Chapter One

First chapter in 'The Game'

One more mile left! Red thought eagerly. She was almost through! This were always the same thoughts that went through her head before she finished the last mile of a marathon. When she had only a half mile left the adrenaline began pumping and she was able to finish quickly.

Twenty-two years old, Red was in as good of shape as she could be. Her six foot frame was slender and toned. She'd been an excercise guru since she was seventeen and planned on keeping in shape. The only downfall to her enjoyment of the outdoors was her red hair, and the fair skin that accompanied it. Before she went out to run, or went out anywhere, she would load up on sunscreen so she wouldn't burn.

Dripping with sweat, Red counted each step so she knew when she had approximately half a mile left. Once she knew she was that close, she lengthened her strides and increased her pace. The adrenaline was pumping throughout her body now, she felt light weight, and each step seemed to come effortlessly. Two people ahead of her were doing the same thing. The first crossed the finish line, followed by the second, and Red brought up the rear.

Finishing third was a new record for her. The first marathon she'd run Red had finished in the hundreds, but gradually over time and after a lot of training, she was able to decrease her times and her rank. It was her goal to one day finish first in a marathon.

Once she crossed the finish line she heard familiar cheers on her left. Red turned to see her two best friends cheering for her. "RED! You finished in third! Whoo!" Allison yelled and ran over to hug her. Cassandra followed suit but then quickly stepped away.

"You're all sweaty." She said in a teasing tone.

"Yeah," Red said in a breathless voice, "I just ran twenty-six miles, did you think I'd smell like passion fruit and be perfectly dry?" She asked smiling. She began to walk so that her muscles wouldn't cramp up and her friends followed her.

"That was your best time yet!" Allison said, grinning. "Three hours and forty-five minutes. Impressive." Indeed it was impressive. The average marathon times were around four hours and thirty two minutes and finishing below that was very impressive.

Red was elated that she was able to finish third in the marathon. Even if it was a small marathon in Montana it didn't matter. It was her dream, however, to run from Marathon to Athens, just like Pheidippides did when he went to tell the people of Athens about their victory.

Of course that dream wouldn't become reality until she had the money for a trip to Greece. That money wouldn't come for a while, considering that all her money was going into her 'NEW CAR FUND'. Her car, a rusty blue 1989 Pontiac Sunbird, was about ready to die.

Her main problem was she needed a new job. Working as a personal assistant for a lawyer wasn't very much fun and the pay sucked. A new job was the first thing on her TO DO LIST. She had an interview lined up for the following day and hoped that she would get the job.

The interview was at Avery Corp. a company that specialized in Security Systems. One of the big wigs needed a new personal assistant and the pay was rumored to be good. It was worth a try. Red was just about ready to take any job, just as long as it would get her out of the legal world. There was a reason she never became a lawyer.

***

At five till two the next day Red sat outside an office on the top floor of the Avery Corp. building in Billings, Montana, one of three buildings that exceeded seven stories. She sat there twisting her hands, anxious about the interview. She knew the moment that she stepped into the office all nervousness would disolve, but up until that moment, she was crazy.

Red couldn't stop thinking about all the things that could go wrong while in the interview. She could accidentally brup or sneeze while talking to him. Maybe she would gleak in his face while he was shaking her hand. Every thought caused her heart to sink into her stomach.

Calm down, Red, She told herself. You're going to do fine. If you don't get the job, you still have the one with Mr. Lowry and you can always keep looking. As she was telling herself this the mahogany doors opened and a petite brunette flounced out of the office. She spotted Red and said to her in a brisk tone, "Good luck. That man is picky. You'll be lucky if you even make it through the entire interview without him interrupting." With that she slung her hair and pranced to the elevator.

With these encouraging words Red stood when a man in his early sixties stepped out of the office and motioned to her. She smiled widely, just like she always did. The fear melted and the adrenaline kicked in. It was a different type of adrenaline rush this time, she felt calm and collected with just the right amount of energy she needed for the interview. "Ms. Whitney Hansen?" The man asked her as she shook his hand.

"Yes." She said in a clear confident voice. She could do this. She was encouraged when the man, most likely Mr. Avery, smiled at her and motioned her inside.

"Ms. Hansen," Mr. Avery began, "Your resume' is impressive. You graduated high school at sixteen, completed your bachelors degree program by the time you were twenty and-"

"Mr. Avery," Red said in a kind tone, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I know what I've accomplished and I'm sure that you have read that piece of paper several times. That's why you haven't glanced down at it once while you have been talking to me. To be completely honest with you, I don't like to beat around the bush. Since we both know what I've accomplished could we save both of us some grief and just, get on with it?" She had no idea what her face looked like at that moment and really didn't want to know. She was also worried that she might have crossed the line in her little speech.

"Ms. Hansen," Mr. Avery said his voice holding something akin to awe, "I don't believe that I have ever met someone so humble as you." A small smile played on his lips.

"Sir-" Red started but stopped when Mr. Avery held up a hand.

"Tell me a little bit about yourself." He said quietly. He sounded like her grandfather when she was little. He had that same tone when he would pull her up on his knee and tell her a story or ask her how kindergarten had been that day.

"Uh-," That's eloquent Red. She thought as the syllable escaped her lips. "I believe the most incredable thing I do is run marathons." She said looking Mr. Avery straight in the eye. His steady blue ones held hers, a kindness just like her grandfathers in them. How was it that this man reminded her so much of the man she had loved so many years ago?

"Marathons? That's impressive. It must take a lot of training and work. Do you do any other sports?" He asked with unwavering interest. Why does this man really care about what I do for fun?

"Ballet. I've done it since I was two." Only two other people alive knew that little detail about herself.

"Ah, I thought I noticed a dancers grace in you." He smiled a little as though lost in thought. "I believe, Ms. Hansen, that you are perfect for this job." He said quite suddenly.

"What?" Red asked thoroughly confused. "I'm sorry, Mr. Avery, but I really don't see-" She paused, "There are no solid grounds for you to make your decision. I don't understand." Her brow furrowed and her pretty face scrunched in confusion.

Mr. Avery laughed, a deep masculine laugh, "I have some very solid grounds on which I based my decision. When can you start?"

  

Author's Note

Please ignore spelling, just tell me what you thought about it. :)

Reviews

[Lyndie Bolt aka JustRac..]

If my Avery is a picky as purported I very much doubt he would have put up with her first interruption! Nor would he have come to the conclusion of hiring her so quickly. Need to work in the believability factor of the interview.

PLEASE format with left justified. It is much easire to read, and this isn't a poem.

change: "This were always" to "These were the same thoughts every time"

this:" she felt light weight, " to "she felt as if she were floating"

this one "She had an interview lined up for the following day and hoped that she would get the job. The interview was at Avery Corp. a company that specialized in Security Systems" to "She had an interview lined up for the following day for a better paying job at Avery Corp., a company that specialized in Security Systems."

This: "At five till two the next day" to some thing like: "The day after the race, her slender graceful form sat out side Mr .Avery's office minutes before the interview."

Yhe story is interesting, but needs a little tweeking to hag together better. You have the right idea for imagry, but need to work a little on placement, verb tense, and believe-ability for the reader, Good start.