There's a strange thing going on here. On one hand, we have this evolved thinking and extreme consideration of environmental issues in which you wouldn't expect a guy like Neil Barton to exist. He does belong, especially in that firm. But on the other hand, you don't expect such leaps to be made by us humans, so that we reach that level of environmental consciousness, precisely because of the Neil Bartons of today.
Don't get me wrong. I like it very much. And I like your writing style also. And now that I come to think of it, inconsiderate trolls exist in any time, right?
Now, this story certainly has got merit. I'm particularly interested in seeing what's up with Neil. What's his beef? But the question is not what I, or anybody else, think we want to read or if we think it has merit. The question is, do you think the story has merit? Enough to pursue this one instead of another? In the end, what do you want to write? Cause, I want to read that.
Thank you for your thoughtful response, @michalis. That is a very good question. Actually, what I'm working on is a short story series about obsession. It's not anywhere near as gothic as it sounds. Every story is about some way in which a normal everyday person that no one would consider bonkers is obsessed by something. It's the people we meet every day who have dispositions and urges that create challenges for themselves and everyone around them. I'm actually having an enormous amount of fun with it, because I've discovered the possibilities are endless. I have a long list of stories I want to write in this vein.
There are Neil Bartons everywhere - annoyed, self-serving curmudgeons. There always will be. And good people like Alicia who want to do the right thing but are endlessly hampered by their own demons. So, that said, this story could technically fit in with the series.