Office Diaries

The following months was both challenging and eye-opening for Yanee. As soon as she came back from Nagoya, she had holed up in the apartment to work on the book with Chummy ȧssisting her. As she had already written he plot outline, all she needed to do was write the book. Still, even with the plot outline done, she realized that there were still a lot of things she had to work on to make the story feel more natural, and the feelings and actions of the characters in the novel unique and not forced. 

One of the biggest mistake newbie writers did when writing the story was write according to their own feeling which was wrong. Each character was given specific personality, educational attainment, social status, and history that affected the way they do things. If the author wrote based on his own judgment and not based on how the character was supposed to think, the reality in fiction would be compromised. Also, if she wrote all the actions the characters did based on how she'd do things, then the characters would feel redundant, flat, and illogical. 

Working on the book was also a learning process. Even if she really didn't have any penchant writing stories, after experiencing how it was first hand, her respect for authors heightened. Still, her decision to stop writing after this project did not change. This would be her first and last book— the greatest love story of her life. 

"Yanee have you finished?" Chummy asked when she saw her leaning back against the armchair, and Yanee whipped around to face her and gave her the thumb's up. 

"Woohoo!" Chummy crowed in delight as she hurriedly printed the last chapter Yanee did and started editing it in the next room. 

Ami was so busy out of town since the expo, and she had let Chummy stay in her room so she could work with Yanee efficiently. As soon as Yanee finished a chapter, she printed it out and edited it on the spot. In case there were errors or awkward parts in the paragraphs, she's able to have Yanee fix it immediately. 

Aside from her, there were two other editors who came by during the day to doublecheck. The two editors followed Chummy to the room to immediately check it out.  After an hour, all three came back to Yanee's room, grinning from ear to ear. 

"All's good!" Chummy announced. 

All of them were very excited about this project. After all, although it was not unheard of, it was still very rare and unique among romance books out there. It's a story with several small stories in between the long running one. 

Office Diaries. This was the title of the book. 

"We'll take this goody to the printers and let you rest," Chummy said, and soon Yanee was alone. 

With a smile on her face, she picked up her phone and called Tohru. 

"Congratulations for finishing the book!" Tohru greeted her as soon as he picked up the call. "Was it fun?" 

Yanee's smile widened. Fun? Well, it was even if it's difficult. 

"It's interesting," she answered. "It's the greatest love story of my life." 

"Oh? Now I'm curious to read it," Tohru said and Yanee laughed. 

"Wait for the book launch!" 

A week after, advertisements all over the country were posted about the new book with some teasers and book excerpts. This made people, most especially women excited, and so when the book was finally launched, many flocked to different bookstores to get a copy or bought the ebook version on line. Needless to say, due to the marketing strategy of Niji International, many were hooked to buy. 

But of course, the sales would not be that good if the book itself was not alright. However, the unique outline and style of the book made it interesting and popular. For many who read the book, they felt that they had learned a lot of things about what romance was. 

Love was not just an all-consuming passion. Love could be as gentle as the breeze or wild as a roaring fire. It could be as beautiful as a scenery or as ugly as a scar. 

And love was stupid… At least, it made people do or think stupid things most of the time. It's normal. It's being human. 

With different heart-warming little stories within the long story, the book Office Diaries became a best-seller, and one of the greatest romance book launched that year. It was a no-brainer that it would be nominated for best contemporary romance in the Ai Awards. 

"Ms. Lee, are you nervous?" Tohru James whispered to her ear, and Yanee's hand which he held tightened. 

"With you by my side, should I be?" she asked back, and Tohru grinned. "I'm already satisfied being nominated." 

Ah, and the sales of the book was shockingly high. Yanee earned a lot. She didn't care about other things to be honest. The acknowledgement given by the public by buying her work was already enough. But of course, as if luck was totally on her side, they still announced her book as the winner! Yanee was shocked. 

"Go and get your trophy and give your speech!" Tohru urged amidst applause. 

Yanee stood up and looked at her family and friends who were all there to support her with teary eyes. 

"Go! Go!" Yunjae and the others urged and Yanee didn't waste time and walked on the stage. 

The host gave her the trophy and stepped aside to let her on the podium with the microphone. She was a newbie, and thus she didn't want to hog the mic for too long. She just looked at all the people who had inspired her and supported her in her journey in creating the book and thanked them with all her heart. Without them, she would still be the pessimistic lifestyle writer. 

Of course, she thanked Tohru too. Without him forcing his way into her life and her heart, she wouldn't know the kind of happiness and love she's feeling right now. 

A month after, amidst the beauty of the falling leaves of autumn, Tohru and Yanee's Shinto style wedding was held in the beautiful gardens of the Cedar Palace, Ami miraculously was able to borrow. It was simple and yet elegant. It was a wedding among the rich attended by celebrities and powerful people in the business circle alike. 

Still, compared to other weddings of the oligarchs, there was an obvious love between the bride and the groom. It's in their eyes, and everybody could see. 

"Hey Mrs. James," Tohru whispered to Yanee who blushed and smiled as she looked up at him. 

They were still in the midst of the celebration, but the groom couldn't wait to speak to his newly wedded wife. 

"Yes, Mr. James?" 

"Thank  you for letting me be the leading man of your love story forever," he whispered to hear, making her heart race. 

"Well, Mr. James, thank you for choosing me to be the leading lady of yours." 

  Of course, life was not a smooth road.. There were times when it got bumpy, but they promised to live happily ever after.