First Chapter Happiness

I love starting a new writing project. It’s new and exciting, and not tainted by opinions and red ink. This past week, I have started working on my new idea that I have been brainstorming for almost six months now. While my beach story is out to beta-readers, I get to focus elsewhere for a while, and it’s like a breath of fresh air. In celebration, I’d love to share my first chapter with you. It’s an adult romance that will end of being a cross between While you Were Sleeping and Sleeping Beauty. You’ll love it! Here goes!

Chapter 1 

“Girls, where are you?” my boss yelled through the radio speaker.

I looked up from my spreadsheet where I had been drafting a proposal to a new client. Brittany, the other assistant, smiled at me and shook her head. I shrugged, but knew exactly what she was thinking.

“I need help with a client.”

I stared at the grooved edges of my walkie talkie. I waited a few seconds for my friend to volunteer, but she was still studying her nails. Fine. I needed more face time with the boss anyway.

“On my way,” I said, shutting off my computer.

“On my way,” Brittany said, mimicking me with wide purple lips. Today she wore purple lip liner with an opal pink shine in the middle. Every day she experimented with a new color. On most people, it made them look like a fruity unicorn, but with her wiry black hair and quirky personality, it fit.

I glared at my best friend and partner-in-crime, though I couldn’t be upset if she was allowing me more opportunities to do favors for the boss.

“Be right back,” I said, dropping the radio on our joined desks.

“You know, you don’t have to do everything she asks you to do. She’s got a full staff.”

I fixed the collar on my shirt and straightened my hair. “Yes, but I don’t know why when all she needs is me.” I winked and pulled back in my chair, slamming into the back wall. I winced and shifted out of my seat as carefully as I could. It took me three more steps before I get out of our brooms closet-sized office and one hundred more before I reached Mel’s master bedroom of an office. The comparison was ridiculous.

I knocked and a little thrill of excitement coursed through me. I had been working at the resort for almost a year, and Mel was finally relinquishing some of my leash. Maybe she’d even let me take care of this client on my own, without her disapproving stares.

“Enter.” Mellie Crims didn’t bother to look up from her stack of papers as I came in, event planner and pen in hand. I waited silently, watching as her long dark tresses flowed over her shoulder and touched the edges of her desk.

Her words spilled out of her mouth and it was all I could to keep up. “There’s a customer that needs your attention at the hospital. I’m sure you are capable of doing it by yourself. Just make sure to get him to sign the waiver forms so the resort’s butt is covered. I don’t know how you don’t see a tree when you’re skiing. Amateur.”

I cleared my throat, wanting to make sure I heard her right. “Wait, is this guy a potential client? Is he booking an event at the resort?”

A flash of irritation crossed Mellie’s face. “Look I know I put you in charge over events at the resort, but we’re busy today, so all hands on deck. Go get my signatures.”

“Right away,” I said, regretting my hesitation. I left before she could add anything else to my to-do list. I bypassed the elevator and made my way to the stair entrance.  Stairs would give me the best opportunity for more steps. I looked down at my watch. 950 steps and it was only 10:00.

Even if the guy wasn’t a potential client, I would put my best foot forward. One day, I was positive Mellie would notice my dedication.

It was good to see my 2004 Honda CRV so early in the day. Most of the time, I arrived and left work when it was dark outside. It had been through a lot with me over the years.

Orange, yellow, and crimson red leaves decorated the trees as I passed through the canyon, but I just couldn’t concentrate. How could I get Mellie to see I was so much more than an errand girl? I had been hired to be the event planner for the ski resort and yet the only thing I was planning were the events on Mellie’s schedule. I had slowly become her personal assistant.

Once she graduated from some fancy Ivy League school, she was hired as General Manager and took over her daddy’s resort. She wasn’t the worst boss in terms of efficiency. We had never had so many events happening at the resort in over fifteen years. But I hadn’t brought most of that business in, and I knew Mellie thought I was incompetent. Really, I just needed a snowball’s chance in Mellie’s shoes.

Ominous clouds filled the sky over the hospital and I was glad I wouldn’t be at work when the storm hit. Still, we needed snow. We had been creating our own snow for weeks with the limited amount of snowstorms this season, and we needed a good one.

A few minutes later, I pulled into the emergency part of the city hospital and spent the next few minutes standing in line at the receptionist’s desk. I tapped my foot along with some elevator music playing in the waiting room. I just needed to be clear with Mellie my long-term goals. She had to know I was in this job for the long haul, but if she didn’t, maybe I could put that little worry to rest.

When it was my turn, I plastered a smile on my face. “Hi, I am trying to find a Joe Smith. He had an accident at the ski resort and I need him to sign some forms.”

