Episode 20: Gossip

Episode 20: Gossip

After several days spent surviving on coffee and swamped in endless drafts, Leslie felt like she was in college all over again.

It was a tiresome cycle she wouldn't be able to break free from until she had written her piece to completion. After all, she only had a week left.

She slammed her laptop down in defeat as the words weren't coming out right no matter how many times she spent writing and rewriting her sentences.

To say it was frustrating would be an understatement.

She curled up into a ball as she rested her head onto her forearms.

"Having writer's block?"

Her head snapped up quickly at the sound of a familiar voice.

Mr. Collin was gazing down at her with a sympathetic look.

He stood before her in his unsurprisingly fancy suit and handed a velvet box to her.

She looked around awkwardly, noticing a few eyes on them.

This was the office at the end of the day and she was startling aware of how many people were interested in her recently. It didn't make her feel good, especially not with them seeing her receiving handouts from the boss.

Unlike her, he didn't seem to care while opting to place the item down after seeing that she wasn't taking it.

She had told herself to do so out of respect for him, but there had been a huge delay in her brain and its motor neurons to make that happen.

"It's a gift. I thought it would help you in a time like this. I know you don't use pens as much these days with advanced technology but the sight of it has a great effect. At least it does to me."

Her eyes were still stuck on the gift in shock.

He had opened to reveal what he said it was - a very elegant black pen.

It looked sleek and she could only imagine how nicely it must have written.

"I have high hopes for you, Miss Quinn. Good luck!" There was a fatherly expression on his face and she could no longer ignore it.

Returning a smile, she said, "Thank you, Mr. Collin."

Their interaction ended after that.

She couldn't help but rub her hands over the base of the pen and her lips twitched at the satisfyingly cool sensation.

It oddly reminded her of someone.

A certain man with a similar disposition.

The same one that hadn't reached out to her in days.

As a professional, Leslie was cognizant of the crucial stage he was in when it came to finishing and publishing his book. However, as his professed girlfriend, she couldn't help but sulk at the thought of him not even caring enough to give her a call.

Had he even missed her?

She couldn't help but wince at the thought of him not thinking about her at all.

It was honestly too much for her to bear.

Being who she was, she had been the one to contact him on the third day but he still hadn't responded.

After checking back for days, she saw that her message was still unread.

At some point, she started to worry about him.

She wondered if he had gotten sick again and no one was there to take care of him this time around.

Sadly, she found out that wasn't the case after hearing from his best friend who had paid him a visit recently.

Thanks to Noah, she got to know that Christopher was perfectly fine.

Sleep deprived and overworked, but fine nonetheless.

Also, his phone had died and he didn't bother charging it for however long and that's why he hadn't responded to her texts.

She sighed upon hearing that.

What if there was an emergency? How would he be able to call for help? He could be so reckless sometimes.

Leslie knew how he got when he completely immersed himself into his work and she made sure to ask his friend for a favor; that he ensured that he ate on time.

Noah had teased her mercilessly for that one but she couldn't care less as long as he carried out what she had requested, which he thankfully did.

Knowing that Christopher had someone looking out for his well being put her in a better state of mind.

Tapping the pen affectionately, she closed the box and made her way to the ladies' room.

On her way in, her feet halted upon hearing her name.

As common as the name is, there was only one Leslie in this building and it was without a doubt these women were talking about her.

"I don't know why Mr. Collin favors her so much. It's so unfair. People like us have been working for this company for over five years yet he had a wannabe like her come and steal the spotlight. So what if she has an exceptional job spec, she isn't even that good in reality."

"That's what I'm saying. It's honestly embarrassing. Isn't he making it too obvious that there's another reason behind him pushing her so hard?"

"You're thinking what I'm thinking aren't you?"

The other lady hummed in agreement.

"She's definitely from money. There's no other explanation."

"Or maybe she's sleeping with Mr. Collin."

"Stacey! Shhh! What if someone hears you?" Her voice was trembling and Leslie could imagine her eyes looking around frantically.

"What? It's not like she doesn't have the body worthy of doing so. Don't you see how she's always flaunting it in those tight clothes?"

"Shut up and let's leave before someone overhears us."

