1 I | New Day, New Work

"How I love to hear your voice in all its magnitude

It comforts me on my lonely days of inner reflection

It brings me hope for a greater day

When I hear you regulate the tones I am in a trance"

~Wilfred Mellers

***

Evie roused to the aroma of delicious pancakes and butter the morning after. Her hands instantly grasped the soft coverlet while doing a stretch and giving out a yawn at the same time.

Lucky her, she thought. If it weren't for her kind-hearted uncle, she would've been shivering down the train station's bench with merely newspapers to warm her in the extremely cold weather. Instead, she was in her palatial room, rolling like a potato on her queen sized bed. What a life!

Evie took one last roll before standing up and looked outside through her huge window. The overlooking garden was drenched with rainwater. The dark clouds loomed over the whole city like a big stark umbrella. Droplets of water cascaded down her window and the copse of bushes that were immaculately trimmed. She could see birds that sought refuge under the soaked leaves of the trees, perched on its bough and patiently waiting for the pouring rain to halt.

Despite the tempting urge to embrace back her bed, Evie started getting ready for the job hunting she's going to do that day. With her Uncle's wealth, she could plausibly sit back and leaf through the pages of Vogue and not be prudent over her future but she knows better. She's been working since she turned eighteen and there's no way that Evie's just gonna be dependent to anyone.

After the last touch of her powder brush, she grabbed her satchel where her resumés were stored and plastered a determined look on her face. First thing she's going to do was send out resumés to various publishing house. With the amount left in her ATM, she was in dire need of a job that can afford her an apartment in New York.

While climbing off the grand staircase, she quickly tossed her messy hair into a bun. Evie did not know where the kitchen was in the humongous place but her feet and nose were in sync. Her body followed the smell of butter and pancakes with instinct.

After a few minutes of meandering in the huge mansion, she found the kitchen which was spectacular. She would probably live there for the rest of her life if she can. The kitchen was twice larger than her apartment, well, old apartment.

The room was painted in pristine white with black borders to contrast. It made the whole place more brighter and lighter in mood. The kitchen islands were placed in the center while there were bulbs hanging on its top. The cabinets were filled with different monotone utensils and kitchenware and it looked amazing. But what made the place really stand out were the pieces of art furniture added. Most were modern art but there were some which were century old ones. The mix and match of the arts coming from different eras tied the whole place together making Evie drop her mouth. She had lost count as to how many times she was stunned by the whole place.

The way the art mixed together to complement and at the same time contrast each other was genius. Perhaps she could ask her uncle who was his interior designer some time.

After eating the savory breakfast, she went upstairs and quickly brushed her teeth. She already sent a couple of her resumes to several publishing houses but she got no reply so far. Evie actually wanted to help in the kitchen since she really loved the place but the house-helps insisted for her not to. So much for being polite.

She haven't fully unpacked yet so some of her clothes were still in the bag. She chose something semi-formal and avoided being too flashy. After a few minutes, she was all ready to conquer the day. Despite the gloomy day, she felt good and positive that she's definitely gonna come home with a job that day.

As Evie strode the random streets of NYC, her eyes caught a sight of beggars with a look of glum and hunger sitting on the sideways while people busily walked pass through them.

She knew the feeling of hopelessness. It sucks big time. There were moments that you would reckon that the world will forever proffer you anguish and misery. But in the brighter light, something or someone will always help you get back to your feet and live life once again. This time, it's her uncle.

She immediately took a dollar from her purse and placed it in their bin. That's the least she could do with her financial status right now but she promised herself that once she gets the wheel working on again, she'd offer more help.

She continued walking down the street amidst the busy pedestrian. The rain stopped a few minutes ago and only the wet thoroughfare was the evidence that it ever rained that day. The rays of sunshine immediately broke the sadness that once spread in the sky. Evie's supposed to go to an old building beside a pet shop down the Corodery Avenue. It's a small publishing house that was looking for a proofreader and a writer at the same time. The pay won't be as much as her previous office's but it was enough to help her get an own place to stay. She'd settle with that compensation for now.

After a few minutes of walking and turning and asking for directions, at long last, Evie arrived at her destination. She stood in front of a three-story building with brick exteriors. The large glass wall was full of dust and probably hasn't been cleaned for a year. If you're just a passerby, you won't even realize that it was a publishing house if you won't read the little wobbly sign hanging.

With small steps and a heavy sigh, she slowly pushed the old door open and entered the building.

