Against All Odds

by E. L. Todd

  “That’s your station,” he said sat in front of his computer.

  “Cool.” I tested out the seat and was grateful it was comfortable.

  He rested one ankle on the opposite knee. “So, Nora told me a lot about you…” He rested his hands in his lap.

  “I hope they were good things…” With her, I could never tell.

  He shrugged. “Yes and no.”

  At least he was honest about it.

  “But you must be fairly remarkable since she gave you a position. We hardly hire interns.” His Irish accent was difficult to get used to. It was heavy in certain words and not in others.

  “I think I just pestered her until she couldn’t stand it anymore.”

  He chuckled. “You got to do what you go to do, right?”

  “Most places wouldn’t even look at my resume. I got coffee and donuts for people so often, the baker started giving me a discount.”

  He laughed. “Well, that shows dedication.”

  “I got to make up for my flaws somehow.”

  He studied my face for a moment. “What flaws?”

  “I’m a college drop out, namely.”

  “And why did you drop out?”

  “It’s a long story,” I said with a sigh. “Basically, I was majoring in something I didn’t care about. By the time I realized my true aspiration, I’d wasted too much time. I decided to try something else.”

  “Which led you here?” he asked.

  I nodded.

  He rubbed his chin for a moment before he dropped his hand. “And what are your goals?”

  “To be a writer,” I said simply. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I didn’t think I was any good at it until my mother told me otherwise.”

  “Nora mentioned something about you writing impressive short stories…”

  I shrugged. “I did my best.”

  His eyes shined with fondness. “It’s nice to meet a humble person. That hardly happens in New York.”

  Unsure what to say, I changed the subject. “You’re from Ireland?”

  “Yep,” he said proudly. “I moved here about five years ago.”

  “What’s in America?” I asked.

  “I was in a serious relationship a few years ago. They were American so I moved here. But we broke a while ago.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Everything happens for a reason,” he said evasively. “I have family there, but I’d grown so attached to my job and America that I haven’t wanted to leave it.”

  “I’m pretty biased since I was born in the states, but I really like it.”

  “The food is great,” he said. “And it’s nice not having prunes for every meal.”

  I made a face. “Irish people eat prunes for every meal.”

  “Yep. It’s like a side dish.”

  “Well, you guys must be regular,” I blurted.

  He laughed loudly. “We hardly ever have digestive problems.”

  I laughed with him. “So you like it here?”

  “Being a writer is the best job in the world. You get to influence the world with a mixture of fact and opinion. Sure, I don’t save lives or stop world hunger, but I still make a difference.”

  I nodded. “That’s true.”

  “Why do you want to be a writer?” he asked.

  That was a good question. I never thought about the answer before. “It’s the only thing I’m good at.”

  “I highly doubt that…”

  “I mean, I’m not terrible at anything, but I’m not particularly gifted.”

  “We’ll see…”

  I examined my desk and noted the empty drawers. The computer looked new, and there were pens and sticky notes on the counter. A calendar was pinned to the wall. Heath’s desk was tidy and clean. Most of the desks I saw when I walked around the office looked like a dump. He seemed meticulous and professional. “Where do we begin?”

  “I guess we can discuss what you’ll be doing for me.” He flipped through a pile of papers on my desk then found what he was looking for. “I’ve outlined everything for you if you forget. You’ll help me do research, fact check, proofread, and if I feel comfortable, I’ll let you write a few things. You’ll also do errands for me, as well as anyone else in the office.”

  “Okay.” Nora already told me that.

  “You don’t have a problem with that?” He watched my face as he waited for a reaction. “No.”

  “Some men have a hard time taking orders from someone else.”

  “Well, that’s not me,” I said. “I’ve been bossed around my whole life.”

  “By who?” he asked.

  “My dad, and mainly my sister. Man, she’s a brat.”

  He smiled with his eyes. “I have a feeling we’re going to get along well. I’ll respect you as an equal, but I expect that in return.”

  “Of course,” I said.

  “Great. Let’s begin.” He printed an article off his computer then handed it to me. “This is going in this week’s edition. What do you think of it?”

  I skimmed through the lines. It discussed the civil unrest going on in the Middle East, the political ramifications that involved the United States, and the ever increasing death toll of civilians and American soldiers. “Do you always write about politics?”

  “No. I write everything and anything. This seemed important, however.”

  I grabbed a pen and made a few notes as I went. His writing was impressive, and definitely difficult to understand for the average reader. I crossed out a few sentences because I thought they were redundant.

  Heath watched me passively.

  When I was done, I handed it back. “The story was good, but you could clarify some of it for other readers. I added a few sentences and removed a few others. And if you switch the last two paragraphs I think it will flow better.

  He studied my changes then spun the pen between his knuckles.

  “You don’t have to use any of it…” I didn’t want him to think I was being pushy.

  “No…I like it.” He looked up at me with a new expression in his eyes. “I like it a lot, actually.”

  My chest swelled with pride.

  “It’s great to have you on the team.”

  ***

  Working with Heath was a walk in the park. He was easy to get along with, and he never seemed to be in a bad mood. Even when deadlines hung over him, he kept his cool and still found a reason to smile.

