Chapter 1

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"BURNS!!!" The loud bellowing voice of Mr. Walker echoed through the halls of the office.

"Uh oh, you're in for it now." Followed by the soft voice of her best friend/coworker caused Noel to sigh.

"I don't understand what I did this time." Noel stands up, grabbing her notebook and cell, before she steps out of her cubicle and walks down the hall to her boss's office.

She grips the notebook close to her chest, hoping this wasn't anything bad. She couldn't take another bad day this week. Being used to working the holidays was one thing, but to be berated by her friends and family was just too much. Stepping up to his open door, she stops, taking in a deep breath, then walks inside.

"Yes, Mr. Walker?" Walking over to the two chairs he had arranged in front of his desk; she takes a seat in the one to the left.

He was leaning back in his tall, oversized leather chair. In his hands there was a folder, held up just high enough that all she could see was his wildly overgrown bushy eyebrows. The wrinkles on his forehead made her heart start to race. She hated being called into his office. It was never good.

She had spent the past 3 years doing the grunt work for this company just waiting for her break. Nothing would stop her from getting her goal. Even if it meant working late nights, weekends and Holidays. After 3 years of this, she had still not gotten her break to cover any stories. Stuck in the little cubicle was her life, but things were about to change.

"I need you to cover the premier tonight." His voice was flat as always, never lifting his eyes off the folder in front of him.

"Tonight? What about Babs?" Her hands grasp each other in her lap as the flutter of nerves in her stomach start to increase.

He drops the folder onto his desk, before standing up and buttoning the top button of his suit. He walks around the side of the desk, now towering over her. "Is there an issue? Besides Barbra will not be available. Plus, with it being so close to the holidays everyone is on vacation or about to leave." He leans down next to her, getting inches from the left side of her face.

She could feel the heat rushing over her face, whether it be her nerves or was she afraid of what he could do. "Y-yes sir" Her voice quivered slightly as she watched him from her peripheral vision.

"Good!" He walks back around the desk, picking up the folder and tossing it across the desk. Noel reached over for it. Opening it, she laid eyes on the papers inside. There in front of her was the information for the movie premier of the new Jeremy Renner film. Her eyes widened at the words she was scanning.

"Yes sir! I'll be on it." She stands up, adjusting her skirt, placing the folder in her arm with the notebook.

"I would hope so. This could make or break your career." He grabs his coffee cup, taking a sip as he leans back in his chair. "Oh, and Miss Burns?"

She stops, turning slightly, gripping her arms across her chest. "Sir?"

He places the cup down on his desk in front of him. "If you can get an exclusive, we may just have that talk about your promotion after the new year." He turns to his computer, typing on the keys. He waves his hand for her to leave the room.

She walks back over to her desk, sitting down in her chair, placing the folder and notebook in front of her on the desk. Her friend, Chloe, turns her chair and peeks over the divider.

"Well, what did the hard ass want?" She leans her arms over the divider with a smirk written all over her face.

Noel turns slowly in her chair, handing the folder over to her. "This."

She grabs the folder, opening it with fury. Her eyes scan the top page as her mouth drops open. "He gave YOU the JR interview?" She slams the folder closed, then waves it in front of her. "I bet you are about to lose your mind right now!"

"Shh, I don't need the added attention right now. I can do this. I just need to find something to wear to the premier tonight." Noel shifts slightly in her chair as Chloe almost jumps over the divider between them.

"Does this mean we get to go shopping?" She squeals out.

"Shut up!" Noel's face had now blossomed bright red as she turned to try and cower in the corner of her cubicle.

Chloe grabs the back of her chair and spins her around to face her. "Tell me that you want to go shopping and I'm there!"

"Ok, ok, ok, just let me get everything closed up and we can go." She spins back around as the giggles from her friend echo down the nearly empty halls.

"I'm going to regret this." She hangs her head in her hands as she breathes in a deep breath.

Spinning around in her chair, grabbing her coat and purse, she heads down the hall after her friend. Who knows what was in store for tonight, but all she knew was that it would be one to remember. 

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