My return to the office 2

My return to the office 2
Chapter 32~Valerie's POV

\===========
Upon arriving there, I was greeted with the warmest regards and then we instantly went straight into our given agenda.

Within some time it all came to an end as I found some extremely talented authors.

Then they all dismissed from the conference room, leaving only Dante and I there.

So..... What do you think?" He began as the silence echoed loudly on us.

"Are we making the right decision by accepting these author's creatives," he continued.

"Well, I wouldn't judge them yet, but I could feel it in my guts and the manner they presented their story outline, that it would be the best decision we have ever made in this company," I said to him.

"Alright then, I trust your judgment," He uttered to me, exhaling his breath audibly.

"I'd go now, so I can work on these books, then I would draft out the summaries and bring them to you in a file," I said to him, as I jilted my seat back a little.

"No problem Valerie I'll be in my office whenever you are ready,"  he responded to me.

With that, I took my leave, as I heading to my office.

Instantly, I got there, I began my work on the books and suddenly, my phone rang.

"Will I ever get a break from the rings," I grunted with my teeth placed on each other.

And finally, I picked up the phone and answered the call not checking the caller's ID.

"Hello," I said, breathing out in a disturbing manner.

"Hey Valerie," I heard.

Swiftly, I recognized the voice, "Anna, what's up,?" I said.

"I know, I am disturbing you, because it's obvious in your voice," She said, as she knew me too well for her own good and it annoys me every time I want to keep a secret from her because that way I couldn't even tell a lie in my defense.

"I hate that you know me more than anyone does," I uttered to her with a scoff under my breath.

"That's why I keep the act on, so I have news for you," She said, shifting her initial joke to a serious demeanor laced in her voice.

"Yes tell me, I am here," I piqued as my curiosity was taking over.

"I'm in Seattle," She said.

"Oh, that's nice it's no news, you told me the last time we spoke that you would be in Seattle in two months and Anna I know, once you say two months it's two days or two weeks, alas, I'm not even surprised," I taunted.

"You are such a killjoy, Valerie, at least be glad you'd get to see your best friend, I have a man now," I confessed.

"What, A man, and who is this imaginary man," She teased.

"A very funny joke, Annabelle," I frowned.

"Alright tell me so I can leave you to your busy work," She said.

"Dante is the man," I hinted.

"Hold on!" She uttered in shock.

"Do you mean, Dante? your boss Dante?" She questioned.

"Yes that Dante," I responded to her silly drama queen act.

"When did all of these happen, that I, Annabelle Smith, isn't aware it did, "She proceeded with further questions.

"Hmmm, let me see," I gestured, pretending I didn't know what to say.

"Oh, I remember, when you went out of Seattle, leaving your best friend all to herself," I blurted out with laced annoyance beneath my tone.

"Alright, I see you are still mad at me, should I come over for a sleepover, it would be just you and I, and staying with you is my only priority for now," She cajoled.

"I'm not buying your apology, a lot happened when you left and I don't have any strength left to explain them to a mean best friend," I said, with my voice slightly raised.

"I love you too," She said, not finding hurt in how I spoke to her.

"See you tonight," Anna uttered as she ended the call.

"Impossible being," I muttered to myself with a nod and instantly I returned to my work.

Starting summary, I have a lot of authors as my favorites because their style of writing is different from the normal go-to way. So this made my work more easier and faster.

After many hours spent reading most of the manuscript, I tilted my head up a little as I gazed at the wall clock in my office.

"It's almost the end of the day," I murmured a little.

"I'll just give this to Dante tomorrow morning," I concluded as I stood up from my seat and got started to pack up for the day,"

Minutes later, I walked out of my office. Leaving there finally, I stood outside on the street.

Obviously not waiting for Dante, suddenly I heard a car screeching at where I stood.

Then, I yelled out in anger, "What the hell,"

Instantly, the car horn blurted out, and this time I got frustrated with the rudeness in the driver's attitude.

So I moved close to the car and I knocked on the car's window.

By doing that, the driver of the car wined them down.

Without even looking at the driver's face, "Are you normal at all?" I huffed.

And as I was about to continue my words, I got to see it was Richard, one of my old friends from college.

"Richard!" I exclaimed.

"Valerie!" He spoke out.

"Oh my goodness, what are you doing here in Seattle, I thought you left," I said as I wore a smile on my face.

"I did Val, but one thing led to another and now I'm here, being around for a year now," He continued, with his hands still placed on his car-starring wheel.

"I see, and you did try checking up, it fine though," I uttered, immediately shifting my utterance from it.

"Come in Valerie, let me drive home," He offered.

Hesitating, I refused, "No need Richard, I'll be fine on my own," 

"Valerie," He said with a drop in the pitch of his tone.

"I'm sorry, I have been busy at work but I kept in touch with Annabelle, didn't she tell you?" He opened.

"Oh! Did you? She didn't tell me anything?" I said in surprise.

"Come on, please let me make it up to you somehow," he pleaded with me.

But believe me, I am going to pounce on Annabelle the moment I see her tonight, She is truly starting to show her bitchy side.

Then I decided to myself in so I decided on letting it all go, so I finally uttered, "Anyways, Richard, I forgive you, and no problem you can take me home,"  Letting the violence in the tone of our conversation reduce. 

With that, he held onto a visible button beside him as I freely opened the car handle, I got in and immediately he drove off.