  The longer we worked together, the more he trusted me. He would give me an article at the end of work for me to work on at home. When we met at the office the following morning, he seemed impressed with my changes. He didn’t always take my advice but he didn’t ridicule it either.

  By the end of the week, Nora came for a visit. She approached the cubicle wearing a suit with a skirt. Her brown hair was pulled back, and there were faint lines around her eyes and mouth. She was stern, her back as rigid as a plank of wood. “How are things here?” She looked at Heath when she asked her question.

  “Great,” he said calmly. “Roland has been nothing but helpful.”

  I was grateful he vouched for me.

  Nora turned her penetrating gaze on me, her gaze burning into my soul. Darkness was heavy in the look. She didn’t look like a woman who put up with bullshit, and she seemed like someone who would kill to get ahead in life. I’d never cross her. “Misplace even a paperclip, and you’re gone.”

  The threat stung like ice-cold water. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Yes, Nora,” she snapped. “None of that ma’am shit.”

  “Of course,” I said with a nod.

  Nora turned to Heath. “Give me any reason to fire him and I will.”

  “Good to know,” he said calmly.

  She gave me one final glare before she walked away.

  I breathed easier when she was gone. When she was finally out of earshot, I relaxed slightly. “Sometimes I wonder why she hired me.”

  “She’s just tough around the
edges,” Heath said. “Don’t let her get to you.”

  “Was she…like that…when you started working here?”

  “She’s like that to everyone. You aren’t special.”

  “Is she like that to her husband?” I asked incredulously.

  “She’s not married,” he said. “And she doesn’t have any kids.”

  “Shocking,” I said sarcastically.

  He chuckled lightly. “She acts like a hard-ass but I think she’s soft underneath. If she was really calloused, she wouldn’t have given you a chance—even if it’s unpaid.”

  “Then why be hard at all?”

  He shrugged. “Journalism is competitive. She wouldn’t be at the top if she didn’t slit a few throats.”

  My eyes widened.

  He caught the look. “Not literally.”

  “Are you…sure?”

  “Yes,” he said with a laugh. “But, Betty on tenth passed away from a terrible accident…no one knows what happened.”

  My eyes were about to pop out of my head.

  He laughed again. “Geez, you’re gullible.”

  I sighed in relief. “You never know…”

  “Nora wouldn’t hurt a fly. She’s made a few people cry, but she’s definitely not the violent type.”

  “Let’s hope…”

  Heath made a few notes in his journal. “I’m traveling to London for research. Would you like to come?”

  “What…?”

  “There was a bombing at Total Politics, a political magazine in the UK. I wanted to do some interviews before I write about it.”

  “That’s so cool.” I said it a little too enthusiastically.

  “The magazine will pay for all the expenses, so it’s pretty much a free trip.”

  “I’m totally down.” Free trip to England? Hell yeah.

  “Sweet,” he said. “I’ve been there before so I know my way around. Just make sure you sign a liability agreement with Knockout first, you know, just in case you’re killed.”

  “Why would I be killed…?”

  “Sometimes journalists get in tough situations…that’s not news.”

  “But you’re just interviewing people in England.”

  He shrugged. “I highly doubt anything will happen. But Knockout has to protect its backside.”

  “Yeah…”

  “Can you leave tomorrow?”

  That was short notice. “Sure.”

  “Cool. We’ll be staying at the Four Seasons. If you’re using the company’s dime, you may as well do it right.”

  “Word.”

  “Go home and pack. I’ll pick you up on the way. Where do you live?”

  I gave him my address.

  “You live in Connecticut?” he asked.

  “It’s like a fifteen minute drive. I can meet you in the city if that’s easier.”

  “No, it’s okay,” he said immediately. “I just assumed you lived in Manhattan.”

  I didn’t like telling people, especially a colleague, that I still lived with my parents. It was embarrassing. “I still live with my parents…” He was going to find out anyway. I may as well come clean about it.

  “There’s nothing wrong with that,” he said. “It’s not like you’re getting paid yet.”

  “It’s still not the lifestyle I want.”

  “Hey, I’m not judging you.” He nudged me in the side. “You’ll leave the nest soon. Besides, it must be nice to have a home-cooked meal and parents to baby you. I miss it sometimes.”

  “I’d just like some privacy.”

  He nodded. “Yeah, that’s always nice.” He packed up his things and put his bag over one shoulder. “Alright. Let’s get some rest tonight.”

  “Rest?” I said. “I’m not going to be able to sleep. I’ll be too excited.”

  He smirked slightly. “Your enthusiasm never gets old, kid.”

  “Kid?” I asked. “How old are you? You can’t be much older than I am.”

  When we got into the elevator, he eyed me up and down. “Twenty….two?”

  “Yep. And you’re…” I looked into his eyes, hoping to find the answer. “Twenty…four?”

  “Five,” he answered. “I guess we are pretty close in age.”

  “Yeah, so if I’m a kid, so are you.”

  “You have a point.”

