Hello readers!
Firstly, my apologies for not being able to make a post last week. My college semester started up and I wanted to post, but found myself much too busy. However, I'm ready to come back better than ever now that I'm used to a new schedule. I plan to post about my trip to Watkins Glen International next week, since this week is very special.
The release of the short story collection, "Story Seeds, An Anthology," will be September 3rd! Story Seeds was a contest held in the Discord Community for the writing software "Campfire" in the spring. Writers of all skill levels were invited to get a prompt and write a story. I was very proud of mine, since I found my prompt hard to work with at first. I was even more excited to hear that my story won the award for "Best Emotional Engagement!" This will be the first time I've been published, and won a contest. I'm allowed to post a short excerpt, so please enjoy the first section of "All By Design."
I have a massive crush on my boss. He’s the kind of guy I’ve been looking for: he’s gentle, handsome, and emotionally available. Well, at least when I have work problems. But his sister must love watching me suffer because she’s always keeping him away from me.
I’ve been working at Bond Design Firm for a few years and there’s finally a promotion opening up. I have to figure out how to impress my boss and get it. Maybe I can even win his affections, which shouldn’t be hard for someone as pretty as me.
I hoist up my red skirt and tie my red hair into a high pony. I throw a red blazer over my black top and slip into red heels. If I dress to impress, my boss might just notice me. He’s always told me how much he likes Red Gems like me. I’m dressed with five minutes to spare before I need to leave.
I lock the door to my penthouse and head for the garage. The best part of my day is driving my convertible. It’s luxury at its finest, foreign and sporty even after forty years. It’s exactly what someone as smart as myself deserves. I reach the office five minutes early, right on schedule. I like to keep my life as efficient as possible.
After parking, I head to the door and meet up with my friend Solina. I can’t help but pause to admire her outfit. It’s a simple business casual dress, but the blue compliments her hair and eyes so well. But, of course, a Blue Tanzanite looks good in blue.
“Vanessa?” I hear her ask, looking over at me.
“Was I staring? I’m so sorry!” I laugh nervously when she notices.
“You were, and you better have a good reason,” she teases with a giggle.
“Admiring the beauty of my best friend should be enough, is it not?”
Her cheeks turn red, but she glances away.
“It is.”
“Well, I’m going to be late for my shift if I don’t hurry. You can join me if you’d like.” I smile and start walking into the office.
“You won’t be late—we have ten minutes!” Solina hurries after me.
“Five minutes early is late, if you ask me,” I say.
“Give yourself a break,” she says. “You work too hard.”
“I work just enough to get the promotion.”
“Is it just the promotion, or Stirling’s heart too?” She sighs, her tone sounding slightly disappointed.
“Of course I want his heart too.” I laugh nervously. “Is it that obvious?”
“Maybe it’s just obvious to me,” she says. “Try not to get so caught up with him that you forget that you’re here to work.”
“I’ll never forget that I’m here to work,” I reassure her with a smile and head for my desk.
Want to read the rest of the story and learn some new Gemlord lore? You can click this text and be taken to the Story Seeds Anthology!
Thanks for reading,
-Rosetta 💖
A cleaned and colored sketch of Vanessa (left) and Solina (right), the story's main characters.