Evie roamed her eyes around the place. Books were piled around the left corner while spiders were building another set of webs above those. There were pieces of papers and posters scattered around the floor but no one seemed to mind those. A wooden cubicle was in the left area facing the large dusty window. There was a huge shelf with books and manuscripts which were, from the looks of it, stashed in a hurry. She also spotted two broken printers that were shoved in a dark corner. Overall, the place was old and shabby and needed a lot of cleaning. There was barely any light that can pass through the window when it's supposed to be made of translucent glass.

"Morning, uh is Mr. Lopez here?" she said while taking a huge step over the cluttered posters on the floor.

"Hey, he's upstairs. Are you the applicant?" The lady wearing a polkadot dress with glasses that was probably in her late 40s answered. The wrinkles in her face became visible as she smiled. "I'm Eva, the production editor."

Evie held her hand for a quick handshake. She appears nice and welcoming. "I am so glad that you're here already Miss?"

"Evie Grimson" she replied with gusto.

"Miss Evie, we've been in dire need of a new proofreader and writer. Joan, the girl who used to do your job just recently left since she's in her second trimester." Eva explained as she guided the way towards the second floor, which Evie assumed where Mr. Lopez was.

The stairs produced a creaking noise every step she took. She silently prayed that it won't break. The rickety stairs was made of wood with steel reeling. Just like the other corners of the place; it was also in need of sweeping and cleaning.

When they reached the second landing, she immediately saw Mr. Lopez doing something on his computer. He was a nearly bald man, standing 5'8 tall and in his 60s. The old man had a grim face while he looked seriously at the screen. He was wearing a blue long sleeve dress-shirt tucked into a slacks and a topsider. He looked like a typical grandpa who reads the newspaper every morning who can never get by without a cup of brewed black coffee.

She quickly scanned her eyes around the place and caught glimpse of similar papers and posters clustered in one area. There was also a huge printer over the left corner of the room. She saw three desks placed a meter apart from each other. The two desks were full of books stacked while the other one was empty. That must be her place. Adjacent to the empty desk was an antique wall clock and beside it was a poster with the publishing house's name. Dexter's. This part was less cluttered as compared to the previous room below but the amount of dust was on a fair level.

As soon as he saw them, Mr. Lopez immediately rose to his feet and walked towards Evie and Eva—twinning. Gone was his grim face and was replaced with a mirthful smile.

"I am Dexter Lopez. We talked yesterday in the phone. We're short in staff so you're immediately hired. You can start today if you want." He said, a smile still lingering on his wrinkled face. That was fast. Evie guessed she no longer needs to send out more resumes. Today is a lucky day indeed. "We're so happy to finally welcome you to our team but we prefer it if you consider us as your family. Eva here has been working for 25 years. We also have Jim, he is the publicist but currently running an errand. He's gonna be beside your desk over there." He uttered while showing her around the place.

There was also a book manager, namely Morgan who was absent due to a flu. She's the owner of the other desk. Mr. Lopez also mentioned that the third landing was where the old books and copies of manuscripts were safely stored.

After a few moments of touring and orientation, Evie finally got to sit on her upholstered chair. She wiped the dust on her desk with a wet tissue. She even tried turning her desk lamp on but to her dismay, the bulb was broken . She probably should buy a new one tomorrow. The hardware store was just right around the corner near the bakeshop.

There was a computer provided for her and she also tried turning it on. Well, it worked but she personally preferred to use her laptop. Mr. Lopez was back in front of the computer while Eva went back downstairs to finish her work.

First day and Evie's starting strong. Apparently, Joan who left just last week, left a pile of workload. There's mostly 12 manuscripts waiting to be reviewed. She thought her book had to wait for a while.

She got so engrossed with work that she almost missed out lunch if it weren't for Mr. Lopez or should I say Dexter, as preferred by the old man. They had lunch in an Italian restaurant just across the street. After the delicious meal, she began working again. Since it's her first day, it would be best if she leave a good impression. Who knows? They might even let her publish her own book if they'll be enamored by her performance.

When the sky started to gradually change its hue, it was like a beacon that it's almost time to get off work. By the time the light totally vanished outside and darkness enveloped the streets of New York, Evie was in her last paragraph of the first manuscript.

"Hey Evie, don't work your butt off in your first day. Dexter said we should at least give you a welcome party this dinner. So what do you say?" Jim said. They already introduced themselves earlier after lunch when he came from an errand Dexter was talking about. He was a nice man, judging from their first interaction. Jim was a graduate of NYU. Evie was so surprised earlier that he finished in NYU. She just didn't think someone with a very qualifying background decided to work in a small publishing house when he could have gotten into those multinational companies where he can get better compensation. He must've seen the look in her face and read her mind because he let out a chuckle.

"I get that look a lot whenever people learn that I came from NYU yet I work here. It's not the first time." He said earlier while stifling another chuckle. He's very charming, Evie thought.

