Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“I have several appointments today so if you have nothing further to say I’ll take my leave."
“Oh no,” she immediately jumped up. I looked at the near panic in her eyes with interest.
“Um, I guess there’s no delicate way to put this. I just … Miss Leone has been with us for a couple of years now and while we do immensely appreciate her talent … due to the recent developments we also can’t help but be um … be concerned for the safety of our office. Especially now she has returned to work. We offered to put her on paid leave for a little while so she could recover and get her family affairs in order, but she insisted that she needed to work to keep her mind off things so we had no choice but to accept. Um … I’m ready to put my foot down and insist that she leave if there is a solid reason to believe her presence here might put the rest of the office in danger since the trial her father was handling … yours, is still un⎯”
I cut her off, unable to deal with her rambling any further.
“Are you asking me if you should fire her?”
She attempted to smile. “Well …”
My answer was simple. “If you’re asking if her presence here poses a risk to the safety of your office then my answer is yes. As to whether you have to fire her or not that is up to you. That is your company’s decision and not mine.”
She stared at me.
“Um … but if you were to give a recommendation?”
“It’s best that she not be here,” I replied bluntly. “At least for the time being.”
An awkward silence struck the room as I got to my feet. She did the same, but before I could leave, she had another request for me.
“This might be a bit forward, Mr. Moretti but this is my card,” she murmured, coming around the desk. “After the trial concludes, I might come knocking at your door. I hope you’ll be able to grant us an audience. We’re just … we’re hoping to get your side of the story.”
I raised an eyebrow. “My side of the story?”
“Yes,” she replied. “In book form, of course. We want to represent you.”
I watched her. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think what’s happening is entertaining enough to be told to anybody. Have a nice day.”
Chapter 9
Zola
“What?”
I gazed at my boss, hoping the words she was saying to me were not true.
“Paid leave?”
She sighed. “You need some time to recuperate, Zola.”
“And what I’m … that’s what I’m trying to do right now.”
“Zola … I’m already being quite generous. I truly don’t know what else you want me to do. I’m so sorry, but this is the best for everyone. There is still so much attention on you and the case and … I really have to think of the wellbeing of the other employees here.”
I could now clearly understand what she meant and what she was trying to do.
I couldn’t complain. I lowered my head and mumbled that I understood her situation.
A short silence passed between us before she added with forced brightness, “You can still handle your workload during your leave. You can work virtually, and we can hold meetings since most of your work, as you build your client list, now will be scouting out deserving writers. I think this time at home will allow you to carefully sort through your pile of submissions and find unique talents and stories. Either way, I see it as a win-win. Plus …”
She leaned over, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I didn’t know you were very well acquainted with Mr. Moretti. So, if you’re able to talk him into a book deal for us, we would immensely appreciate it and you will be celebrated here. Your first client possibly? That will be a massive win for you.”
I was so struck by her words that for a few moments, all I could do was stare blankly at her. Unable to believe what she was telling me at first, but then it all made sense and my eyes widened with understanding.
“Ah, non-fiction.”
“It would be riveting,” she said to me, but must have realized she was speaking to one of the victims of her non-fiction story so she changed her opportunistic expression.
“I mean … it would be incredibly moving. This whole case and events are almost unreal and there are so many sides to it we would never get to know all of them, but I do believe if we were able to, then it would really help a lot of people. You have experience with being an editor and agent plus due to your … association with Dante Moretti. I have no doubt you will be the perfect person for this.”