Chance Collisions [DISCONTINUED]

2 // Start of Something Good

Chapter 2

"Leslie, your 2 o'clock is here." The receptionist spoke into the intercom as she looked blankly back at me as if by staring deep into my soul, my presence would dissolve before her very eyes.

"Send her in please!" A voice called back out and she gestured to the hall to the right. I thanked her with a polite smile before disappearing behind the corner, but not before hearing the relieved sighs of the middle aged woman as if it pleased her such that she was done with social interactions for the time being.

"Hi Charlotte!" Leslie's chirpiness enveloped around me as soon as I entered the boardroom.

"Hi Leslie." I exchanged back, bombarded by a crushing embrace.

"So, let me see!" She squealed, cutting to the chase while clasping her hands together in an excited manner.

"I've never seen you this ecstatic before." I commented with a laugh as I pulled out the binder clipped first chapter from the cross over messenger bag.

"It's because the Charlotte Summers has begun a new book and ever since you told me you were bringing in a rough draft, I've been absolutely dying to read it."

"Emphasize on rough. It's got a long way to go."

"At least this is a start." She shook the packet in my face with a grin before diving into the world of Fragile Oblivion, a novel based on the idea of skinny love: two people so deeply infatuated with one another yet neither will admit such feelings are occurring. Thus their love is both oblivious and fragile.

I stood beside the conference table, playing nervously with my hands and watching as my agent flipped through the pages. Although this wasn't the first time I have shown Les one of my works, it was still a nerve-wracking experience nonetheless as the future of the story loomed in uncertainty.

"Holy shit Char, this is genius." Leslie announced after she had skimmed through the last remaining passages. "This is definitely your big break in my hands."

"Are you sure? Because I thought the plot might be too cliche and the characters too simple for anyone's liking and the editors and publishers, they just hate anything I give them and-" I had begun listing off a bullet points of horrible outcomes, but Leslie shushed me with a shake of her head.

"None of that negative talk missy. You seriously have so much potential. Okay, the plot might have been used once or twice before, but the way you are beginning to develop it is so refreshing and different than anything that's currently out there. The characters are instantly incredibly likable. Also screw all of those other people who have ever made you felt that you and your talent don't belong in the writing community. So you've had a few rejections here or there, but what's life without a few pot holes and speed bumps along the way? We just have to find the right people who share your same vision and who believe in you as wholeheartedly as I do. You're going to go so far with this. Have confidence in yourself hun. I cannot wait to see what else you have in store for this story."

"Wait does that mean?" I let the question trail off without an ending.

"It's full speed ahead for Fragile Oblivion. I want a full draft of the story."

"Oh my god, thank you thank you thank you! I didn't think it was possible to fall in love with you more." I smiled after hearing the news and her very motivational pep talk. She was right. I had to erase the mistakes of the past and look forward to the possibilities of the future.

"I mean, I am quite the lovable type." She said with a flip of her hair and we fell into shared laughter.

"Leslie, you're 2:25 is here." The echoing sounds of the receptionist sliced through the moment.