I never thought I'd be the kind of person who could make it in the city, my whole life, I had been the quiet one, the dependable girl with her head in books and feet firmly planted in the small town where nothing ever changed but here I was, standing in front of a glass building that reflected the busy world around me, trying to calm the butterflies wreaking havoc in my stomach
Whitmore Publishing wasn't just any publishing house; it was the kind of place where dreams were born or at least, that's how it seemed when I read about it online a boutique company with a reputation for taking risks on unknown authors and giving voice to stories that didn't fit the mainstream mold I had applied on a whim, thinking I had nothing to lose, and somehow, against all odds, I was here
The elevator ride to the twelfth floor felt like forever. My heart pounded in my ears, and I silently rehearsed my introduction: "Hi, I'm Emma Carter. I'm the new editorial intern. Nice to meet you." But no matter how many times I practiced it, the words felt awkward, like they didn't belong to me
When the elevator doors finally opened, I stepped into a sleek, modern office the space was open, airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the city skyline people moved about with purpose, coffee cups in hand, phones pressed to their ears, and stacks of manuscripts balanced precariously in their arms the air buzzed with energy, and for a moment, I felt like I didn't belong
"Emma, right?"
A voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and I turned to see a woman standing behind a sleek white desk she looked like she belonged here blonde hair pulled into a neat ponytail, stylish glasses perched on her nose, and an outfit that was casual but professional in a way I could never seem to pull off
"Yeah, that's me," I said, forcing a smile as I stepped forward
"Welcome to Whitmore," she said, her smile warm and reassuring. "I'm Jenny, the office manager you're here to see Mr. Wilkins, right? He'll be your direct supervisor."
"Right," I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me so, I wasn't meeting her yet I knew that Rebecca Whitmore, co-founder and editor-in-chief, was the face of the company, but I hadn't expected to meet her on my first day I wasn't sure I could handle that
Jenny led me through the office, pointing out the various departments as we walked there was marketing on the left, production on the right, and the editorial team took up most of the center the place was alive with creativity, and I could already tell that this was going to be a world unlike anything I'd ever known
"We're a tight-knit group," Jenny said as we stopped outside an office door. "You'll get to know everyone pretty quickly. Mr. Wilkins is just inside. Good luck!"
She knocked gently and opened the door before I could respond, ushering me into a small office that was cluttered with papers, books, and sticky notes covering almost every surface behind the desk sat a man in his mid-forties, his salt-and-pepper hair disheveled as he scribbled something on a legal pad
"Ah, Emma, right?" he asked, glancing up and giving me a once-over. "Welcome, welcome. Have a seat."
I sat down, clutching my bag in my lap as I tried to steady my nerves. Mr. Wilkins Daniel, as he insisted I call him was friendly enough, and he quickly ran through the basics of what my internship would entail reading submissions, proofreading, assisting the editorial team with various projects, and learning the ropes of the publishing world It was everything I had hoped for, and yet I couldn't shake the feeling that I was out of my depth
"I know it can be a bit overwhelming at first," Daniel said, leaning back in his chair. "But don't worry, you'll get the hang of it. And if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you," I said, feeling a bit more at ease. "I'm excited to learn as much as I can."
"That's the spirit," he said with a grin. "You'll fit in just fine here. Now, let me introduce you to the team."
As he led me out of his office and into the main workspace, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and nerves this was the start of something new, something I had dreamed about for so long but I also knew that this world was different from the one I had known back home there were things about myself I hadn't fully come to terms with, parts of me that didn't quite fit the mold I had been given
And then there was her even though I hadn't met Ms. Whitmore yet, her presence seemed to loom over everything everyone in the office spoke of her with a mix of admiration and awe, like she was a force of nature I had read interviews with her, watched her speak at literary events online, and I couldn't deny that she intrigued me the way she carried herself, so sure and unapologetic, the way she spoke her mind without hesitation it was everything I wished I could be
But that was something I would have to deal with later for now, I was just the new intern, trying to find my place in this world and as I settled into my desk and began my first day, I reminded myself that this was an opportunity to learn, to grow, and maybe, just maybe, to figure out who I really was
The next few days flew by in a blur of reading manuscripts, taking notes, and trying to absorb as much as I could from the editorial team I hadn't crossed paths with Ms. Whitmore yet, but I saw her in passing, glimpses of her moving through the office like she owned the place which, in a way, she did each time I saw her, something stirred in me an uneasy mix of admiration, curiosity, and something else I couldn't quite name
But I kept my distance, focusing on my work and telling myself that this was all part of the job
YOU ARE READING
The Space Between Us
Storie d'amore"If you wanted to feel my touch, you only had to say," her voice was a sultry whisper, her fingers brushing against my heated skin My breath hitched as her lips hovered near her ear, "All this tension, Emma don't pretend you're not drawn to me." Emm...
