The Color of Love | 20 October 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2531 | Prompt: lack of credibility

"If I were you, I wouldn't move too fast in publishing Anita's story," Jackson insisted as he stared out his office window, then swung his chair around to face Frederick. He'd held back on confronting his business partner. Perhaps now was the time to lay bare a few concerns he'd been grappling with the past few months.

Fredrick feigned ignorance and kept pushing the issue.

"Submissions for the quarterly publishing journal are only two weeks away. You know how important this opportunity is for her. She's one of our most talented authors this past five years."

Jackson sensed Frederick's urgency. After all, she was his wife.

Frederick's nostrils flared as he retorted angrily, "Feels as if you've rushed to judgment like your closed-minded country club buddies. Jumping on the bashing Anita bandwagon won't earn us any awards for this year's best seller!" Frederick stepped back several paces, then turned to leave.

"Look, I know you want to support Anita as best you can. But, I've heard rumors that lead me to believe as does others that your wife's name and reputation is currently suffering from a lack of credibility. You know our company can't take another hit like it did three years ago in the Mansfeld case. I won't ignore rumors again." Jackson wanted to add, but restrained, that he'd hired a private investigator.

"What the hell are you saying? And why am I just hearing of this?" Frederick's angst heightened, noticeable by his bulging neck vein set deep in his shoulders as they heaved.

It didn't go unnoticed. But before Jackson could respond, a knock on the door interrupted them.

Hurriedly, he replied, "I'm just bringing the matter concerning the origin and ownership of her work to your attention. I've tried to keep it in-house. Quiet. Just talk it over with her. Get some answers. Now, if nothing else, I've a promising, authentic young author with integrity waiting."

Jackson watched as Frederick tightened his fists, breathed in heavily, then stormed out. The glass pane shook from the violent slam.

Too upset to work, Frederick locked his office and drove to a nearby park. Tilting his head back, contrary to the turmoil swirling in his thoughts, a sea of blue clouds floated effortlessly across the sky. The gentle breeze tossed his hair as he closed his eyes and lost himself in the afternoon's cityscape.

But he couldn't relax. A myriad of questions surrounding Jackson's hiring a private investigator upset him. Their friendship should have resulted in him confiding his concerns before engaging a professional.

He refused to address the implications of Jackson's move. He'd wait to find out the evidence. He couldn't bring himself to outright declare at that moment his wife's innocence of any rumors. The thought troubled him more than he was willing to admit.

He arrived home with more questions than answers. But he promised not to confront her.

Two days later, Frederick bid Anita farewell as she boarded a plane headed for a speaking engagement. His embrace was stiff and a bit distant, but Anita was too excited to notice.

[to be continued.]

For my theme, I was inspired by and utilized the @daily.prompt's publishing of 20 october 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2531: lack of credibility.