Hearing their footsteps approaching her, the star of their conversation didn't even bother to hide.

Leslie wanted them to see that she had heard them.

When they rounded the corner and came face to face with her at the exit, their eyes widened.

She wanted to ask them why they looked so shocked but someone beat her to it.

"I think it's already too late for that," a male voice said from behind her and she spun around on her heels to see James.

He was shooting daggers from where he stood at his two coworkers who cowered in his presence.

He had all eyes on him when he walked up to the girl named Stacey, a wickedly flirtatious smile covering his lips. Confused but enthralled, she smiled up at him as he twirled a strand of her hair between his fingers and baited, "It's a shame you know?"

"What is?" She asked with expectant eyes.

His own pair turned as cold as an iceberg while staring down at her.

"That you don't have a body worth other people saying you're being favored for." He said acerbically.

She visibly flinched at the insult.

"James, you're such an asshole!" Her friend shouted out and escorted her past him while she looked seconds away from crying.

He smiled and waved unapologetically at them.

Leslie let out a breath which she didn't know she was holding as her hands unfisted themselves.

Don't let them get to you, she told herself strongly.

"They're just jealous." He assured her, helping her to not have it emotionally affect her. ""No newbie has ever gotten this much attention, much less such a big opportunity in their first year so they're jealous."

"Why would you do something like that?" She demanded, referring to his little embarrassment scheme.

He had the girl walking with her tail in between her legs like a wounded puppy.

"I don't know, I just really have a thing against gossiping."

"So you had to embarrass her like that?"

"Wasn't she embarrassing you by saying what she did?  I was only giving her a taste of her own medicine."

"Ugh," Leslie groaned when she realized he wasn't going to show any remorse for what he had done. "Just don't do it again."

She walked off.

"A little thank you wouldn't hurt, you know!"

She looked back to see him smiling with a cheeky grin.

"Thank you, James." She succumbed and smiled genuinely.

He looked shocked at how quickly she had bent her will to him and blushed at her beauty in saying his name like that.

"Uhhh..." He scratched the base of his neck. "No problem."

She turned to resume her journey back to her cubicle.

With all that drama, the pee had suddenly subsided.

It ticked her off when that happened because she knew it wasn't healthy.

James ran after her. "Wait up!"

He walked alongside her in silence before he could no longer bear it. "So have you started on the piece you're presenting?"

"I have, but I'm not getting anywhere."

"Why not? The date is set for next week. You do know how much work has to be put into it, right? I heard they upped the scale this year—the composition has to be at least seven thousand words. They're insane for that! If they wanted a short story, they should've just said so."

"Thanks for your concern but I'm not worried. I work better under pressure anyway."

"Oh you're so fucked." He choked up on laughter suddenly and she almost broke her head at him cursing in the middle of the room.

Heads turned and she had to pull him away out of embarrassment.

Again.

He continued on, not caring about them. "Anyone who says that is always the one to have a mental breakdown the night before. I've seen this shit far too often in college. I know a bluffer when I see one, Missy."

She rolled her eyes at him.

"Well, this is the adult world and I'm not gonna break. I make mental plans then live them out on page when they've been fermented at the right time. I try not to rush my writing for the best results. If you have a problem with that you can-"

"Kiss your ass? Gladly." He chirped.

She almost facepalmed.

"No...you know what, I'm not even gonna finish that sentence. I should have known not to expect better from you."

He shrugged lightheartedly, making her let out a laugh of disbelief.

"You're unbelievable."

"So many have said," he replied, genuinely amazed and proud of himself.

She scoffed.

"You're also way too cocky for your own good. Get out of my way and go make some tea or something. I need to get back to work."

"Not all Brits like tea, Leslie! That's a stereotype you need to get rid of! It's the twenty-first century goddamnit!"

She speedily walked away from him and out of range before he left her even more red-faced.

***

A/N:

I've grown to admire James' character — even more so for sticking up for Leslie here.

Being gossiped about is not an easy thing to cope with and to do so about someone else is honestly not approved behavior in this community. 👋

Learn to know the full story before becoming a Stacey.

Because all that she thrives off of as little Miss Olivia Rodrigo once said is "jealousy, jealousy~"

[connect with the author:

insta: @writtenbyzan_]