I’ll be honest. I’m still working on the title. I kind of like “Valuing Valor” – but I’m not sure. My love affair with alliteration can only go so far… If you have any title suggestions, feel free to put them in the comments! I expect this to be a 3-part short story, but we’ll see how it goes. :)
***
Savannah speed-walked as much as she was able with the walking cast bogging her down. After all, it was her first day at her new job. It wouldn’t do to be late.
She made it through the big glass front doors and into the elevator before she let herself take a deep breath. She probably would have sniffed her pits, too, if she’d been alone. The elevator was crowded, though, so she had no choice but to trust that her deodorant was doing its job. Besides, she’d put on enough of the stuff to last a whole week.
Her heart beat in rhythm with the elevator’s whir as it whisked her up to the fifteenth floor. When she stepped out of the elevator, she stopped, people bumping into her as they exited behind her.
Holy cow. She’d thought the third floor where she’d done her initial interview was fancy. But this? This was opulent. Extravagant. Were those couches real leather?
She was so out of her league.
Yet…dream job. She could pretend she belonged if that meant she got to stay.
After all, she’d been dreaming about working at Valor Enterprises since the second grade. Her little girl fantasy was finally becoming an adult reality. She’d already pinched herself a good ten times that morning alone.
With a deep breath, she took a step forward. Then another. And another.
The receptionist with shiny blonde hair gave her a bright smile. “Can I help you?”
Savannah straightened her spine and returned the smile. “Today’s my first day. I work here now.”
“I’m looking forward to working here.”
The receptionist shuffled through some papers on her desk before handing over a tablet and stylus. “Fill out the forms and bring the tablet back when you’re finished.”
Savannah settled into the most comfortable – and definitely leather – couch she’d ever had the privilege of sitting on and quickly entered all the necessary information for payroll and HR.
The woman took the tablet with a nod. “So tell me, what made you want to work here at Valor?”
Savannah rocked back on her heels. She’d already answered the question during her interview, but it made sense that people would be curious. Positions at Valor Enterprises were highly sought after. She’d been told during her initial interview that there had been over a thousand applicants for the one position they’d needed to fill. The interviewer had been – she assumed – trying to temper her expectations.
Savannah toyed with the strap of her messenger bag. “Mr. Valor visited my school when I was a kid. He gave us clothes and shoes and toys, and he made sure out school had a computer lab and someone to teach us computer skills. It…”
A look flashed across the receptionist’s face before disappearing. Sympathy? Pity? Maybe both.
Savannah swallowed and finished. “It changed my life. And I want to be able to do that for other people.”
The receptionist’s smile was different this time. Softer. And her voice shifted from professional perky to genuine kindness. “We’re blessed to have you, and you’re going to love working for Val. If there’s anyone who believes in the power of giving people hope, it’s Val.”
A smile stretched Savannah’s cheeks. She’d had three interviews total for this job, and everyone single interviewer – including the final panel of ten people – had raved about the work Val was doing in the philanthropy wing of Valor Enterprises. She hadn’t been able to find anyone named Val on the corporate website, but it didn’t matter. She was going to love her job. She could feel it in her bones.
Heather Gray loves coffee, God, her family, and laughter – not necessarily in that order! She writes approachable characters who, through the highs and lows of life, find a way to love God, embrace each day, and laugh out loud right along with her. And, yeah, her books almost always have someone who's a coffee addict. Some things just can't be helped. Despite their different lives and situations, Heather’s characters have something in common. They're all flawed...but loved anyway.
This is an intriguing start! I am definitely hooked in and want to find out more.
I’m useless at titles though sorry!
Oh, this sounds good!! Can’t wait for more!!
Hi your book sounds like a great read!! I like the title you are thinking of, I just thought of maybe “Cherishing Valor” , but your title sounds really good. Have a great weekend. Thank you for sharing the excerpt.
The intro was too short!! Lol.
It’s hard to suggest a title without knowing any more about it.
I’m not great at alliteration I’d go with Valour, but that would mean the book would be lost in the miltiple titles already in existence. I like Alicia’s Cherishing Valour as it shows how she prizes/values Valor. Enjoyed it, when do we receive the next part? Thanks :)
I love it. It is fabulous. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
I love stories about millionaire people or millionaire companies that are nevertheless dedicated to altruism and giving to others. I think that many people reject being rich or a millionaire or those who have the idea that if you are Christian you cannot combine your values with having too much, but I firmly believe that if the Lord blesses you greatly with material goods, it is not for you to buy only things. luxurious and take great vacations but use it to help others.
What I would enjoy seeing sometime is a protagonist who is not very impressionable with money since all the heroines I have seen so far when they are dragged into luxurious environments are like “oh gosh that’s so expensive, I can’t believe I’m here or “That car is the latest model!” And although that may be identifiable for many, I would like to see a protagonist with little awareness of which brand is luxurious, which is not, who does not know about expensive cars and whose criterion for choosing something is “it’s pretty,” a girl who legitimately doesn’t seem at all interested in money.
Intriguing! Hooked already. :)