Deadlines

Deandra sat uncomfortably across her boss in his office as he blew the annoying bubble gum for the umpteenth time. He kept looking at her, still flickering the temperament ball in his hand.

She had received a call from him that morning to report to the office and had left everything she was doing to rush over, not liking the sound of his voice over the phone. He has been complaining about her performance recently which she wouldn't blame him for. She hasn't been proud of her stories herself. Each time she gets an intel and wastes time and energy running to the venue, only to meet with a dead story that would hardly sell. She has been looking for this great redemption, just this one story that would skyrocket back her image in the 'Champion' magazine firm.

As the Chief article writer in the firm, she was supposed to lead by example for her subordinates, but then fate wasn't been fair to her.

"Ms. Sparks your performance has fallen to the barest minimum, I fear we might just let you just go," he finally said casually in that voice that never cease to annoy her.

Her eyes widened as he confirmed her fears.

"C'mon, Timothy. I know my stories have been wack recently, but it hasn't gotten to that... I still have up to 500 views at least." she more like grumbled the last part finding it difficult to believe how low her views has fallen.

"That is the problem. How can your views fall all the way from 1 million to 500? Don't you think it's grave?" he questioned her, sitting up from his reclining position. She looked down in defeat. He was right but...

"Okay, I agree with you. I totally agree with you. Those views are shitty compared to my views before, so why don't we do it this way, I will do something about it, I promise. I heard from a reliable source that...that the Rossi's need a revamper ( a media agent that creates positive headlines to replace a former bad headline) I didn't think of applying because I wouldn't want to engage in some elites bullshit. But I can't lose my job here so if it means doing it for the firm then I would try my best!" she hurried out, looking at him as he continued looking at her intently as though weighing her statement.

He exhaled loudly and blew the gum again.

"Last chance, Ms. Sparks. I would have to speak with the board on your behalf. So you understand that if this fails, it's on me and you know how much I hate failures. So do all you can, if not I won't hesitate to fire you the next time." he quipped. Deandra suddenly jumped up in jubilation.

"Yes! Thank you, Timothy. Just this once. I promise not to fail." she guaranteed him, sitting up hastily from the seat to lean towards him as he resumed going through the paper he was reading before she walked in.

"You can leave now, Ms. Sparks, time waits for nobody," he urged her, still looking at the paper with the funny-looking spectacle he had perched on his nose.

Deandra stood and walked briskly out of the office. She ran to her cubicle to meet with Chloe her co-worker and friend who was curious as to why the horsy_face Timothy summoned her.

"He threatened to fire you?!" she creaked at the top of her voice, prompting Dreandra to palm her head in shock. Realizing her mistake, Chloe covered her mouth and looked around, noticing she had garnered the attention of the others.

"I'm sorry... But you are one of the best hands around, if you could be fired that means-"

"He gave me last chance Chloe so stop overreacting already." blared Dee getting fed up with her friend's overactive hormones.

"So what now?" she asked.

"Now I go for the interview and hope I would be hired. If not, I kiss goodbye to this firm and go home and cry in between my cup of Frisbee ice cream and watching Tactolee." she analyzed to Chloe who sighed and sat back in her own cubicle.

"Then we have to pray then that everything works out fine coz I can't bear not having you around. Who am I to gossip with?"

"Really, Chloe? Of all the things to miss me for." she chipped at Chloe who giggled aloud, forgetting they were in the office.

"Chloe, tone it down! Do you want to get us in trouble? I just told you I was about to be fired for Christ's sake and you are here trying to add salt to my injury." Dee told her friend in a hushed tone.

"I'm sorry, just that I can't help it. Come to think of it, how do you manage to stare into that horsy_face of Mr. Timothy without finding it funny?" Chloe asked Dee who shook her head, finally giving up on her friend.

"You are trouble, Chloe. I might just have to beg Simpson to change our cubicles. You are too much distraction." Dee told her.

"You won't dare do that. I would make sure you find me next to you the next morning when you come to work." Chloe rambled on causing Dee to roll her eyes.

Both of them had become fast friends the moment Dee started working with the company. Chloe was smart and very beautiful, with her curly golden blondie that bounced each time she walked. Most of the latest fast-selling articles that have been promoting the company have been provided by her. Her father owned a publishing company too but she said she wanted to learn away from her father's company so as to become adept at the job.

Dee liked her and wouldn't trade her for any other friend. Though she was too nosy and distractive, Dee still loved her around. She could be hyperactive most times but then, when Dee was down she was her number one go_to confidant.