The lady at the desk smiled politely, but I felt a wall coming up. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you in an emergency room unless you are next of kin.”

“Oh, I totally understand that,” I said, knowing Mellie would not let me take no for an answer, “and I’ll be happy to stay outside his door until he signs the paper.”

She looked up at the ceiling and then back at me, her expression growing annoyed. “That won’t work either. Why don’t you take a seat and I’ll call you when he is released from our care.”

“Uh…”

“There’s nothing else I can do. Sorry.”

I spun on the spot, irritation rising in my neck. It would not help to appeal to her any longer. There must be other ways to reach him. I saw someone standing at the entry of the Emergency Room and crossed my fingers he would be sympathetic. He looked nice from the back with his brown crew cut, tall but muscular build. Surely he could help.

“Excuse me,” I said, tapping his white coat on the back. “I need to see my brother. Could you let me in?”

The guy spun around and I barely stumbled into the wall next to me. He caught me, albeit a little awkward, and I laughed. “S- Sorry. Must have lost my footing for a second.” I couldn’t believe it. I was staring into the face of Chace Crawford’s doppelganger. Hot!

“Uh, no problem. I’m Dr. Camden. Here, let me get this open for you.” He scanned his ID card across the side of the door and it whooshed open. “Who was it you were coming to see?”

Why had I lied to a hot doctor? “I’m Rory , and I wasn’t totally honest.”

The doctor’s eyebrows rose on his forehead, but a smile still played on his lips. “Nice to meet you. What do you mean you weren’t honest? Is it your boyfriend or something? I can’t let you back here if you’re not a family member.”

I sighed. “Yeah, no, not my boyfriend. I don’t even know the guy really, but my boss is going to kill me if I don’t get this signature. A guy had an accident at my work today, and I need him to sign some waiver forms.”

He sighed and moved further down the hall. His stride was so long, I had to walk twice as fast to keep up. “Who’s the guy, and I’ll see what I can do?”

 “Thank you. I think his name is Joe. Joe Smith.”

The doctor stopped mid-step, and since I was right behind him, I slammed into his back— his nice-smelling back, holy cow! He smelled like the Aeropostale cologne I was a little too fascinated with. He turned, unaware of my new attraction to him, his face confused and maybe angry.

“Where did this accident happen?” he said, his voice steady and low.

I swallowed hard, wondering how things could go sour so quickly. “It was a skiing accident. I work at a resort and—”

He held up a hand. “Wait, your resort? Do you know how irresponsible it was to not have proper signage on your obstacle course? My friend could have died.”

I swallowed again, not used to being yelled at by a guy. I’d take Mellie’s rantings any day over this. I decided to ignore what I could not control. “I don’t know anything about his accident, but I do need him to sign these forms. So if you’ll be so kind, please take me to him.”

“Oh, I’ll take you to him, alright. I’m sure he won’t be signing any forms though.”

I followed behind him, no longer checking him out, but wanting to doodle skulls on his nice, white lab coat.

A few seconds later, he entered a room, and I followed quickly behind so I could get a word in edgewise before he tainted my reason for coming.

Joe looked sickly white and had a large gash across his forehead covered in stitches.

Dr. Camden gestured to me and then turned to the patient. “Can you believe this? The resort sent a lackey to make you sign some waiver forms. Don’t do it, Joe. It was their fault and the resort is responsible.”

I moved from behind the doctor and tried to give Joe my warmest smile. “We are so sorry about your accident and in behalf of the resort, we wanted to apologize. Because we ask skiers to ski at their own risk, the resort really isn’t at fault. I just need you to sign these waiver forms saying the resort wasn’t at fault and I’ll be out of your hair.”

Dr. Camden shook his head and grunted. He sat on the side of Joe’s bed and checked the stitches crossing his forehead and blocking my eyesight. I glared at the back of his head. What was his problem?

“See, she says they’re not at fault. What kind of ridiculous nonsense is this?”

A nervous energy rose in my stomach. For once I wished Mellie had taken this assignment herself. 

Joe held up a hand and gestured for Dr. Camden to move. “It was not this girl’s fault. You’re going to scare the sweet thing. Look at her.”

The doctor turned to me, and what might have been a flash of compassion in his eyes, left as quickly as it came. “Sorry. This is not personal. You seem nice and all, but Joe’s my best man here.”

I nodded, and the tightness in my stomach loosened a little. I would have defended Brittany or any friend really. It really sucked being on the other side of this.

“Which resort was it, and I’ll call my lawyer to take care of this?”

Joe cleared his throat and mumbled something I couldn’t hear.

“What did you say?” Dr. Camden said, obviously not hearing him either.

It’s you fiancé’s resort, Cam. I was skiing at Mellie’s resort today.”