The Fifteen Minute Novel is an attempt to take a single prompt and use the last sentence written each day as a start for the next day. This year I had several prompts circling around a similar story, so I have combined them. However, the story starts the same way each day, with the last line from the day before and a timer set for fifteen minutes. The hope is to end up with a complete, if very rough draft by the end of the year. Some stories are better than others, but I always learn a whole lot about my own writing when I do this so for me it is not only a nice way to work out a story, but it is a tool for helping my writing get better. And so, we continue this story for 2024 with…
Day 95: Inside they parted and Sophie returned to her desk taking her lunch time burrito with her.
Inside they parted and Sophie returned to her desk taking her lunch time burrito with her. Sophie ate her lunch and wondered at Petra’s words. All of her accounts had been transitioned earlier that week and she had nothing left that tied her to Ever’s department. She fielded a few questions about her old accounts but for the most part was only working with the newer data bases. At this point the newer ones were becoming more familiar to her, so she could once again listen to podcasts but as she tidied up from lunch and got back to work, she decided to lee the headphones out and her podcast turned off.
She checked the time and realized she was still a little early but got back to work anyway. If there was drama she knew it might impact her afternoon and she was no longer willing to lose her time to staying late. It was about ten minutes past one when her phone rang.
“Havers, Limited,” Sophie answered. “How may I help you?”
“Sophie, good you are back from lunch,” Elizabeth said. “Would you mind coming up to my office?”
“Sure,” she replied.
Sophie hung up and picked up a notebook and pen. She put her files in the drawer and locked her computer. Then she walked around the corner towards the elevator.
“Didn’t you just get back from lunch?” Kristen said. She was walking out of Ever’s office. She stopped directly in Sophie’s path, forcing her to stop instead of walking past.
“I did,” Sophie said. “And now my supervisor wants to see me.”
“Don is your supervisor,” Kristen said. “And I don’t think he wants to see you. He has an important meeting this afternoon.”
“My supervisor is Elizabeth Walker,” Sophie said. “And she called and asked me go to her office.”
“She can’t be,” Kristen said. “She only supervises those on Don’s level. You don’t have that sort of position. I out rank you, so Ms. Walker can’t be your supervisor.”
“Well, she is,” Sophie said. “Now if you will excuse me.” She stepped forward. Kristen didn’t move. Sophie continued forward. Kristen stepped out of her way at the last second, turning and going back into Ever’s office.
Sophie shook her head and continued past to the elevator. She suspected Kristen wasn’t going to be happy the rest of the day, but she couldn’t really do anything about that. She got into the elevator and rode it up to the needed floor. She stepped out and the receptionist waved her towards Elizabeth’s office. As Sophie could see she was on the phone she just smiled nodded and continued on without interrupting her.
“Come on in,” Elizabeth said. She gestured towards one of the guest chairs. “I just wanted to check on you regarding your work load. I know we shifted all of your old accounts elsewhere, but I wanted to see how you were doing with the new ones.”
Sophie took the offered seat in front of Elizabeth’s desk.
Ten til Midnight 