My life has been moving in such a downward trajectory that even I cannot be so surprised when something bad happens.I went from being excited over the idea of paying up the last of my student loans, to having said money donated to the hospital to keep my brother alive. Then asking for even bigger loans to cover the payment for his surgery, getting a disgusting offer to sell my body to my boss to keep myself, Duran and grandma afloat; and ultimately losing my job because some rich jerk decided to buy the commercial building the diner was located in. "What are you going to do now? It's so crazy to even think about the fact that you're jobless at a time like this. Keeping them going was already difficult with the job, imagine how much harder it would be without it.""Wow. I couldn't have thought about all that myself and made me feel worse. Great job, Anna."Don't get me wrong, I love Anna; and she means well. But she just doesn't know when to take a breather and hold back on the messa
I heard the one thing I never thought I would at my own sister's wedding, and that was gunshots. Loud, precise and lethal.Dariole dropped to the floor with a gaping hole in the center of his head and Lajla gave a scream that was part pain and part hurt.My eyes, just before they began a quick scan of our surroundings, picked up on the moment rage won over anything else that she was feeling. She hitched her skirt up in the next instant, unstrapping a gun from her thigh and shooting into the air just before she pounced after the shooting men.They fell like swatted flies, the shooting popped as we all exchanged bullets, some with the need to protect, and others with the mere need to escape.You might be wondering how we got here? Well, let me take you through this story from the very beginning.My sister was dressed as a prim and proper lady. What a shock. I stared on with glistening eyes as she trudged down the aisle on the arm of one of our most trusted employees and Dad's second in
"He would need to have the surgery within or before the end of three days." The doctor pauses and shoots me a look that's filled with sorrow and pity. "If he doesn't get it removed before then, the likelihood of his survival and absolute recovery would be zero."I dab at the tears that are making a freefall down my face. "Is there nothing else that can be done, doctor?"She shakes her head sadly. "There's not much else that we can do. You'd obviously amass more of the medical debts, but I'd assume that would be better than losing your brother entirely."I nod my head quickly to let her know that I completely understand. "Of course." I wipe more tears off my face. "Do whatever needs to be done to save his life, Doctor. I would find a way to gather the money and...""Sorry to interrupt, but you're being sought in the emergency unit, Dr. Maxwell." A nurse pokes her head in through the door that's cracked halfway open.Dr. Maxwell looks at the nurse and tilts her head in a professional no
"He would need to have the surgery within or before the end of three days." The doctor pauses and shoots me a look that's filled with sorrow and pity. "If he doesn't get it removed before then, the likelihood of his survival and absolute recovery would be zero."I dab at the tears that are making a freefall down my face. "Is there nothing else that can be done, doctor?"She shakes her head sadly. "There's not much else that we can do. You'd obviously amass more of the medical debts, but I'd assume that would be better than losing your brother entirely."I nod my head quickly to let her know that I completely understand. "Of course." I wipe more tears off my face. "Do whatever needs to be done to save his life, Doctor. I would find a way to gather the money and...""Sorry to interrupt, but you're being sought in the emergency unit, Dr. Maxwell." A nurse pokes her head in through the door that's cracked halfway open.Dr. Maxwell looks at the nurse and tilts her head in a professional no
DYLAN"Excuse you?" My ears are ringing with disbelief. Did she really just say that?"That's exactly what I've been asking you as well. Can you please excuse me and let me do my job?"I start to move closer to her but she raises a palm up to halt my progress. "Don't even think about it.""Jenna...""You can say whatever it is that you want from there, Dylan. I don't need to exchange breaths with you to be able to hear you."My fingers comb through my hair in exasperation. God! Why is it so difficult to understand women?"I got a call yesterday. You were here when that happened. It was an emergency that was why I hurried out the way that I did." I walk away from her to the side of my office where a tiny liquor bar is perched against the wall.She doesn't move, or say a single word as I pour myself a shot of whiskey and down it. I don't say anything more either, instead I help myself to another shot and down it just like I had the first one."If that's all. I'd like to leave now." Her
My mind skips several beats after Mr. Jackson turns his very unwanted attention in my direction. My brain struggles to come up with a befitting response to help get us out of the gossiping mess we've found ourselves in thanks to Kim's unwillingness to quit interrogating me.I clear my throat and fix him with my most serious expression. "Well, as much as I'd love to share the ideas I already have as a market researcher, it is imperative that I get an insight into the possible cause in profit decline." I turn to face Kim then and arch a brow at her. "Is this profit decline a result of a decrease in sales, or an increase in cost. Or is it a result of the combination of both."By the time I turn back to face Mr. Jackson, his face is covered in a pleased expression. "Very well." He nods at me. "It appears that you have a deeper understanding of marketing strategies than I originally thought. Wrap this up quickly, and if you do it well enough, I just might put in a good word for both of you
Yesterday wasn't so bad. I mean it could have been so much worse, I can still remember the amount of embarrassment I was flooded with when Cat decided to rip my clothes to shreds, but then Rye had swooped in and saved the day; and that kiss at my dorm door? Boy! That kiss was heaven."What are you blushing about?" Diana comments from beside me, causing me to jolt back into the here and now.I smiled sheepishly at her. "Nothing. I was just lost in thought.""You never did tell me why it was that you left school before closing hours." She eyed me closely.My butt squirmed on the stool I was perched on as we had breakfast before heading for school. I think about all the different things I've had to live through this week, and it's only Thursday. "I ran into some trouble after P.E and I had to come back home." I lied through my teeth.Diana's face pulls into a grimace and she smiles at me. "Yikes. Only you would have such badluck to have your period immediately after your one night of fu
I heard the one thing I never thought I would at my own sister's wedding, and that was gunshots. Loud, precise and lethal.Dariole dropped to the floor with a gaping hole in the center of his head and Lajla gave a scream that was part pain and part hurt.My eyes, just before they began a quick scan of our surroundings, picked up on the moment rage won over anything else that she was feeling. She hitched her skirt up in the next instant, unstrapping a gun from her thigh and shooting into the air just before she pounced after the shooting men.They fell like swatted flies, the shooting popped as we all exchanged bullets, some with the need to protect, and others with the mere need to escape.You might be wondering how we got here? Well, let me take you through this story from the very beginning.My sister was dressed as a prim and proper lady. What a shock. I stared on with glistening eyes as she trudged down the aisle on the arm of one of our most trusted employees and Dad's second in