Chapter
2: Assignments
Disclaimer - I don't own anything
Summary - Rory works for the NY Times and one of her assignments take her to a
very familiar place (R/J eventually)
********
Rory sat at her desk exhausted. What a day it had been. A huge article she'd
been working on for weeks was done and she just submitted it. She'd put so much
time and effort into it. It was her best piece of work so far.
"Rory," came a voice from her intercom, "please come to my
office."
Rory jumped at the noise. Slowly she got up and walked to her boss' office. She
was chewing her nails, a bad habit, because she was nervous. She automatically
thought it was about her article.
Rory knocked on the door. "Come in," said a voice.
Rory entered the office and sat down opposite her boss, Mr. Williams.
"Rory, I've been watching you closely these last few weeks and I am
thoroughly impressed with you're work and you're work habits. You're writing is
exceptional and you're our youngest staff member on this level. I've thought it
through, and I want you to do our next undercover feature. I think you'd be
perfect for this assignment."
"Thank you," was all Rory could manage to get out.
The boss continued. "Lately I've been hearing a lot of talk about small
towns and I thought it would be interesting to read a close up article on small
town life. You know, to see what it's all about. Would you be interested?"
"I am, sir. It sounds like an excellent idea."
"Great. I can't tell you where you'll be going because I don't want any
early research to be done. I've already gotten you an apartment that's already
furnished. Sam, from editing, will be going with you. If anyone in the town
asks you, you and Sam are to be married and you are living there until you find
a permanent residence. Today's Friday so you have the weekend to get ready and
pack. You'll be there for 2 months so you can get the full experience. Be here
on Monday morning at 8 and a limo will be ready to take you to you're
destination."
They stood up to shake hands and seal the deal. "Thank you very much Mr.
Williams. I'm looking forward to doing this." "Good luck Rory, I
believe you will have a great story when you return. Please send Sam in on
you're way out. I'd like to tell him."
"Okay, I'll see you Monday."
"Have a good day, Miss Gilmore." He handed her an envelope of things
she would need to read about and escorted her to the door.
********
Rory went home that day and began to pack. She couldn't believe that she was
chosen to be an undercover reporter. She never even thought of the
possibilities. She picked up the phone and was about to call her mom but then
remembered that she was in Europe. A little disappointed, she called Lane to
tell her the good news.
"LANE! You'll never guess what happened today?"
"Umm, I have no idea."
"I'm going to be an undercover reporter for the New York Times. They are
sending me somewhere in the US to a small town where I'll live for 2 months and
get the lowdown on what small town life is like."
"That's so awesome. Do you know where you'll be?"
"No idea, they're taking me there on Monday morning with a co worker and
we'll live in an apartment. It's going to be so exciting."
"You'll have to tell me all about it. Sorry, but I gotta get back to work
but call me when you get there!"
"Bye!"
"Have fun."
Rory plopped down on the couch and looked at the envelope Mr. Williams gave her
and began reading.
********
Rory woke up Monday morning bright and early to leave for the building. She and
Sam had already talked about everything and she couldn't wait. When she arrived
at her work, there was a stretch limo outside waiting for them. Sam was already
there.
"Hey Rory, you ready?"
"Ready as ever. I can't wait. It's going to be a lot of fun."
"I wish we knew where we were going."
"Wherever it is, I know we'll like it."
"Excuse me, are you ready to leave?" The limo driver asked.
"Yes we are." They replied in unison. The driver took Rory's bags and
put them in the trunk and they pulled out onto the busy streets of New York
with no idea where they were going.
********
The weirdest thing about this limo was that you couldn't see out of the
windows. They were tinted for the inside and out. Rory figured it was so they
wouldn't be able to figure out where they were going. Bummer.
The ride was somewhat boring. Rory and Sam talked and got to know each other
better, she slept and of course she read.
Two hours later the limo driver rolled the window down so he could talk to
them.
"Well kids, we're almost here. About 30 more minutes. Let me know if you
need anything."
"Thank you." Rory looked out of the front window quickly before he
closed it. She caught glimpse of a sign for Hartford.
Rory wondered where they were going in Connecticut. Certainly they wouldn't
send her to her home town. She would expect Mr. Williams to know where she was
from.
The driver was right, 30 minutes later he rolled down the window. "Here we
are. Welcome to. . . ."
