Chapter Three

 "Have you thought this through?" Valerie Collingsworth asked looking horrified at the letter of resignation Sabra had handed her. "Why not just continue your leave of absence – I mean you have tons of time!"

 "I don't know that I have six to eight months of leave time built up," Sabra said. "But even if I did it wouldn't change my mind."

 Valerie's hand shook as she put the letter to the side and nodded. "I can't claim I understand, but I will file all the necessary paperwork. Convert your time and deposit it into your account. When will you be leaving?"

 "Tomorrow," Sabra answered.

 "T-tomorrow?" Valerie stuttered in shock. "My God, what about your townhouse? All your things?"

 "I've arranged things with my real estate agent and I'm going to sublet on a six-month lease, and we'll see how things go. As for my things, they'll go into storage along with everything else I have stored." 

 Valerie got up from behind her desk as Sabra pushed out from the guest chair, "Good luck, let me know how things are going once you get settled."

 Sabra smiled. The tightness in her chest disappeared and she drew in a deep breath. "I will do that, Valerie."

 She walked out of the suite of offices and walked down the hall to the escalator, and she stepped on and rode down to the atrium. Her phone buzzed in her purse, and she pulled it from the pocket and thumbed it open. A text from Professor Jin. "Tickets are waiting for you, SooYun! Have a good trip!"

 Sabra laughed lightly and texted back with a thumbs-up emoji that Professor Jin responded with a heart. She flagged down a taxi and headed back to her townhouse to finish packing.

 That evening she was sitting in bed with her laptop. She opened the message she had received from "the Director". It was not in answer to the last question she had sent almost three weeks ago but about the job and the contest. 

The Director: By now you have heard about the writing opportunity? If you decide to accept it, I will see you on Thursday in Seoul. Although you will be in the employ of Aquila Studios, you will be living in the dormitory with the other three entrants. Your status will be as a probationary employee for six months. It will take several months to arrange your working papers, but Lim Jae Ho will see to those details. After all this time, we will meet in person. I look forward to many more debates. 

SooYun: I will see you in Seoul, Director Jin. While I don't usually make impulsive decisions, I have thrown whatever caution I should have to the winds and will be aboard the first leg of my flight in the morning. See you soon! 

 She closed the message to Director Jin and clicked on the blinking chat icon. It was the Professor. She was feeling a bit nervous, but not nervous enough to back out of this impossible venture! 

Prof Jin: You will meet your other American entrant in Los Angeles. He is a very competitive boy.

SooYun: I take it I am the eldest in the group?

Prof Jin: Yes. That is not going to be a problem, is it?

SooYun: No, not really – not for me. But it might be for them.

Prof Jin: Do not worry yourself – talent and ability to deal with a critical editor are what is needed. 

SooYun: Which reminds me, I've heard from the Director. He mentioned the writing contest/job and that I would need to make it through the probationary period similar to the contestants.

Prof Jin: Yes. He is interested in breaking into the American and European film industries. Having writers in his employ from different countries opens doors.

SooYun: I understand. 

Prof Jin: You should get to sleep now, tomorrow is coming, and your new adventure begins.

SooYun: All thanks to you! Goodnight!