faith1

Chapter One -- 2002

   Kaelyn Montgomery walked down the hallway to the room where the extra newsletters were kept. On the way, she passed the office of Denise McLean, her boss, who waved distractedly at her. Denise directed the Backstreet Boys' fan club where Kaelyn was working. Kaelyn had just graduated University and was working at the club for the summer. She mainly had menial jobs such as answering phones, mailing out newsletters, and occasionally answering letters from young fans.
   She arrived at the newsletter supply and grabbed a large stack. She made the trip back to her little cubicle, smiling at a few of her co-workers as she passed.
    "Kaelyn! Can you come in here for a moment?" she heard Denise call her as she walked past the office for the second time.
   "Yes Ms. McLean?" Kaelyn popped her head into the office.
   "Come in for a moment, dear." Denise nodded at the chair across from her. "How busy are you?" she began once Kaelyn was seated.
   "About normal, I guess." She answered hesitantly. "There are a few more letters today than normal, but that may be because it?s a Monday." She looked at Denise quizzically. "If you don't mind me asking, why?"
   "I was just wondering if I should cut your workload a bit." Denise answered.
   "Have I not been doing a good enough job?" Kaelyn asked anxiously.
   "Oh, no dear, nothing like that. I have a new project I'd like you to work on and I needed to know if you could handle it plus your normal responsibilities, or if I should give some of your usual work to someone else."
   Kaelyn looked slightly relieved."With all due respect, Ms. McLean, there isn't anyone else to take up the slack if I drop the ball."
   "I know, Kaelyn. I would hire someone new to take over your old job. The new project is more vital for you to work on." Denise answered, folding her hands on her desk and looking at the younger woman speculatively. "I'll tell you what. I'll see how you cope for a few days, then decide."
   "Alright." Kaelyn nodded her agreement. "May I ask what the project is?"
   Denise pulled a file folder out of a drawer and placed it in front of Kaelyn, who put down the stack of newsletters to pick it up. "I received a suggestion that on our website we should regularly recommend fan sites for other fans to visit. It could be done weekly, or maybe monthly. That?s up to you. What will require extra time and energy is making sure that the sites you pick are up to our requirements. What do you think?" Denise looked at Kaelyn expectantly.
   Kaelyn'[s eyebrows were raised in surprise. "That sounds like a great project. But why me?"
   "Many reasons." Denise explained. "Not the least of which is that I have noticed that you are a very hard worker and truly enjoy what we do here. You're also the youngest member of our staff, so you'll have a clearer idea of what the fans will like."
   "Well, thank you very much, Ms. McLean." Kaelyn said, leaning forward to shake her hand. "I won't let you down."
   "I don't doubt it for a moment." Denise answered. "But I'll let you get back to work now. You can take that file back with you and I'll pass on anything else that comes up."
   "Alright. Thank you again." Kaelyn smiled, picked up the newsletters and file, and left the office still smiling. Just as she turned out of the room, she walked right into the person who was approaching the door. The collision caused the newsletters to flutter from her grasp as she looked up in embarrassment. "I'm so sorry." She said to the man she'd walked into.
   "No, I'm sure it was my fault." He insisted as he put down the baby carrier he was holding and bent down to help pick up the papers.
   "Good job 'Rok!" A tall blonde man behind him said with a smirk. "You're not back five minutes and you're already wrecking the place!"
   The man helping Kaelyn looked up with a grin. "Well, I figured since it's usually your job, I'd give you a break!" The others with them all laughed good-naturedly, and the man handed Kaelyn the last of the newsletters.
   "Thank you." She said meekly.
   "It was the least I could do." He answered. "I apologize for running into you."
   It was Kaelyn's turn to protest, but before she could say anything, Denise's voice rang out. "Boys! You're late!" The men looked sheepish and with another apology, hurried into Denise's office. Kaelyn stared after them for a minute before it finally hit as to their identities. They were the Backstreet Boys -- the whole reason she was working there.
   When Kaelyn got back to her cubicle, she rushed to finish stuffing and addressing the pile of envelopes that already sat on her desk. When the last envelope was sealed a few hours later, she sighed in relief and turned to pick up the file folder that she'd been eyeing since she had gotten it.
   As she opened it, she glanced at her watch. It was 3:45 pm -- one hour and 15 minutes before the office closed. She shrugged and decided to get as much work done as possible on the new project before 5. Opening the file, she flicked on her computer and settled back comfortably in her chair to wait for it to boot up.
   The next thing she know, Lillian, a middle-aged woman who had befriended Kaelyn soon after she arrived, passed by Kaelyn's cubicle and rapped on the frame. "Hey, aren't you going home?"
   Kaelyn looked up in surprise. "Uh? yeah, of course. I just want to finish this one thing."
   Lillian shook her head at Kaelyn, but smiled at the same time. "You really need to go out and get a life, honey. Don?t stay too long."
   "I won't, Lillian." Kaelyn smiled back, chuckling. "Thank you."
   Lillian gave a small wave and walked toward the exit. Kaelyn watched her go, then glanced around the office. He was surprised to see it deserted. With a shrug, she pulled out her Discman and slipped the earphones over her head She pressed play and her favorite CD began to play. It was the mix that her friend had burned for her before she left Canada for Florida. Everything from Savage Garden and the Backstreet Boys, to the Dixie Chicks and Bon Jovi was on it. A smile curved over her lips as she turned back to her computer and began to hum along.