coming soon!!!!!
Chapter One
“Smile, script, sample, sale.” Gwendolyn Oliver repeated Wellkind Pharmaceuticals’ mantra. “Success.” She added her own word for good measure as she prepared to enter yet another medical practice on her first day as the sales rep for Libermycin, the latest antibiotic to hit the market. The entire day had been but a lesson in futility while she traveled from one office to another, dropping off pills and acting cheery.
Gwen opened her car door and groaned. Oppressive heat rippled off the asphalt, nearly choking her. Everyone back in Los Angeles warned her that central California weather wasn’t anything like the milder climate of the coastal towns, but if she wanted to get back to her home turf, she had to endure the town of Clarefield, home to the world’s second largest rubber stamp. Apparently, somewhere there was the world’s first largest rubber stamp. Already she was in a loser town. If nothing else, the only place she and this town had to go was up.
Across the country, pharm reps were nothing more than glorified drug dispensers. Those who peddled the antibiotics were considered even the lowest of the low on the totem pole, and those relegated to the small towns were even lower. But in order to break out of the pack, she needed to start somewhere on her own. Though Gwen got this job through her connections, she vowed to make the most of her chance and never rely on someone else for her success again.
The temperature threatened to take her down, but she buttoned her suit jacket and retrieved her sample bag. No matter what, she would be the best pill pusher this side of the Pacific Ocean. She finally had a job she could call her own. From this point forward in her life, she called the shots, she made things happen. Dependent on no one for anything, she trudged forward. By the time she made it inside the building, sweat soaked through her shirt, and she trembled. Between the tight layers of clothing and running out of diet soda three calls ago, she was toast. At least the air-conditioned building would offer a welcome reprieve.
Rather than the comfort of artificially chilled air, stuffy, still, warm heat filled her lungs and weighed her down. Only two more calls and she could go home and dunk her head in cold water. Ready to be done with this day, she went to the first suite, put a smile on her face, and stepped inside. Head held high, she marched through the small lobby to the front desk, also known as the gatekeeper. “Hello, I’m–”
“Pharm rep?” A disheveled woman in a tank top cut her off. At least the woman had the right idea on how to dress.
Gwen supposed wearing a suit in the stifling heat gave her away, and she held out a business card. “Yes.”
“Go to the back, there’s a sign.” The woman pointed to the door, or the proverbial gate. “Stand there until the doctor comes out. Leave the samples, he’ll sign for them, then exit through the back door. I won’t need to tell you again next time, right?”
“No. Got it.” The world must have turned up the thermostat, and Gwen dragged herself to the back office. Until the day she could return to Los Angeles successful on her own merit, she needed to play by the rules.
“Stand right there.” One of the nurses sneered at her and tilted her head at the pharmaceutical cabinet with a small table. “Get your samples ready.”
Without saying a word, Gwen put her tablet computer, literature and samples on the counter. Her legs weak, she leaned against the wall.
After an eternity, the door to an exam room across the way flew open. A large, rotund man in a white coat barreled out of the door.
The doctor. The king. All that was important in her world.
“Rep.” One of the nurses pointed in Gwen’s direction.
The floor vibrated with each one of his steps toward her.
Gwen had thirty seconds to make her pitch, and she started her script. “Good afternoon Dr. Peters, I’m–”
The doctor grabbed her stylus. “Where do I sign?”
“Right here.” She held out her tablet.
The doctor scribbled his name on the line. “Next time bring more.” He walked away.
Everyone became silent and the exit sign beckoned her. Gwen took the hint and left, ending up back in the building hallway.
Unsure if she made the sale or not, she finished recording her notes in her tablet, and glanced at the name for the next account, Richmond Medical, a big one—platinum level as her company classified them. Most importantly, her boss reminded her more than once about this practice being instrumental in building her territory.
She smoothed down her hair and winced. Long ago, her cute hairstyle melted along with makeup. A bit of nausea radiated through her, but she made her way through the building to Richmond Medical and swore it was hotter inside than anywhere else on the planet.
Three fans blew around the sweltering air without providing relief and sweat drenched her suit. A strange tingling encompassed her whole body. Though the front desk seemed miles away, at last she made it through the lobby. Forgoing the smile, she tossed her business card at the woman behind the desk.
“Go on back.” The woman pointed.
By the time she reached the pharmaceutical station, Gwen’s heart sped. All she wanted was a glass of water. Actually, she needed to sit, or lie down.
Midnight Publishing 