Page 120 of Ink & Ambition

I love it here.

The building itself is gorgeous. The first thing you see when you walk into the lobby is a huge orange wall. I was floored the very first time I saw it and still am every time I walk in.

Flashing my badge to security, I am let in and grin from ear to ear as I ride the elevator up to the fourteenth floor.

“Morning, Lulu,” I say enthusiastically to the expressionless girl who sits behind the receptionist desk. She doesn’t look up from her phone but gives me a hum of acknowledgement as I walk by.

“Morning, Mr. Baccus.” My manager for the duration of my internship. He’s not much older than myself and has insisted over and over that I call him Paul but I can’t bring myself to do it. I am a professional after all.

“Hey, Margot. Just in time.” He stands from his desk and starts walking down the hallway. I already know that means I have to follow him and I do, quickening my pace to keep up with his hurried strides. Everyone is always moving in this place and I absolutely love it. I’m already sad that this journey has to end. I wish I could stay here forever.

Paul stops and I take the opportunity to hand him the coffee I brought for him. He thanks me as we take a seat in a conference room. Paul sits at the table but my chair is slightly on the outside of the group, signifying my inexperience. I’m okay with it though, that just means it’ll be more meaningful when I do actually get a seat at the table.

The meeting starts and I take copious notes on every single thing that the editor says to his staff. I don’t think I’ve lifted my pen from the paper once in the entire hour meeting and by the end, my hand is cramping.

“You got all that?” Paul asks as we leave the room and head back toward his office.

“Yes. Do you need me to run anything back for you?” When I look up from my notebook, Paul is smirking at me. “You’re teasing me.”

Paul laughs. “Only a little.”

I smile and we both take our time a little bit as we walk down the hall.

“You know, I watched your podcast.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, the judging committee showed it to me when they told me you’d be shadowing me. It was very good, actually. You and that guy have great banter.”

“Yeah, we did,” I reply quietly.

“Did? You’re not going to continue it?”

I shrug as we get to his office and I take my place in the seat in front of the desk. “I already won the contest. There’s really no reason to keep it going anymore.”

“Well, did you enjoy doing it? It certainly looked like you did.”

I grin at the memories. “Yeah, I did.”

Paul takes his jacket off and slings it around the chair. “Then, I say keep it going. There’s nothing you can lose from it.”

I look down at my empty hands. Nothing to lose that hasn’t already been lost.

“I can’t believe I already have to leave.”

“I’m glad this was a good experience for you, Mar. You deserve it,” Sydney says on FaceTime as she makes herself lunch. Danika is laying on her couch watching whatever reality television show she’s into this week. She’s sporting a lovely double chin through the camera lens.

“It was so incredible. I can’t believe how much I’ve learned in just two weeks.” I sigh as I lean back in my chair. Paulhas gone out to lunch as he typically does, leaving me an hour of peace which is much appreciated after being in that hectic environment all morning.

“What are you gonna get for lunch,” Danika asks, her mouth full of popcorn.

“Probably just a burger and some–”

A notification at the top of my phone pulls my attention. It’s from YouTube. Our Ask Alex podcast channel just posted a new video.

“Hello?” Dani calls my attention and now they’re both staring at me intently.

I bolt up in my seat, clutching the phone to my hand. “I just got a notification that a new video was posted to the Ask Alex channel.”

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