Cathy still felt groggy as she stumbled out of the bathroom. A bath was supposed to be refreshing but Cathy's bath felt like torture. Her head banged, with more intensity on her forehead. Every part of her body ached as though she'd done some rigorous labor between the previous night and that morning.Even as she took her bath, her heart kept racing each time Beverly crossed her mind, which was almost every second since she'd quietly, while holding back her anger, walked out of her mother's the previous day.She stood before her closet. She sluggishly tipped up her chin to look at the time on the mounted wall clock. Her shoulders slouched. She barely had any sleep the previous night, why was she up so early again?She didn't need a specialist to tell her why. She couldn't get Beverly off her mind. Her thoughts ran on and on throughout almost all of the night.She opened the door to her closet. She stared blankly at the numerous designer suits in there. “What do I wear now?” The quest

“We're here, ma'am," the driver of Craig Holdings said as he parked before the Comix Verts building.Yvonne looked up from her phone. She looked from the building outside the car to Lora who nodded. “This is the location,” Lora said.“Alright, let's go in,” Yvonne said. She stepped out of the car and Lora followed. The driver pulled away to go find a parking space, while Yvonne and Lora walked toward the building.Once they were inside, Yvonne made a beeline for the receptionist behind the counter. “Good day, ma’am,” The receptionist smiled. “Welcome to Comix Verts, how may I help you?” Yvonne returned her smile, pleased at the warm customer service.“I want to see the manager. I have an appointment,” Yvonne said. The receptionist turned her attention to the desktop before her. In less than a minute, she raised her gaze back at Yvonne.“Yvonne Stone from Craig holdings?”Yvonne nodded with a smile. “Correct.”“Alright, ma'am. I'll call the manager now.” The receptionist gestured b

After the classes for the day ended, Neal made his way to the Comix Verts.Once Neal was in his office, Caden scurried in. “Welcome, boss.”Neal nodded. “How's the work going?" Caden nodded exuberantly. "Very well, sir.”Neal reclined in his seat. “I came to inform you of a party coming up in the Emperor's management academy,” Neal began. "They'll have a party at the end of their current session and there'll be an opportunity for businesses to showcase themselves.“Right now, our company is as good as new. We need to reach more people. The earlier we begin to get more contracts, the better for us.”Caden agreed. “You're right, sir.”“The more contracts we execute very well, the more famous we'll become. So we're going to use the event to enter more markets. I need to emphasize that it's going to be a huge party. The only attendees wouldn't be the school population. Other people will come from all around.“This means that lots of reputable businesses will be there to showcase what the

Amber smiled. “It's nothing, Neal. You deserve it." Neal took another look at the necklace. “I really appreciate this, Amber," he said sincerely with his focus still on the necklace. Then he looked up at Amber, "But I don't have anyone to give." Amber waved one of her hands in the air. “Doesn’t matter. You don't need to have someone you'll give it to now, you'll have someday. So keep it safe for that day.”Neal smiled, a corner of his lips turning up. "Alright, ma'am." Amber picked up her bag. “Now that that's done, I’ll head for work.”Neal nodded. “Have a nice day.”“Thank you! And you too," Amber called back as she made her way outside.Neal watched Amber close the door behind her. The room grew quiet and he was left with his own thoughts.He stood there in the middle of the living room, the open box lying heavily in his palm. He stared down at it.“She said I should keep it for that day,” Neal muttered to himself. "Will that day ever come?” He wondered aloud.Perhaps, Neal thou

“Let go!" Elsa cried once Neal finally stopped outside. She snatched her hand from him. “Leave me alone!" Elsa was breathing hard as she watched Neal watch her, an impassive expression on his face. And the next thing she knew, she burst into tears.She covered her face with her palm and let her tears fall. Her shoulders shook as she allowed herself to weep, from relief that she hadn't licked that woman's shoe, from gratitude to Neal for stepping in for her, and from the sheer embarrassment of the whole situation.Neal remained silent and let Elsa cry as much as she wanted. While he waited for her to be done, he tried to abate his own anger. After a while, Elsa wiped her face with the apron that hung around her neck.“Why?” She sniffed as she looked at the wet stain on the apron. She looked up at the sky and sniffed again. Then she met Neal's gaze, “Why are you helping me? You could have just left.”“So you were truly going to lick that woman's shoe?" Neal exploded."I needed the job