"If you don't mind. Why here? You could've gotten better job opportunities at other companies rather than staying here." If she had that off the sky credentials, she would totally look for a better place. The cost of living here in New York isn't cheap you know.

"Let's just say that I owe everything I have today to Dexter. He took me in when my mom eloped with another man and left me to starve and chased by numerous people who my mom was indebted to. Using the money Dexter earned from this small publishing house, he paid all of my mom's debt and sent me to college. I was a scholar in NYU back then. So yeah, that's the reason why I chose to work here." Jim said with a smile on his face as if reminiscing all those times. Wow. Evie never thought Dexter would do something so unselfish.

She immediately felt guilty thinking about what she said earlier about the pub-house. They were about to chit-chat some more when Eva appeared in a sudden and called them go.

After everyone made sure that every light and appliance had been turned off and the pub-house was locked, they started walking towards a bistro just a few blocks away. It was Jim who suggested the place, said he's a regular in that bistro.

While walking down the busy streets of New York, the argent moon stole Evie's attention. The glowing orb was extra magnificent that night. She gazed up at the moon that illuminated the dark alleyways; wondering how many people were witnessing the awe-inspiring sight. There was something magical about the way the moon was lucent in the night sky.

Evie was so caught off with the moon that she didn't notice that everyone already stopped in front of a bistro. It's neon sign hung outside with the words BestRO IN TOWN. Get it? Bistro in town. She laughed mentally at the witty name of the place.

Jim already reserved them a place so it was not a struggle to find a seat. Good thing he did that because the place was getting swarmed by people every minute. Jim wasn't lying when he said that the place was great.

She ordered chicken wings and beer while the others chose baby back ribs, pasta and someone even ordered a big dipper pizza and of course, more beer. After the server settled down their food, a charming girl stood on the little dais with a guitar strapped to her body. She introduced herself and shortly greeted the audience. The girl named Amy started strumming her guitar and sang along with it. Her voice was very soothing and relaxing. Evie doesn't usually listen to music but she'd gladly listen to her singing all day.

The audience clapped their hands every time she finished a song. Evie would infer that she's a regular performer in the bistro and she had quite a supportive fandom.

Evie was down to her last chicken wing when Amy bid goodbye and left the stage; a lot got sad including her. Someone even requested a last song but she shook her head and said that someone else was waiting to serenade everyone. Good luck to the next performer. Amy raised the bar quite high that night and the giddily exuberant crowd had been expecting someone with the same caliber of voice or even better.

A guy wearing a black cap emerged from the audience. He's wearing a black hoodie with the word Levi's in big red font. Just like Amy, he's holding a guitar and brusquely sat on the stool upstage.

His face was not visible from the audience's view because of his cap and the blinding lights facing his back. He also purposely hid his face. Unlike Amy, he didn't bother greeting the audience and introducing himself. Without furthering time, the man fervently strummed his guitar to a familiar tune.

The guy was undeniably good in playing the guitar. She was unconsciously waiting for him to sing the first verse. The song he was playing was entitled Photograph by Ed Sheeran. Nice choice.

Evie already finished her chicken wings and proceeded to tackle her untouched beer. The beer slightly choked her as she drank it the moment the guy opened his mouth. A cold and extremely pleasant voice came out from his mouth; almost seemed ethereal. Mostly everyone stopped eating and directed their attention to the singing man. Evie swore she even heard some of the audiences gasped. She guessed they weren't expecting such a beautiful voice from the man playing in front either.

She got lost during his performance; mystified and sort of under a deep spell that made her hummed to the tune, her mind boggled. He gave off this mysterious vibe that jarred her senses. Too bad she can't see his face from her corner. She didn't even know his name.

Evie slightly nudged Jim who was sitting beside her; hoping he knew the answer to her query.

"I also have no idea. He just performs here every Sunday and Thursday. He never says anything before and after his performance and he wears that cap all the time to hide his face." He said in a hushed tone.

"Why would he hide his face?" She asked, agog. If she had that voice, she would do covers and auditions. She'd earn millions!

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know but maybe he doesn't want to be mobbed by fans."

Jim had a point, some people prefer privacy over popularity. Evie continued listening to the mysterious guy singing. After his fifth song, Jim was proved to be right because the guy didn't bother saying thanks and hurriedly went off stage. He immediately disappeared in the sea of people inside the bistro. Disappointed, Evie lolled back in her seat.

She rarely spent time in bistros since she preferred silent places but now that she had something (well someone was the right word to use) to look forward to, Evie incredulously thought coming here again won't be a total dreadful idea.