  “Dude, we have to try their ale,” I said. “I heard it’s the best.”

  “From who?” he asked.

  “My dad.”

  “He travels a lot?”

  I didn’t want anyone to know I came from a rich family. “He’s been around…”

  We left the elevators then walked outside.

  “I’ll see you in the morning,” he said as he waved.

  “You too.” When I headed to my car, I was practically skipping. My first week at work had been awesome, and now I was going on a trip overseas. Now all I needed was to get paid. Then I would be set.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Conrad

  When I walked inside with Beatrice, Theo and Alex froze and stared at us. They were digging into a carton of ice cream and making sundaes. Theo was shirtless and Alex was wearing one of his t-shirts and shorts.

  Theo’s eyes were wide while he looked at Beatrice. Then he leaned toward Alex. “She’s real, right?”

  Beatrice kept her arm hooked through mine, and a smile was on her lips. “Yes, I’m real.”

  Alex had chocolate on her face. She and Theo probably just had an ice cream fight. “So…you guys are…?”

  “Back together?” Theo asked.

  “Yeah.” I treasured having Beatrice close to me. I kept trying to convince myself she was real. My life had been so hollow and cold without her. Now she kept me warm again. I turned back to Theo. “Thanks to you.”

  Theo slammed his fist into the air. “Yes!”

  “Wait, what does he mean by that?” Alex asked. “What did you do?”

  “He knocked some sense into me,” Beatrice said.

  Alex smacked Theo’s arm. “How dare you interfere.”

  “What?” Theo rubbed his arm. “Conrad’s happy so what does it matter?”

  “I’m very happy.” The light of my life was back.

  Theo smiled. “I’m like cupid.”

  “No, you’re a manipulator,” Alex said.

  Theo closed the cartons. “Baby, let’s go out for ice cream…and give them some privacy.”

  “Good idea.” She helped him put everything away.

  “You guys don’t need to leave,” Beatrice said quickly. “We don’t mind.”

  “No, leave,” I said.

  Theo and Alex changed then headed to the front door. “We’ll be out late. Don’t wait up.” Theo winked at me dramatically before he walked out.

  Beatrice smiled with red cheeks. “They’re cute.”

  “They are.” My hand moved to her waist. “You want a sundae? It looks like they have everything to make it.”

  “No, it’s okay. I’m not hungry.”

  “I am.” I pressed my lips to her hairline, my meaning clear.

  “Then let’s eat.” She challenged me with her eyes.

  Just having her back was enough for me. All I wanted to do was lie in bed and treasure her in my arms. Her heartbeat used to be beat against mine, and her breathing used to lull me to sleep. “Let’s go in my room.”

  She didn’t object.

  We walked inside then shut the door. My room was lifeless. The window was covered with a blanket so not even a speck of light could enter. My bed hadn’t been made since I moved in since I laid in it so often, and my dressers were bare. I hadn’t used my TV because every movie and TV show made me think of Beatrice.

  “It’s dark in here…”

  “I’ve been a hermit lately.”

  She gave me a sad look then dropped it.

  I pulled off my shirt and jeans, wanting to lay in bed with her and heal. She sat on the bed and didn’t move. When I realized something was on her mind, I sat beside her. “Wh
at’s bothering you?”

  She massaged her knuckles. “I want to ask you something…and your answer won’t affect us. I just need to know.”

  “No.” I already knew what she was asking without her actually saying it. “My answer is no.”

  She looked at me, confusion in her eyes. “But, I didn’t even ask.”

  “I didn’t sleep with anyone when we were apart.” The thought didn’t cross my mind once.

  “Really?” Relief was in her voice.

  “Yeah. I’ve been lying in bed, drinking, and lying in bed the entire time. I didn’t get out much…”

  “I’m sorry.” She gripped my hand and held it.

  “It’s okay. It’s water under the bridge.”

  “I’m lucky you’re so forgiving…”

  “No. You’re lucky I love you.” I leaned toward her and pressed my face against her cheek.

  “I was miserable too… I tried to act like I was fine, but in reality, I was just depressed. You were on my mind constantly. Every day I wanted to call you. The phone was in my hand. But I always chickened out.”

  “I’m glad Theo had my back.”

  “He loves you…a lot. He wasn’t very kind to me. But that hardness was what I needed to hear.”

  “I’m going to buy him a beer next time I see him—fifty beers, actually.”

  “Alex lives here too?” she asked.

  “Temporarily. She’s trying to find a job and a place to live.”

  “I see…”

  “You’re welcome to live here too while you find a place?”

  “I am?” she asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “It won’t be too cramped?”

  “No. But you can stay with my parents if you’d like. They’d be thrilled to have you and there would be no more than enough space.”

  “I want to live with you but…I don’t want to rush into anything.”

  “I understand.” I’d be as patient as she needed. I wanted to be physical with her, but I only wanted it when she was ready.

  “You really think they wouldn’t mind?” she asked. “I really have no one else to ask.”

  “Believe me, they would be over the moon. But my dad will wonder why your family isn’t providing for you. He knows your family is rich.”

  “Does he know my father?” she asked hesitantly.