Josh! You didn't have to use Maya to do that—"

Josh rolled his eyes at Andrew's argument. "I am not using Maya—"

"Yes, you are—"

"I am helping her, Andrew! Look, I want to write Maya's story, all right? I told Filomeno that if I'm gonna be writing about Maya, I want to write about her art and her struggles of trying to make a name for herself in the art industry. But Filomeno . . . Filomeno wouldn't have it as long as I don't include the story of her mother," Josh explained, shoving his third bottle of beer aside.

Andrew held back his response after hearing that Josh tried to bargain with Filomeno. As much as he disagreed with Josh's decision to pursue Maya's story, he had to give it to him for attempting to convince Filomeno to only write about the artistic part of Maya's life.

"Besides," Josh started with downcast eyes, "this isn't about keeping my job anymore, Andrew. It's become more than that."

Andrew furrowed his brows, which prompted Josh to continue.

"Maya's an amazing artist, but she's much more than that. She's a remarkable person who knows what she wants. She's a strong woman with a big heart, and I just . . . I just want the world to know her for the amazing person that she is." Josh paused, eyes set on a random spot on the table. "Filomeno gave me the chance to do that" —he looked Andrew in the eyes again— "How could I turn that down?"

Don't hate me, please. Filomeno did know how to wrap someone around his fingers with just his words. I hope you all understood that Josh wanted only what was best for Maya, and Filomeno sort of described all of that to him.

Anyway, thanks for reading. I know we have a short one today, but I wanna know what you think!