Foreign.

Chapter One.

Yes! I was finished! I breathed a sigh of relief and took my headphones off. Ok I'll admit that immediately after that I may have stood up and did a little victory yay-I've-finished-work-for-the-year dance. I reached into my mess of a rucksack (bits of scrunched up manuscript paper, and pencil sharpenings littered the inside lining) and grabbed a CD case and then ejected the CD from my MacBook. Once I had it protected by a case I was happy. I had spent so long on that last one.

I worked as a music editor for a TV production company called XYZ in London. XYZ was actually an American company that showed their TV shows in America but the main HQ is here...I don't really know why. Anyway my job is to find songs to go with scenes in episodes the directors assign to me. For example the CD I was just about to hand in was for the season 6 finale of Pretty Little Lions - one of XYZ's most popular TV shows. If I couldn't find the right song, I'd record my own using the equipment in my office. When I say office I mean recording studio filled with instruments and technical gadgets that no one has ever taught me to use. After working here for more than 2 years and establishing that no one would teach me how to use the technology, I taught myself. I think they probably just assumed that because I was young (20) when I started that I'd automatically know how to use all this stuff.

I stuck a post-it note with some information about the songs I used on the CD onto the case and then put my MacBook and headphones into my rucksack. I put on my leather jacket, slung my bag over my shoulders, grabbed the CD and switched out the lights before closing the door behind me.

I headed down the brightly lit hallway to the kitchen where I'd hope to find my boss, Rachel. I found her leaning against the kitchen doorframe, coffee mug in hand, scandalous look on her face and talking in hushed whispers to one of my co-workers i assumed. The girl she was talking to was of average height and had long golden hair. I think her name was Emma because I recognised her from the finance sector of the company. When Rachel saw me coming she greeted me with a wide smile.

"Lola! Darling! I was just about to come and see you down in your office." Rachel exclaimed with wide eyes. She liked to talk A LOT and usually talked in a very over exaggerated manner.

"I was just dropping this in to you." I said as I handed her the CD. "It's the music for the season 6 finale of Pretty Little Lions." I explained.

"Great! Just great!" She said.

"Well I better head on now, so have a happy new year." I slowly backed away wanting to get home before it got dark.

"Oh Lola! Before you go...are you doing anything tomorrow night since it's New Year's Eve?" She questioned. But before I had a chance to answer she just continued regardless. "Gareth and I are holding a party at our house. You should come! They'll be lots of big new stars there and people from work." She said excitedly. I wasn't exactly the party type of person. I was more of a stay in kind of girl.

"That sounds great! But unfortunately..." Rebecca stopped me mid-sentence.

"Great! I'll add your name to the list. Bye!" And with that she tottered down the corridor on her ridiculously high heels with Emma (who I'd forgotten had witnessed our conversation) scurrying after her. Before she turned a corner she added "And wear something nice! Not that old leather jacket you always wear!" Emma seemed to think this was hilariously funny and howled with laughter. God, what a kiss-up.
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I walked out through the squeaky glass doors into the car park. Someone really needed to oil those hinges...it was getting super annoying! I was finally free! Well until tomorrow night. I checked my watch (I'm traditional like that) and saw that it was 5.00. Later than I'd thought it was. I stepped out from under the shelter of the building only to find it was raining. I sprinted to my car which just happened to be at the far end of the car park. Great thinking Lola! I loved cars. Mine was a little Fiat 500 Vintage which I had wanted ever since I knew it existed.