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 107: She had no desire to talk about their interpersonal relationships.
She had no desire to talk about their interpersonal relationships. She may listen to Petra gossip about who was sleeping with who, but she didn’t really feel comfortable reporting that sort of gossip to her supervisor. ‘It doesn’t involve me,’ Sophie told herself. ‘I’m not hiding anything I am just not repeating gossip I can’t substantiate.’
“I see,” Elizabeth said. “I suppose the reorganization has been stressful.”
“Maybe because I’m separate Kristen just took it out on me,” Sophie guessed.
“Possibly,” Elizabeth said. She leaned back in her chair. “There are rumors you know. About inappropriate relationships.”
“I’ve heard some of them, but as I have never really been involved in the group and never seen anything directly, I can’t really say which ones are true and which ones might just be spiteful gossip.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Spiteful gossip is one of Kristen’s strong suits.” She sighed. “Very well, the only interest we have is in the allocation of resources and how much those relationships played a role in adjusting reviews and time cards. Which are matters for a different department.” Elizabeth’s eyes flicked forward looking past Sophie.
“I believe Kristen just left. Shall we go have a chat with Sean?”
Sophie nodded and stood. She and Elizabeth left the office and moved next door to Sean’s office. Sophie again moved to close the door. Her eyes flicked up and she saw Kristen in the elevator. She smiled wickedly at Sophie. Sophie frowned and felt the tingle of unease in her belly. She shut the door, realizing there was nothing else she could do but face the mess. She took the indicated seat.
“Well you seem to have done a good job drying off,” Sean said.
“The bathroom hand dryers are quite powerful,” Sophie said. “Not ideal, but no dripping in the halls.”
“Which we all appreciate,” Sean said. He sighed. “We find ourselves in a bit of a situation. I witness the event and I do know that you are not at fault unless you did something prior to deliberately provoke Kristen?”
‘Nothing I can think of,” Sophie said.
“And can you tell me about your interactions with Ryan?” Sean asked.
“Ryan?” Sophie asked, surprised. “I actually see him less than I do Kristen because of the desk placement. Once I stopped taking extra files from people my only real interaction with him was to recommend the food trucks for a quicker lunch than he could get in the restaurant. Other than that I see him in the elevator at the end of the day.”
“I see,” Sean said. “That clarifies a few things.”
“It does?” Sophie asked.
“Sort of,” Sean said. He didn’t feel the need to explain. “It is clear you are not at fault, however I would like to speak with you about something else.”
“Okay,” Sophie said. She wondered if he too would ask if she knew about interoffice relations and gossip.
Ten til Midnight 