Chapter 2

Brenda POV

Brenda !! Brenda!!.

I wasn't ready to wake up yet. My sister, Lisa, had been intermittently howling my name for the past hour. Knowing her, she'd resort to extreme measures soon, whether out of genuine concern or just for the thrill.

"Ah!!!!!" I screamed as water hit my face. Lisa was bathing me in bed.

"Lisa! What the..." I began angrily.

She cackled and sprinted out of my room. I followed, more amused than angry.

"You troubled child! I'm gonna kill you. That was the best sleep I've had in months, and you poured water on me. If you weren't thinking about my hair, you should've at least thought about the sheets. I just washed those," I yelled in frustration. She shrugged, raising my annoyance to amusement.

"Calm down, sis. You needed the bath. You smell like you took a dumpster dive," she remarked.

I subconsciously took a whiff of myself.

"Besides, stop whining. You should be thanking me," she said, pointing to the clock that read 8:30.

"Oh my God! I'm late for work. Why the hell didn't you wake me sooner?" I exclaimed, rushing to my closet to pick out an outfit."

"I tried waking you up, but you sleep like the dead," she mocked, skipping towards me. "So I decided to do the mature thing and be a little... persuasive."

"Yes, very mature of you," I mumbled with my face buried in my dresser.

"Seriously, you can't blame me. It was beyond funny. You should have seen your face."

I shot her the most sarcastic look I could muster.

"Anyway, go take your bath while I pick out your outfit for you, okay?" she instructed, pushing me toward my bathroom. She took over my closet, but I didn't mind. I was late.

When she saw I wasn't moving, she raised an eyebrow and pointed at the clock on the bedside table.

"Okay, okay, I'm going," I said, raising my hands in surrender and rushing into my bathroom.

I had never taken a quicker bath in my life. Rushing out with my towel, I dried myself the best I could. Skipping hair-washing due to time constraints, I joined Lisa.

She had already picked out an outfit - a knee-length sleeveless white gown with black highlights, vine-like patterns, and expensive-looking high heels.

I quickly wore the dress and combed my naturally curly, long blonde hair that reached my mid-back. I loved my hair, a bit unusual and cool, mostly because it reminded me of my mom.

Not a fan of makeup like Lisa, I applied lip balm and a bit of powder, lacking the time and mood for more.

I had worked hard to support myself and my sister after losing our parents in a car accident a few years back. Dad was driving them home from a friend's wedding when another vehicle collided with theirs.

It was later revealed that the accident was caused by a drunk driver, who was later sentenced to jail on two count charges of for drunk driving and man slaughter. Unfortunately, my parents never made it to the hospital, and I, who was twenty years old at the time and also in my final year of college, had to take on the responsibility of caring for my fifteen years old sister, Lisa. I worked part-time as a waitress while finishing college, and eventually, I got a job after graduation. Now, at twenty-five years old, I work as a designer in the biggest fashion company in the state, a role fueled by my deep passion for my craft.

Our living situation wasn't ideal, we lived in an average two-room apartment with a small kitchen and bathroom, but it was safe and the best I could afford.

I rushed downstairs ready to leave for work.

"Lock the doors when you leave for classes, Lisa”. I said

"Oh, I will, Brenda. Please leave already, you've left enough instructions to run a vehicle assembly plant," she yelled from her room upstairs.

Lisa attended a college not too far from our apartment. As I made my way out, in a hurry, I almost ran into Thomas, our neighbor. A middle-aged man, he treated us like daughters and was a kind and caring figure in our lives.

"Good morning, Thomas," I hurriedly greeted him.

"Morning, cupcake," he replied, smiling as he hugged me.

"I've got to go, I'm late. Bye!" I yelled, running out of the building to catch a taxi.

STYLE HAVEN is the name of the fashion company I work at and it was just a few blocks away, but I was too late to walk.

"Good morning," I greeted the taxi driver.

"Morning, Ma'am. Where to?" he replied politely.

""Style Haven”, please, and hurry."

A few minutes later, I arrived at my workplace. I quickly paid the taxi driver, who had driven with an understanding of my predicament.

Hurrying up the stairs, I greeted and responded to as many people as I could. Checking my wristwatch, it was already 9:15. I was 15 minutes late.

“Damn” I said loudly.

I hurriedly rushed to my office, a sense of dread creeping in. I had a hunch that Carol, my colleague and apparent nemesis, would seize the opportunity to make a fuss about my lateness. Lately, it seemed like she is on mission to get me fired which was likely fueled by jealousy as my designs consistently outshone hers, making her resort to not-so-secret tactics to jeopardize my position at work.

As I entered my office, the infuriating sight confirmed my suspicions. There sat Carol, confidently occupying my chair with a smirk on her face.

“I hate your face” I thought to myself.