Faux || .H.S.

Chapter 2

Stun

As I opened the door, I braced myself for whatever Jonah had been planning for me. My head was racing, my palms were sweaty, I felt like fainting. I walked up to the two chairs in front of his desk, I sat down in the chair to his left. The back of his oversized, long, black, chair faced me as he proceeded to stare out of his gigantic window. I don't blame him for not acknowledging me right away. I mean, if I had a view like that from my office window, I certainly wouldn't have a social life either. I would try to spend as much time there as possible.

    About 30 seconds had passed and he suddenly, but swiftly, spun around in his chair to face me. Leaning over his desk, he stared, intently.
"So I'm a deluded, old, man-baby?" He questioned.
"Listen, Jonah, I didn't mean T-"
"I talk, you listen" he interrupted. "Tyra, you have been working here, for what? Two years?"
I nodded.
"You're very opinionated and I have to learn to respect that. I also need to learn how to respect you as a writer."
I tilted my head slightly to the right and furrowed my eyebrows. Confused about where this conversation is heading.
"I'm giving you a momentous opportunity to use your opinions and thoughts." He smirked. "I'm letting you, Tyra Livingston, take your lead."
My eyes widened. "You're what?" I gawked in surprise.
"On who?"
Jonah sat back in his chair, twiddling with his thumbs.
"The biggest icon in pop music today" he paused as if to insinuate for me to guess the "artist". I just stared at him, after about five seconds he broke the silence.
"Harry Styles, you're interviewing and writing about his life as a musician." He blurted. "You're going to do a documentary about him. You have to follow him for a month. Don't leave out any details, I'll text you everything you need to know later on tonight."
My body filled with excitement, but something seemed off. "Jonah, may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead"
"You just gave me a lead, to interview someone popular in mainstream music."
"Yes.." he nodded towards me, waiting for me to continue.
"After I verbally disrespected you, why ?"
He cleared his throat. "Well, I'm using this as a test. I've realized you've never had a chance to prove yourself and I want to see what you can do with your platform. No help, no guidance from your co-workers. Just you." He leaned forward on his desk. "So don't fuck this up." He said sternly.
I leaned back in my chair with my arms crossed. "So what happens if I do, hypothetically, "fuck up"?" I asked in a daring tone.
He chuckled. "Then I'll do what should've been done today, especially after you decided to tried to slander my name, publicly in front of my employees." He leaned in even closer, our faces now centimeters apart. "I'll fire you."
He tilted back into his chair. "So, is this a yes on the offeror should I give it to someone else who I know is worthy of writing a compelling story?"
    I brought my eyebrows together and straightened my back out. " No need Jonah, I'll take the offer," I replied confidently.
"Good, you start tomorrow, go home and prepare." He said dismissively as he spun around to face the window to take in his view once more.
     I got up from my chair and walked over to the double doors. "Thank you, sir" I added before closing his door. I headed down the hallway with a grin so big, I could've been mistaken for the Joker. I finally reached my desk and picked up my belongings for the day.
Liz looked up at me, surprised to see how ecstatic I was. She raised her eyebrows. "What happened in there?"
"Just call me, I'll tell you everything tonight, I gotta go," I said picking up my bag while walking briskly to the elevators.
"Okay, bye then?" Liz giggled. I stepped into the elevator and hit "G" on the panel. The garage was the lowest floor, I had time to reminisce on the conversation that took place in Jonah's office. His voice and words started to replay in my head. "Harry Styles, you're interviewing and writing about his life as a musician. You're going to do a documentary about him, you need to follow him for a month."

*Ding*

The doors to the elevator opened and I snapped out of my daydream. I stepped out and walked over to my grey Honda and got in. "This is it." I thought to myself as I shifted my car into drive, pulled out of the garage.

...
7:25 pm

I was working on my interview questions and format for this documentary for the last five hours and then I heard my phone ring.
*bzz bzz bzz*
I picked up my phone to see who was calling. It was from Liz.
"Hello"
"Hey!" Liz exclaimed excitedly.
"How was work today?"
"After you left, it was beyond boring. But we shouldn't talk about me, let's talk about you. What happened in Jonah's office today?"
"He... fired me"
"No way! You wouldn't have been smiling that big if he did."
"What can I say, I was happy that I was leaving that sorry excuse for a writing HQ."
"Oh wow, I'm sorry, Tyra" Liz's voice became empathetic.
"Girl, I'm messing around!" I said giggling. "He gave me a lead, I'm interviewing a big mainstream artist tomorrow."
"Girl, don't play with me like that! I'm so happy for you! This is a big turning point for you, huh?"
"Yea, it is"
"So who are you interviewing?"
"Harry Styles"
"NO WAY" Liz screamed into the phone. "GIRL, HE'S SUCH AN ICON, OH MY LO-"
"Yes Liz, I am aware" I cut her off mid-sentence. If I were to let her keep going on her Harry Styles tangent then I would never hear the end of it.
"You're so lucky, Tyra. I hope your documentary goes well."
"Thank you, Liz, I appreciate it. I should probably get back to my questions, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Okay, goodnight"
I hung up and sat my phone next to me on the couch. I refocused my attention back on my writing. Suddenly I hear another ring.
*bzz bzz*
I looked down at my phone and saw that Jonah had texted me. I opened my phone and clicked on the highlighted notification, it read:
"Beverly Hills, CA, 425 N maple DR. He wants you to come around noon, don't be late." 

I lowered my phone from my face and turned it off. And that's when it hit me. I'm documenting and interviewing Harry Edward Styles. For a month. Just him and I.
"Shit" I remembered abruptly. "I need to book a plane ticket."