"So Dee, you didn't give me feedback on your date last night." Chloe rattled, taking Dee's memory back to the stupid date she had gone last night with a lecherous boring bastard.

"I had wished you wouldn't ask me, Chloe"

"Why not? Was he not cool?"

"He was an asshole. A sex-deprived asshole for that matter."

"You speak in fables woman. Explain."

"He forced himself on me. I told you they're all the same; Lecherous, lying, cheats!" Dee expostulated, prompting Chloe to roll her lips in her mouth. She was the one that had forced her to go to the date dressed in a slutty way to his house.

"I'm sorry, Dee. I thought he would be different. He looked genuine."

"It's not your fault, Chloe, you meant well. I'm not just fated for love."

"Don't say that Deandra, makes me cringe! Everyone is fated to love, you just haven't met yours. Maybe you should start changing your mindset, let's see how it goes. Look at my_"

"Dear Thompson, he's the best." Dee finished, rolling her eyes at Chloe. Every time they had this conversation, that was always how Chloe ended her sentence.

"Look, I'm just saying you should loosen up a little. I am tired of scheduling dates for you." Chloe admonished, grumbling the last part.

"Dearest best friend, how gracious it would be if you would stop scheduling dates for me with those absurd species, with an ego the size of an Everest." Dee chortled, typing into her system. She punched the send button and rubbed her hands together in satisfaction, a smile crawling up her face.

"What are you smiling about?" Chloe asked, looking into Dee's cubicle, at her computer.

"I just sent the application to the head of media affairs to the D'Lukas. Hopefully, by the end of today, I'll receive their response," she replied, picking up her half-cold coffee to sip.

"I think I will have to stop by the church to pray while going home, will you come along?"

Before she even finished talking Dee was already shaking her head.

"Thanks, my friend. As much as I love the things of God, I will pass on this one. I have to start digging up all I can about the Rossi family. I don't have time now for anything else."

"But God_"

"Can do anything. I know but still, I pass." Finished Dee, going back to her computer.

"Thompson and I are going to his parents this weekend. I'm so scared. I don't know what to expect. What if they don't like me?" queried Chloe worriedly.

"Chloe If I could love you, then there's nobody that could possibly overcome your charm. So if your boyfriend's parents find any issue with loving you, then read my lips...They can go fuck themselves!" Dee assured her with her steel voice.

"Awwn...Thanks, Dee that meant a lot to me. I love you too and wished you would go with us. I could use your confidence."

"You don't need me around, baby girl. This is your cross, and you need to bear it with conviction. I won't be living with you after he marries you, would I?"

"Yea, you are right. I think you make sense. I mean I've spoken with the mom once, and she sounds nice."

"You see? There's no need to worry." Spiraled Dee.

They continued chattering away till it was four and they prepared to leave. Exiting the main building, they walked towards Chloe's car and hopped in.

"I have to hit home with you. I can't bear the face of that scraggy_faced looking stepmom of mine." Intoned Chloe, effecting a chuckle from Dee.

"You two are still fighting?"

"I hate her! She thinks she can just swoop in and take away my Dad's attention from us. My brother could tolerate her nonsense, but I certainly won't." she reeled out.

"Take it easy, babe. With the way you are into her, she might be finding it difficult to relate with you. Why don't you give her a shot."

"Mmm...says one who nearly beat up her brother's girlfriend."

"Whoa... That's not fair. She was being a bitch. The two cases are entirely different." defended Dee.

"That's what you say...but still doesn't make any difference." she ranted, her voice laced with mischief.

Dee gazed at her, smiled, and turned forward.

"You will do just fine, Chloe. You always have me and of course our dear Thompson."

At that Chloe smiled at her and nodded.

"Thanks, babe."

They drove in silence till they arrived at Dee's apartment. She parked in her garage and they walked to the door.

"You know I always forget you have a hot next-door neighbor. Why haven't you spun on him?"

Dee cracked up at that.

"Me? My neighbor. Chloe, you are crazy. That dude is a first-class snob. I can never fall low as to flirt with him. You need to see how he carries his shoulders high as though he pays my rent."

"C'mon, Dee that's why he's male. He's hot and you know _" she blanched out demonstrating with her hand, not knowing what to say.

"Whatever you say, Chloe. But I'm not going to do anything with that egocentric Buffalo." Dee said and plunged her key into the center table inside the house.

"Hope there's food?. And when I say food, not noodles." Chloe inquired walking barefoot towards the kitchen.

Dee shook her head at Chloe's silly suggestions. The only thing etched in her mind now was the letter she sent. She hoped they would consider her for the job. She can't bear being jobless.

Definitely not now.

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