Dark Prince
Star
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2012
- Location
- Xanadu
“Molly Bloom?”
Finnian Harding reread the name at the top of the C.V. again, just to make sure.
At first glance it might seem to be a normal Irish name, but it was also steeped in meaning if you were a fan of James Joyce, which Finn happened to be. He snorted as he thought about the fictional Molly Bloom, that primal and earthy wife whose famous and often pornographic stream of consciousness soliloquy ended Joyce’s Ulysses.
Well this girl was about half his age it appeared, a mere child, and he doubted if anyone in her generation would even know of a famous figure with their same name that wasn’t an influencer on TikTok or Instagram. Her work experience was disappointingly light, fresh out of Uni and a typical English nerd he guessed. She probably still harbored silly dreams that she’d write the next Great American Novel, dreams that would slowly be crushed by the cynical reality of the working world, until the brass ring of success became merely being an editor, like Finn. His was the easy way, no doubt, and you could always stoke your ego by looking down at real writers while not exposing your own lack of creativity and skill.
Wow, his mind had tumbled down a dark path that cut too close to home. Yet, it was a thought pattern he seemed be having a lot recently. It wasn’t a stretch to say that Finn had been in Molly’s shoes twenty years ago, idealistic, a future novelist, and confident he’d make a name in literature. And he had, to some degree, but only as VP & Senior Editor at J&H Publishing, a prestigious firm and one he had thrived at by working hard and excelling at his decidedly non-creative job.
He should be happy, at the least content. After all, he had everything he could desire, including money, a sterling career that could earn him the Publisher title in another five years, and a wife and kids. He sighed at the last thought. His twin boys he loved, and he truly relished his time with them, but his relationship with his wife had been strained for years. It was hard to find time for them all with his busy work schedule and frequent travel, and he knew he prioritized his kids over his wife when he was home.
Still, what was he missing that bothered him? Why now, at forty was he suddenly reevaluating what had seemed to be a simple and clear path in life, and one he was good at? A generic mid-life crisis was too cliché for his focused personality, so he instead dwelled on what was absent.
What could he possibly need that he couldn’t buy at this point?
Always disciplined, he snapped his mind back to work. His black fountain pen circled and underlined Molly’s C.V. out of habit, his stroke precise and firm. She had no typos, thank God, that would be an instant rejection, but a couple awkward word choices earned a squiggly line. Putting aside grammar, her clear lack of relevant work experience was enough normally to make him pass.
Yet… his pen dotted next to her name, big drops of black ink soaking into the cheap paper. A question mark formed from one of them.
He pushed the intercom button that connected him with the temporary assistant sitting outside his glass walled office. It was old school and most of his colleagues used their computers to send quick messages to colleagues, but like his fountain pen, Finn had a conceit for traditional ways.
“Send in Ms. Bloom, please.” Finn’s voice was curt, his British accent adding a precision to the command. The temp assistant was a disaster, so he added, "Mind you, make sure you offer her a water. Point her to the chair on YOUR left. Don't bollocks this up again, please."
While he waited, he took the time to organize his large, antique wooden desk, a personal piece he'd had custom installed. It was heavy and overbearing, dominating even his spacious corner office, and he absolutely adored the sense of gravity it lent him. Molly’s resume was arranged precisely in the center, then squared up again. His pen was placed in its holder for now and the perpetual stack of manuscripts in the bin next him were tidied up as best he could. For his guests, and where Molly would sit for her interview, he’d paired two antique wooden chairs that sported plush, dark leather upholstery. Thankfully, they were still arranged in decent symmetry with each other and didn't need to be adjusted.
There, everything was perfect. The calming feeling he always enjoyed from seeing order around him returned. Finn settled back in his chair to wait, strangely eager to meet this young woman with such an intriguing name.
Finnian Harding reread the name at the top of the C.V. again, just to make sure.
At first glance it might seem to be a normal Irish name, but it was also steeped in meaning if you were a fan of James Joyce, which Finn happened to be. He snorted as he thought about the fictional Molly Bloom, that primal and earthy wife whose famous and often pornographic stream of consciousness soliloquy ended Joyce’s Ulysses.
Well this girl was about half his age it appeared, a mere child, and he doubted if anyone in her generation would even know of a famous figure with their same name that wasn’t an influencer on TikTok or Instagram. Her work experience was disappointingly light, fresh out of Uni and a typical English nerd he guessed. She probably still harbored silly dreams that she’d write the next Great American Novel, dreams that would slowly be crushed by the cynical reality of the working world, until the brass ring of success became merely being an editor, like Finn. His was the easy way, no doubt, and you could always stoke your ego by looking down at real writers while not exposing your own lack of creativity and skill.
Wow, his mind had tumbled down a dark path that cut too close to home. Yet, it was a thought pattern he seemed be having a lot recently. It wasn’t a stretch to say that Finn had been in Molly’s shoes twenty years ago, idealistic, a future novelist, and confident he’d make a name in literature. And he had, to some degree, but only as VP & Senior Editor at J&H Publishing, a prestigious firm and one he had thrived at by working hard and excelling at his decidedly non-creative job.
He should be happy, at the least content. After all, he had everything he could desire, including money, a sterling career that could earn him the Publisher title in another five years, and a wife and kids. He sighed at the last thought. His twin boys he loved, and he truly relished his time with them, but his relationship with his wife had been strained for years. It was hard to find time for them all with his busy work schedule and frequent travel, and he knew he prioritized his kids over his wife when he was home.
Still, what was he missing that bothered him? Why now, at forty was he suddenly reevaluating what had seemed to be a simple and clear path in life, and one he was good at? A generic mid-life crisis was too cliché for his focused personality, so he instead dwelled on what was absent.
What could he possibly need that he couldn’t buy at this point?
Always disciplined, he snapped his mind back to work. His black fountain pen circled and underlined Molly’s C.V. out of habit, his stroke precise and firm. She had no typos, thank God, that would be an instant rejection, but a couple awkward word choices earned a squiggly line. Putting aside grammar, her clear lack of relevant work experience was enough normally to make him pass.
Yet… his pen dotted next to her name, big drops of black ink soaking into the cheap paper. A question mark formed from one of them.
He pushed the intercom button that connected him with the temporary assistant sitting outside his glass walled office. It was old school and most of his colleagues used their computers to send quick messages to colleagues, but like his fountain pen, Finn had a conceit for traditional ways.
“Send in Ms. Bloom, please.” Finn’s voice was curt, his British accent adding a precision to the command. The temp assistant was a disaster, so he added, "Mind you, make sure you offer her a water. Point her to the chair on YOUR left. Don't bollocks this up again, please."
While he waited, he took the time to organize his large, antique wooden desk, a personal piece he'd had custom installed. It was heavy and overbearing, dominating even his spacious corner office, and he absolutely adored the sense of gravity it lent him. Molly’s resume was arranged precisely in the center, then squared up again. His pen was placed in its holder for now and the perpetual stack of manuscripts in the bin next him were tidied up as best he could. For his guests, and where Molly would sit for her interview, he’d paired two antique wooden chairs that sported plush, dark leather upholstery. Thankfully, they were still arranged in decent symmetry with each other and didn't need to be adjusted.
There, everything was perfect. The calming feeling he always enjoyed from seeing order around him returned. Finn settled back in his chair to wait, strangely eager to meet this young woman with such an intriguing name.
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